We’re oil junkies. We don’t need another hit.

Last night, the House of Representatives approved a measure to ease restrictions on offshore drilling.  Democrats, who have been wisely opposed to off-shore drilling, are spinning the bill as a compromise with Republicans, who have adopted “Drill, baby, drill” as a campaign motto.

The bill has some positive measures — “oil companies would lose some tax benefits, utilities would be required to produce 15 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020” and there would be a ban on drilling within 50 or 100 miles of the coastline (NYT) — but it is, in my opinion, a capitulation by election-wary Democrats.  They’ve stared down polls that show widespread support for off-shore drilling (as much as 69%), and now they’re playing catch-up with a lop-sided compromise and the spiffy but weak rejoinder, “Change, baby, change.”

President Bush has vowed to veto the House’s legislation, which is just as well, because the Republicans, the American public, and now the Democrats have it wrong: off-shore drilling will not lead us to energy independence.  It will not bring down gas prices.  It will not address the climate crisis, and in fact, it would enable us to make it worse.  Opening up our waters for off-shore drilling is like stopping at the crack house on the way to the rehab center. (See Clean Talk’s excellent synopsis, “5 Reasons Not To Drill, Baby, Drill.”)

It’s probably no accident that Amy Winehouse is so fascinating and so popular right now.  She embodies our attitude to dirty energy sources.  We’ve had the intervention.  Now we need to do the work.  Let’s start by funding the green-collar job legislation that’s already been passed.