Hi all,
I've just returned to my workplace in Yemen. Having seen and heard all of the "white noise" about the oil problems it confirms my beliefs. The activists goal of using bureacracy to stymy oil infrastructure development is at its zenith. Once the Democrats (and I used to be a card carrying Truman style Dem until Clinton appeared) stood shoulder to shoulder with the activists on the off shore drilling it gave clear and undeniable proof that the activists have bought the Left wing.
This is a tradegy of national proportion. It kills jobs, destroys communities and forces an even greater dependence on foreign oil. The US will not become independent of foreign oil until such time as we have the infrastructure to produce and support such visionary processes as CNG vehicles and requisite service stations as populous as gasoline stations. Secondly, there has to be incentive to create!
One cannot build effectively if one knows a lawsuit is waiting. Not much is said about the fact that when Katrina inflicted serious damage to the Gulf's off shore oil infrastructure, there was not one major oil spill. There was perhaps,minimal leakage at best and I have yet to find documentation of any, but this proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that offshore drilling can be done with the protection of the environment at its heart.
It is time for activism on our part. Yes we are paying too much for white goods (gas, diesel, etc.) First step is to reduce the amount you consume, whether through driving, car pooling with SUV's or using mass transit. However this is a stopgap measure not intended for long term solutions.
We need to take on the activists in their own environment. This means creating community action groups that build cohesive support for the resurrection of America's oil industry. Petitions must be created,signed and submitted to all elected officials firmly indicating the number of residents IN FAVOR of developing our oil infrastructure.
Letters must be penned to Editors citing glaring omissions by the activists on their quotes, releasing financial information about the activist group (salaries, donations, major contributing individuals and companies,etc. etc) and finally a rigoruous boycott of businesses that support the activists. This includes companies and businesses owned by major contributors to the activists.
Yes it is harsh. But when I had to sit and listen to a 50 plus hippie tell me that because live in a small town I am causing a problem as we don't have mass transportation.Her cure was for everyone to move to a major city!!! Where's the logic, people?
Building a not for profit activist group is easy. Find a group of lawyers who are involved with the oil industry and ask them to anonymously donate their time to creating a 501-C-3 dedicated to the support of the oil industry. Approach the State Oil associations for their support. Build research teams and find the financial data on activists. Simple enough to do, write a demand letter to the group and demand their full financial disclosures. If they refuse, then write the letter to t he editor and BLOG the fact that the group wouldn'tprovide their financials. Sometimes a lack of information impugns more guilt than the actual information would have created.
If we want this to end, we must first address and mitigate the activists against the oil industry. They are numerous and well funded. Too bad. David slew Goliath with a stone; we can do the same.
For all of you worried about gas prices it's time to understand the laws of supply and demand.
There is sufficient crude in both reservoirs and active downhole operations to eliminate the shortages in the US. Problem is, we don't have sufficient refining capacity for the white goods (trade name for fuels.)
The last refinery was built in the states more than 30 years ago. Since that time US Production capacity has not kept pace with US Consumption. Secondarily, the environmentalists have made it cost prohibitive to construct new refineries in the States. Communities have bought into the "death from refineries" mantra chanted throughout the halls of liberalism. In the end, everybody wants cheap gas but no one wants to have the refinery in their community creating the cheap gas.
If refinery construction for all white goods and lube oils had been improved during the past thirty years, the US would have a burgeoning Oil Industry and the Western States would be flush with oil revenue. The oil revenue could have been used as the State of Alaska uses it; to enforce the environmental regulations that have created healthy ecosystems in the middle of oilfields.
Secondly, the demand for all petroleum based products has skyrocketed. Almost every appliance in a home or business requires a lube oil.
In the end, if we want to solve the dilemma we must first create the manufacturing capacity internally to support our consumption. Then we must create alternative energy sources and more efficient petrochemical consumption habits. Without a multi faceted plan of attack on the problem, it will only get worse.
