I was shocked in the presidential debate that Harris gave staunch support for fracking. I was under the impression that democrats are against fracking, and remember people being critical of Fetterman for supporting it.
I also grew up in an area that was heavily impacted by the pollution from fracking. People who worked in the field were seen as failures of moral character who chose profits over the health of their children. How is it that both major parties are now in support of it? I feel like I must be missing a piece of the puzzle.
The Democrats won’t win an election while opposing fracking. O&G is far FAR too powerful to let that happen. If Harris stood firmly against fracking, then the opponent would win - be he (and it will be a he) Trump, Musk, or David “Son of Sam” Berkowitz.
No, I’m not exaggerating.
Money
Liberals aren’t on the side of anyone but billionaires, be they neoliberals, conservatives, or “post-liberals.”
The sooner you accept that the more American politics will make sense.
I’m not convinced democrats have been completely against fracking. I think it’s location based as fracking does or can have extreme negative consequences on the surrounding environment, so doing it around a major city aquifer probably isn’t the greatest idea. Fracking out in the middle of nowhere might be more positively embraced.
When they needed PA to win the election.
What’s more disappointing is that she had been historically anti-fracking. Tossed all of that out though, I suppose.
On one hand, I get it. To ensure herself a smooth election, keep the funding from your enemy.
On the other hand, fuck man I just want a President with policy that won’t destroy the planet.
Fracking technology has some potential upside in the climate discussion, https://time.com/6302342/fervo-fracking-technology-geothermal-energy/
A ban on fracking might not be the best solution if you want to move the technology towards something more beneficial to the fight against climate change.
There isn’t any pollution from fracking, though.
I thought the problem was that fracking produces oil, which is processed and burnt for energy ultimately releasing excess carbon? Idk it’s been a while since I’ve caught up with climate science :/
Fracking is usually for natural gas I think
Fracking is used for oil and for natural gas. And it absolutely pollutes local water supplies, aside from also using a shit ton of water, causing tremors, and wrecking wildlife habitats.
If there’s one benefit for it, it’s that it improves energy independence because it allows us to tap more difficult wells cost-effectively.
But that’s a bit of a stretch, because divesting away from fossil fuels also improves energy independence.
Maybe try typing the word you’re talking about into Google before speaking so confidently out of your ass. What are you, Ace Ventura?
If you can’t believe the assistant gynecologist, who can you believe
She’s still a politician. It’s easy to put her on a pedestal because she’s NOT Trump, but without him, how excited would you really be about Harris?
Many don’t. I don’t. I’m not gonna vote trump over it though.
Are you gonna vote for the lying cop or the lying criminal?
Probably the lying cop since a criminal is proven guilty?
Fracking has granted the United States independence from OPEC, and turned the US into the largest exporter of oil. This, the US now has the pricing power on the world oil market. This has huge geopolitical implications.
Back in the 2000s it was completely different. All of the geopolitical wonks were pushing renewable energy as a means of OPEC independence. And now that independence has been granted, but we still have the oil.
Meanwhile, as others have stated on this thread, the immediate problems from fracking have been mostly fixed, including the earthquakes. Long term, I don’t think anyone knows what’s going to happen with all of that dirty wastewater going back into the ground.
So on balance, there’s a good reason for the leadership in both parties to be on board with fracking: oil still rules the world, and fracking lets the United States rule the oil markets.
Yeah, and I’m fine with that short term. But only if it’s very short term and only if we use it as a brief reprieve to build out renewable energy faster than otherwise. That seems unlikely
Because nothing matters if we lose the election and we can’t win the election without PA.
Pennsylvania is a swing state and likes fracking politically. As Republicans support fracking, this could be the one issue that convinces some Pennsylvania voters to vote Republican over Democrat.
It’s pretty cool how my family, who are in Kansas, said that they couldn’t understand the risk I take, of earthquakes, living in the Bay Area, California. It’s also pretty cool how they now have earthquakes because of fracking in Oklahoma. The world is awesome, lemme tell ya.
Sigh.
they now have earthquakes because of fracking in Oklahoma
Why are you making me defend fracking? Gross. But yeah, that’s not how geology works. How many miles down are they injecting the
poisonsolution?
Democrats don’t support fracking. They say things so they think will help them win elections.
Kamala literally voted in favor of opening new fracking leases, so kinda hard to claim this.
Until recently she has historically been anti-fracking. I think the commenter was implying that yes, she did just say that, in order to get funding and support from these companies.
Note: Not saying I feel this way, just clarifying.