We are in a war. I am not talking about the terrorists’ war against the West that we see played out on television news each night–though the war I am talking about is also an ideological war. And, like the war based in the Middle East, the war I am talking about aims to fundamentally change America as we know it. This war is being waged within our borders. It is well-funded. It is being fought through mainstream and social media. While no bombs are being dropped, the long-term impact could be nearly as devastating.
As President Obama’s refusal to call out our physical enemy for what it is prevents the U.S. from effectively fighting it, if we don’t acknowledge that we are in a war, we can’t join with our allies to overcome the attacks. But, if we face the facts, band together, and commit resources to the battle, I am confident we will win. The public is on our side, but we are behind in rallying the troops.
This is about the war on fossil fuels–it is not just about coal, but oil and natural gas as well.
The three great questions on the battlefield have always been: “Where am I?”; “Where’s the enemy?”; and “Where’s my buddy?” These questions can aptly be applied to the war on fossil fuels.
Where Am I?
This one is easy. For those in the energy industry or energy consumers who appreciate some of the lowest energy costs in the world and who are angered by rising utility costs–we are all in the crosshairs.
Where’s the Enemy?
The enemy can be found in groups, such as the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council,
Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune
who masquerade as environmental groups–but who, in fact, provide the soldiers in the war on fossil fuels. They have announced their next offensive; they call it: “Keep it in the ground.” (If you haven’t read my recent column introducing “keep in in the ground,” please do.) President Obama, Hillary Clinton, and, especially, Bernie Sanders are their most visible standard bearers–able to easily capture media time to tout the message.
Buoyed by their success with the Keystone pipeline, the enemy’s plan is to apply similar tactics to “Keep it in the ground.”
While this enemy is well funded and organized, they are not undefeatable. Though they can claim some victories, polling shows the public isn’t with them. Because catastrophic anthropogenic climate change is the excuse used for opposition to fossil fuels, it is an important trigger point to understand.
The climate change agenda has been the most expensive and extensive public relations campaign in the history of the world. Gallup has been polling on this issue for 25 years. Despite the herculean effort, fewer people are worried about climate change today than 25 years ago. The Pew Research Center has repeatedly found that when given a list of concerns regarding the public’s policy priorities, respondents put jobs and economy at the top of the list, with climate change at the bottom. Polling done just before the UN climate conference in Paris found that only 3% of Americans believe that climate change is the most important issue facing America. New regional polling shows that voters across the nation understand the importance of American energy and support pro-energy policies.
Yes, this news is encouraging, but it is not enough. We cannot sit back while they continually attack. We must present the public with the pro-energy message; what I call the “Energy Makes America Great!” message–consistently, thoughtfully, honestly, and deliberately. This counter attack is especially imperative in the presidential election year. This is a fight America, let alone the energy industry, cannot afford to lose.
Where’s my Buddy?
When in battle, it is important to know who your buddies are and what they are doing. We need to support one another. The Citizens’ Alliance for Responsible Energy (CARE) and the companion advocacy arm, Energy Makes America Great Inc., represent your best buddy. We are the only ones who are beating the drum for effective, efficient, and economical American energy–oil, gas, and coal–addressing transportation fuels and electricity generation, distribution, and use. The full spectrum of topic and third-party advocacy give us a credibility, unavailable through trade associations.
Over the past ten years, we have developed an unparalleled, three-pronged messaging system and are actively working to combat the misinformation spread by the anti-fossil fuel movement.
The first prong is my weekly energy commentary that you receive each Tuesday morning. It is published on major sites such as Breitbart, Townhall, RedState, OilPro, and American Spectator, among others. The print version can be found in many newspapers–especially those in the oil patch.
Because the commentary is news-based, it makes excellent fodder for radio talk shows. When energy is in the news–which it is every week–I am invited to discuss it on radio shows from coast-to-coast. Some are nationally syndicated, a few are regional, and many are local. Whatever the audience, my communications background and enthusiasm for the topic make me a popular guest–with several shows interviewing me on a regular basis. I do dozens of radio interviews each month–plus my own show: America’s Voice for Energy.
Writing a weekly column means that my head is full of the latest information–and that makes me a perfect speaker for industry, civic, and political groups. Speaking engagements are the third prong of our messaging delivery. Because I never give the same speech twice, many groups invite me back engagement-after-engagement.
What’s the Plan?
I’ve added this point. It is not part of the initial three military questions, but it should be the question next on your mind.
Don’t be in denial about the scale of this problem. We all need to face the facts, band together, and commit resources to the battle.
I’ve given you the facts. No other entity is as strongly positioned to bring the different factions of the energy industry together with consistent, constant messaging, as are CARE and Energy Makes America Great. But, to continue on the front lines of the war on fossil fuels, I need you to commit resources to the battle. In this low-oil-price environment, many of our corporate donors have had to cut back–which makes individual contributions all the more important. No amount is too small. In 2014, our average contribution was about $500. Please send a check (PO Box 52103 Albuquerque, NM 87181), or donate through PayPal, today. We have several members who donate a set dollar figure each month.
One more way you can help our efforts is to submit my name to the program chairman of any industry, civic or political group to which you belong. The Energy Makes America Great website–which is where our most current content can be found–has video recordings of some of my previous presentations for you to sample.
If you have questions, please contact me at 505-239-8998. I look forward to hearing from you.
