Although a proposed ban on fracking was rejected from the Democratic party platform in March, the ideals of the Democratic party are more likely to support the anti-fracking agenda. As fracking has become a more prominent topic in politics, polls have shown that while some Democrats support fracking, most still oppose it (Gallup). When President Obama was elected in 2008, the United States was in economic turmoil, and with the bailout of General Motors, the administration began favoring environmentally friendly alternatives to energy usage (Mother Jones). Along with those alternatives, President Obama was apprehensive about domestic oil production, the dependency of oil in the United States (White House). Unfortunately, those tables have turned. President Obama has opened up on the idea of fracking. Praising the increase in domestic oil production, jobs, and overall economic benefits (White House).
Although President Obama has loosened his grip on fracking, the Democratic party as a whole has not. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo banned fracking in the state in 2014, and a Gallup poll taken in March of 2016 showed only 25% of Democrats were in favor of fracking. While the DNC party platform does not mention fracking, it does mention achieving environmental justice, and preserving public land and water. These policy points could potentially be affected due to the dangers of fracking, particularly contaminating water, spreading toxins, and earthquakes. The platform also states that hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, should not take place in states and communities that oppose it. In an effort to build a clean energy economy, we hope that the Democratic party will acknowledge the cons of fracking, and see that their platform goals will not be achieved if fracking continues without stronger awareness and opposition support.
In response to influencing the democratic party to adapt our issue of banning fracking, I would make our main point about how bad fracking is for the environment. One of the key issues that democrats focus on is our environment and how they are the party of today that has stepped up to protect our earth. Democrats are also a party of more government and in turn more regulation. Fracking is one of the most unregulated oil drilling procedures we have in the U.S. today. Most of the problems that come from fracking are due to the lack of regulations set by our government. I feel that a democratic government of any sort would be for putting in more government control into this idea of fracking. If the democrats could install improved fracking regulations and limit the distress it has on our environment, they would get the benefits of both sides. The way fracking is being performed right now is terrible for our environment, especially residents who are closer to fracking sites. These people risk drinking contaminated water daily along with the fear of not breathing clean air. Government is supposed to protect our simple needs of life and two of our major ones our being interfered by fracking. I believe it would be easy to get the democratic party on board to fight fracking and protect the simple needs of life.
Our anti-fracking group can influence the outcome of the next party platform, and we can get behind progressive candidates that advocate banning fracking in their states. There is great potential in changing the perception of fracking in the Democratic Party, and many Democrats have the ability to elect state and local candidates that share pro-environmental ideals. The first move in influencing the Democratic Party directly would be to find alternative green energy interest groups that will support candidates with an anti-fracking agenda. Alternative energy is popular within the Democratic Party, and firms will begin to put pressure on Democrats to oppose pro-fracking legislation. This will incentivize candidates to break with the status quo and form a progressive anti-fracking coalition within the Democratic Party. Only the most extreme/progressive candidates will support these measures, but if enough members of Congress adopt anti-fracking legislation, they will be the median members of the party and will put pressure on the moderate Democrats.
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