People want it. That's one of the premises behind the new push to drill for oil off Florida's west coast. Floridians are tired of rising gas prices. They resent having to kowtow to rogue oil exporters such as Venezuela and Iran. So, they've dropped their historic opposition to oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

Or so the story goes.

Maybe people have changed their minds about the risks oil drilling presents to fisheries, beaches and the state's tourism industry, but if so, it's only because they do have all the evidence. Associated Industries of Florida, a private organization that represents business interests, claims to have a poll demonstrating the turnabout in public opinion.

In a guest column printed last month in the Herald-Tribune, CEO Barney Bishop invited readers to examine the poll. A close look may show why Associated Industries got the answers it wanted to hear. For instance, 59 percent of the 625 respondents said they "generally support" oil drilling off the coast of Florida. The question ignored the issue of how close to shore respondents would tolerate oil rigs. More importantly, a preceding question laid the table for a positive response. It asked respondents if they thought it important "to tap new oil resources in order to reduce dependency on foreign oil" in the name of "our national interest." Who wouldn't? But only if it would be productive.

Most folks in Florida probably approach the drilling issue as they would a stock-market investment. They weigh potential rewards against risks. To hear the oil industry and their sycophants tell it, drilling for oil would cure all of Florida's ills. The Associated Industries poll asked whether respondents would favor drilling if it funded public education, expanded health care, protected Florida's environment and natural resources, improved roads and bridges and other state programs?

Answer: 77 percent said yes. But, it's a purely rhetorical question, because there's little oil in the water Florida controls. Companies might pay for leases to show on their annual reports to stockholders, but they're not going to produce much oil. And in federal waters, 45 miles out and beyond, any revenue from oil royalties must go toward fixing the damage drilling has caused.

Florida will get nothing, which is just about what this whole idea is worth to the public.