Has anyone noticed that most of the nations from which we get our oil are markedly anti-American?
Citgo, formerly an American company, is wholly owned by the Venezuelan government. Hugo Chavez, the ruler of Venezuela, has publicly stated that he plans to work with other criminal states in bringing down the “American Empire.” The Middle East is a steaming cauldron of death and chaos. Russia does a booming business with Iran. The Saudis are at best fair-weather friends who would sell us out anytime it proved more profitable than selling us oil.
On our home turf, the Enviro-Nazis work tirelessly to cripple the efforts of American exploration companies with phony lawsuits based on junk science. Liberal politicians bow at the altar of the Almighty Lobbyist Dollar, and willingly support the efforts of the far-left to bring oil and gas exploration to a halt on U.S. soil.
All the while, our need for oil continues to grow. We are in a deadly situation, and it will get better only when we act to solve the problem instead of playing politics. There are a number of items to be accomplished…
First, we must recognize that our interests do not always match up with those of other nations. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t act in our own best interest, but it does mean that we shouldn’t be surprised when we meet opposition. For example, a lot of people were outraged when it was discovered that Russia was providing military technology to Iran. And I don’t recall anyone asking our permission when Dubai Ports World purchased the rights to manage some of our ports. Sorry friends, but there is no law that says Russia must first consider the well-being of Americans when they conduct business on the international stage. Other nations will act in their own best interests, and that is as it should be.
The next thing to learn is that regardless of how it affects the rest of the world, we should indeed protect and expand our interests. No one will do it for us. If the rest of the world doesn’t like it, they can get over it. Those who stand idly by, worrying about how they’re regarded by others, soon find themselves at the bottom of the economic and political food chains. Look around… it’s happening to us right here and right now.
Next… Drill for more oil here at home. Drill in ANWR. Drill off the coast of Florida. Drill in my backyard (please?). Drill anywhere within our borders that’ll produce a good drip of black gold. Otherwise, we run the risk of seeing our country reduced to economic ruin when our enemies elect to cut off the supply. It isn’t a matter of “if” this happens. It’s simply a matter of “when.”
One of the few good ideas George W. Bush has had since becoming President is the acceleration of our pursuit of alternative fuels and more economic internal combustion engines. I’m 100% in favor of people being able to drive as big and expensive a vehicle as their budget allows. I am not however, in favor of those vehicles gulping down a gallon of gasoline every 12 or 14 miles. Having said that, I’ll also say this: You’ll never see the day when I drive a funky hybrid that looks like a pregnant roller skate and performs like a quadriplegic turtle. But show me one that actually performs. Show me one that goes zero to sixty like a car ought to. Show me one that matches my awesomely charismatic personality. In other words, show me one that is what an American car should be. Then I’ll drive it proudly. If the Europeans wish to drive a sardine can on wheels, more power to them.
We don’t need to break our addiction to oil. We do however need to break our addiction to foreign oil. How much stronger would our standing in the world be if OPEC nations were forced to compete for our business? How much stronger would our economy be if we could dictate the price we were willing to pay for a barrel of foreign oil? We can do this. But it requires that we extract more of our own oil, and that we find ways to use less of what we have.
That doesn’t automatically mean we should have to make unreasonable sacrifices. Damn the HOV lanes. This is America, and Americans like to drive their own cars. And, those cars must be totally cool. Is all this possible? Of course it is. American ingenuity has no equal in the world. We are a nation of people who are accustomed to getting what we want, and we’ve always found a way to make it happen. We do it by working harder and being smarter than the competition. I can’t think of any reason why that should change.
A lot of other nations would complain that we’re hurting the global market by the simple act of being “petrochemically independent.” Liberals here at home would probably whine and moan about how unfair it is that some Saudi prince had to sell a couple of castles to scrape by. Personally, I’d laugh all the way to the bank.
America didn’t become the most fabulous nation on Planet Earth by making nice with outlaw regimes like Iran and Venezuela, or local traitors like Cindy Sheehan and Harry Belafonte. America became the shining beacon of freedom and prosperity we enjoy today by being fair when she can, and ruthless when she must. I have not one whit of concern about the world’s opinion of the USA. My concern is centered solely around my country. So too, should yours.
Alan Burkhart is a freelance political writer, cross-country trucker, and proud citizen of the reddest of the Red States - Mississippi. You can reach him via e-mail at: alan@alanburkhart.com or by visiting his website: www.alanburkhart.com.
