2008 Quote by Naomi Klein
““Drilling without thinking has of course been Republican party policy since May 2008. With gas prices soaring to unprecedented heights, that's when the conservative leader Newt Gingrich unveiled the slogan 'Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less'—with an emphasis on the now. The wildly popular campaign was a cry against caution, against study, against measured action. In Gingrich's telling, drilling at home wherever the oil and gas might be—locked in Rocky Mountain shale, in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and deep offshore—was a surefire way to lower the price at the pump, create jobs, and kick Arab ass all at once. In the face of this triple win, caring about the environment was for sissies: as senator Mitch McConnell put it, 'in Alabama and Mississippi and Louisiana and Texas, they think oil rigs are pretty'. By the time the infamous 'Drill Baby Drill' Republican national convention rolled around, the party base was in such a frenzy for US-made fossil fuels, they would have bored under the convention floor if someone had brought a big enough drill.””
About This Quote
Source Book: This Changes Everything, 2014
The Republican drilling agenda prioritizes immediate economic gain over environmental caution, using sensational slogans.
In simple terms: Policy favors short‑term profit over long‑term sustainability.
Key Takeaway
Question short‑term gains versus long‑term costs.
Themes
politics
environment
energy policy
Mood
critical
urgent
Type
political
activist
When to use this quote
- energy policy
- climate activism
- public debate
Key Concepts
short‑termism
political rhetoric
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the hidden costs of rapid drilling?
- How can policy balance jobs and climate?
A Different Perspective
Environmental concerns are often dismissed as weak.
