Energy Independence or Death

To paraphrase a quotation from Patrick Henry, who of course was one of ourfounding fathers in America, “give me energy independence or death.”

In our economy, it’s time to face this truth:  Boone Pickens, thefamous Texas oilman, knows a lot more about energy and energy policy in Americathan virtually any of our politicians and is certainly better informed on thesesubjects than almost any of the “chattering class” in Washington, DC.

Specifically, he says that we as a society are engaged in a massive wealthtransfer, where America is each year shipping nearly 0 billion overseas toother nations, some of which hate us, such as Iran or Venezuela.  Ofcourse, these are nations, which often own major oil companies outright andwhich our Congress in Washington, DC cannot easily call into our nation’scapitol for testimony in an effort to look for “a scapegoat” for our nation’senergy and economic ills.

And, so, I say to my fellow Americans this morning:  “Wake Up! Wake up!”  We cannot continue indefinitely to make such choices and, then,stupidly expect no consequences in this country.  In addition, we mustalso understand that other countries will shock us, both now and in the future,by buying our companies outright with American dollars, which will come fromthe money each American pays to pump gas, which should be coming from the USbut ISN’T.  How could we have allowed this level of political correctnessto so infect our society?

“Yes,” it’s time to develop alternative types of energy in our society tothe maximum, including biodiesel, ethanol from such Midwest crops as corn,wind, solar and battery-powered technologies in the future.  In fact,every “green innovation” in our society needs to be pursued.  But, whatabout the other options?  Should they also be included in our list ofchoices or not?

Once again, the answer is an unequivocal “Yes.”  All options need to bepursued, both now and in the future.  And, so, I say “Drill, drill,drill!”  Off the East Coast of the United States, off the West Coast ofthe United States, off the Gulf of Mexico and in Alaska’s Arctic NationalWildlife Refuge (in an area the size of one of our large airports in theUS).  The United States also needs to be willing to share the revenue withthese coastal states in an effort to encourage their cooperation with the oilcompanies, who want to drill off of their coasts.  Money can be a greatincentive to our states.

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By the way, “Yes, ANWR is a pristine area in Alaska,” but almost no USSenator has ever even visited this area (perhaps excluding only former SenatorZell Miller from Georgia).  On the other hand, Gov. Sarah Palin fromAlaska knows this area well and endorses drilling there.  As a patrioticAmerican, who has never worked for any US Oil company, either directly orindirectly, I accept her recommendation.

Truly outraged US citizens must stop allowing the threat posed by certaintrial lawyers, who represent overly zealous environmental interests, to stopour nation from becoming energy independent.

Do I mean LNG?  “Yes.”  If we can spend 40% less than gasoline inthe future on Liquefied Natural Gas. as Iran is currently doing, then we needto wake up and start using this bridge energy source, which can be found inabundance in the US, to its fullest in our society.  We need to look forsolutions versus complaints about this energy source or that energyoption.  Again, I am not now, nor have I ever been an employee of an LNGfirm.  But, I am a  American citizen, who wants desperately to solvethis problem, instead of simply wringing my hands about it, once again, 10years from now.

Do I also include nuclear energy, too?  Absolutely!  We must alsobe willing to rely more often in the future on an increased use of the nuclearenergy option.  If France can find a way for nuclear energy to work intheir society, so can the United States of America.  We must start lookingfor reasons to use nuclear more frequently rather than excuses NOT to use it inour nation’s energy future.  Of course, the #1 reason for greater userelates to our economic vitality as a nation.  As an economically, wellinformed American, who has never worked for any US company in the nuclearindustry, either directly or indirectly, I challenge my fellow Americans tore-evaluate this option, too.

And, what about coal?  Perhaps, you may think that the United States isthe “Saudi Arabia of coal.”  If you have heard that statement in the past,it happens to be true.  At current rates of use, our nation has anestimated 240 years of supply buried in the ground of America (Source: National Mining Association).  But, we have to build more coal-firedelectricity plants in the United States over the next five years and during thenext 10 years in order to meet increased demand for electricity.  Onceagain, I have also never worked for a US-based coal company, either directly orindirectly.

However, as an economic conservative, I challenge my fellow Americans tothink differently and to act in a new way on each of these important subjects,as we mutually seek “new” answers to old problems.  “Yes,” we do needCHANGE from the tired, old conclusions of the doom and gloom crowd, which hasconsistently stood against progress in our society.

As the Editor and President of NowWhatJobs.net, Inc., <a rel=”nofollow”onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview','/outgoing/article_exit_link/761464']);”href=”http://www.nowwhatjobs.net”>http://www.nowwhatjobs.net</a>, Isay that these proposed construction projects will provide so many high-payingjobs in our society and all over the United States that politicians of allstripes will smile from ear to shining ear.  Plus, our wealth in thefuture can stay in North and South Dakota, in the Rocky Mountain states, in ourCoastal states, in Alaska and all across America in terms of more jobsassociated with a greater number of LNG plants, more refineries, a greaternumber of nuclear facilities and more coal-fired electricity plants in ournation.  We as citizens can and should expect our politicians to do abetter job of representing us and the economic and energy needs of ournation.

Let us today decide to stop enriching Iran and Venezuela and countriesaround the world, who do not have our interests at heart; instead, let uschoose to keep the money in the United States, as our nation creates US-basedjobs in every possible area of energy production.

In this way, America will stop choosing economic death for ourcountry.  Instead, we can choose to create more US-based constructionindustry and energy-related jobs in every possible corner of our nation in thefuture.  We can also begin to make conscious decisions about moving towardenergy independence.  The choice is ours, but the consequence for makingthe wrong decisions are dire.

May God continue to bless the United States of America, as we collectivelymake good decisions both economically and politically in our nation’sfuture.

South Dakota Lt. Governor Dennis Daugaard explains the huge impact thatgreen energy jobs are having on his state.

Tags: Death, Energy, Independence

Category: South Dakota State Jobs