Outstanding, this is one of 4 fronts that I feel are almost equally dire. Climate Change, Immigration, Teaching for Social Justice which they indoctrinate our kids into believing in Climate Change among other things that are anti-American, and the Administrative State/4th branch of government
Ian5
January 25, 2016 at 2:31 AM
How exactly is teaching kids about climate change anti-American?
carlos aguilar
January 25, 2016 at 6:03 AM
Not what I said, but teaching kids about a fraudulent theory would be pointless. Teachers have a finite time with students, better to teach fundamentals, than go down the rabbit hole that is Global Warming.
carlos aguilar
January 25, 2016 at 3:50 PM
I was a little unclear with. that comment, it is now edited for clarity.
Betawelder
January 31, 2016 at 1:30 AM
Maybe it’s time for Coal to go on strike, put down their shovels and let the power plants shut down and let the enviromenalist deal with the results.
Andrea Hall
February 9, 2016 at 7:40 AM
It makes no difference if you believe. When the violence of weather overtakes the life of the human to the point of no return, then maybe, just maybe the human will realize they too have a “distinct” responsibility to survive. It will be too late.
Wayne Peterkin
February 26, 2016 at 11:56 AM
If I read your comment correctly, you are making the assumption that human activity is causing “climate changes”, an assumption that has not been proven and is hotly debated within scientific circles. I do not make those assumptions.
Wayne Peterkin
February 26, 2016 at 11:53 AM
I am a very big believer in American energy independence as both an economic necessity but perhaps even more of a national security issue. I have been very happy about the increased domestic exploration and production and would like to see the restrictions on our resources relaxed and far more federal lands be made available. However, at today’s global oil prices, little new production will be seen simply because producers cannot make a profit. The actual production cost of today’s higher technology domestic drilling makes our production costs much higher than in many other areas of the world that can still produce using more antiquated and cheaper technologies without the regulations we require for valid environmental reasons. In short, our domestic production is not competitive as long as the world supply remains so high that prices are depressed. There is a permanent solution for this, but one that is politically unpopular. That solution is to raise the cost of imported oil to a level that supports domestic production. It is politically unpopular because that also means intentionally raising consumer prices somewhat although in the longer term it would stabilize those prices and help prevent any future return to the very high prices we have seen in the past. In other words, we would pay a bit more now to save a lot later while also encouraging complete energy independence. We can force foreign oil prices to become competitive with domestic requirements by simply imposing a floating oil import tax raising the total foreign oil cost to the level the domestic industry must have to compete. For example, if today’s foreign trade price were $35/bbl and we needed a $50/bbl base price level domestically, we would charge a $15/bbl import duty on every barrel imported from a foreign source. That duty would need adjusted constantly to stay in line with the domestic base price and prices are more complex based on crude oil qualities, but the intention is clear. We keep foreign oil costs constantly at the base price necessary to support domestic production.
Mervyn
March 14, 2016 at 11:52 PM
I pray everyday that Donald Trump becomes president because someone has to stop all this nonsense that has been transitioning America to the ‘new world order’ … weakening America and strengthening its competitors.
Outstanding, this is one of 4 fronts that I feel are almost equally dire. Climate Change, Immigration, Teaching for Social Justice which they indoctrinate our kids into believing in Climate Change among other things that are anti-American, and the Administrative State/4th branch of government
How exactly is teaching kids about climate change anti-American?
Not what I said, but teaching kids about a fraudulent theory would be pointless. Teachers have a finite time with students, better to teach fundamentals, than go down the rabbit hole that is Global Warming.
I was a little unclear with. that comment, it is now edited for clarity.
Maybe it’s time for Coal to go on strike, put down their shovels and let the power plants shut down and let the enviromenalist deal with the results.
It makes no difference if you believe. When the violence of weather overtakes the life of the human to the point of no return, then maybe, just maybe the human will realize they too have a “distinct” responsibility to survive. It will be too late.
If I read your comment correctly, you are making the assumption that human activity is causing “climate changes”, an assumption that has not been proven and is hotly debated within scientific circles. I do not make those assumptions.
I am a very big believer in American energy independence as both an economic necessity but perhaps even more of a national security issue. I have been very happy about the increased domestic exploration and production and would like to see the restrictions on our resources relaxed and far more federal lands be made available. However, at today’s global oil prices, little new production will be seen simply because producers cannot make a profit. The actual production cost of today’s higher technology domestic drilling makes our production costs much higher than in many other areas of the world that can still produce using more antiquated and cheaper technologies without the regulations we require for valid environmental reasons. In short, our domestic production is not competitive as long as the world supply remains so high that prices are depressed. There is a permanent solution for this, but one that is politically unpopular. That solution is to raise the cost of imported oil to a level that supports domestic production. It is politically unpopular because that also means intentionally raising consumer prices somewhat although in the longer term it would stabilize those prices and help prevent any future return to the very high prices we have seen in the past. In other words, we would pay a bit more now to save a lot later while also encouraging complete energy independence. We can force foreign oil prices to become competitive with domestic requirements by simply imposing a floating oil import tax raising the total foreign oil cost to the level the domestic industry must have to compete. For example, if today’s foreign trade price were $35/bbl and we needed a $50/bbl base price level domestically, we would charge a $15/bbl import duty on every barrel imported from a foreign source. That duty would need adjusted constantly to stay in line with the domestic base price and prices are more complex based on crude oil qualities, but the intention is clear. We keep foreign oil costs constantly at the base price necessary to support domestic production.
I pray everyday that Donald Trump becomes president because someone has to stop all this nonsense that has been transitioning America to the ‘new world order’ … weakening America and strengthening its competitors.