It was a symbolic gesture with little real effect.

But maybe it will do some good in the future.

On Monday, President George W. Bush lifted the long-standing executive ban on offshore U.S. drilling for oil.

His father, former President George H.W. Bush, had first issued the executive order, following a similar move earlier by Congress. President Bill Clinton continued the executive ban on offshore exploration.

The idea was to protect our shoreline along the East and West Coasts and Eastern Gulf of Mexico from pollution. And not just for environme...