OUR LATEST DELUSIONS – AT 10:29 A.M. ET:  Our last post last night dealt with the price of gasoline.  One way to (eventually) bring that price down is more drilling for the plentiful oil we have in the United States.  But wait.  There are risks.  There are sins.  There are...lizards.  From the Houston Chronicle:

People in Midland like to say God felt such remorse for the dry, dusty landscape that he decided to give it oil.
He also gave it the dunes sagebrush lizard, and now, the tiny, sand-dwelling reptile could put a halt to oil and gas exploration and production in parts of West Texas and harm school budgets across the state.

The federal government has proposed that the lizard, which has all but disappeared from these parts, be listed as an endangered species — a designation that could save it from extinction but slow the pace in one of the nation's most prolific oil patches.

Oilmen and some state and local officials fear that adding the lizard to the list could put the brakes on drilling, road and pipeline construction and other activities - at least while the federal government studies their impact on the habitat in seven West Texas counties, including the top two oil-producing counties in the state.

"It's reptile dysfunction," said Jerry Patterson, the state's land commissioner, who has filed comments with federal officials in opposition of the proposed listing.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking legal protection for the lizard because of the dramatic loss of its habitat due to oil and gas activity and cattle grazing.

COMMENT:  I knew cattle were evil and disruptive.  Cattle and people.  If only we didn't have to have them, we could have such an environmentally perfect world. 

We are in the midst of an energy crisis that impacts not only our economy, but our national security.  I'm all for lizards.  I've known a number of them in Hollywood.  But maybe this one time we can ask not what we can do for lizards, but ask instead what lizards can do for our country. 

I'm afraid, though, the lizards will win.  Look at who's in power.

May 30, 2011