Events that began in Egypt demonstrate the speed with which revolution can transform governments once seen to hold absolute power. Yet to be revealed is how fast revolution can spread throughout a diverse and troubled region, and what form of government will ultimately rule these strategic nations of the world.  Perhaps democratic governments will ultimately spread across the Middle East, or maybe radical jihadists will insight the region to the flash point.  Regardless of what develops in this region, the future presents unknown risks to America.  A big percentage of the life blood of the world’s standard of living is oil produced and transported through a region that seems perpetually poised for conflict.   We are finding it increasingly difficult and expensive to influence stability in the Middle East. The fact is, we may be realizing it has become impossible to guard our strategic interests in the Middle East.

It is time for a contingency plan for America’s future petroleum requirements. That plan should be based on petroleum development in the western hemisphere.  Oil development in Latin America holds the promise for reserves equaling the Middle East. Venezuela’s proven reserves now rival that of the biggest oil producers in the Persian Gulf region.  America should use its influence and intelligence resources to return free elections to Venezuela, and other nations in our region that depend on the U.S. for aid and markets for their products.  Hugo Chavez, and now his successor poised himself as a virtual dictator by hijacking the Venezuelan constitution.  Chavez spread hate for the U.S., while depending on U.S. refineries to refine his high sulfur crude oil.  The fact is Venezuela depends on U.S. refineries to fiscalize their petroleum revenue.  The U.S. State Department allowed Chavez to nationalize U.S. Oil Company assets obtained through internationally binding exploration contracts. The correct response to this would have been for our U.S. State Department to use existing provisions in international law to freeze Venezuelan assets worldwide.  While we are sticking our nose in other nation’s business, let’s have a close look at the state of our own fair and free elections, nationalization and centralization of power over our own citizens.

Our greatest petroleum security lies in producing American oil and creating infrastructure to fully utilize America’s vast natural gas reserves.  We should embrace new technologies like multi-stage fracing not allow special interest to limit progress without sound science. Both coastal waters of the U.S. hold tremendous oil and gas potential, but remain off limits to exploration.  Millions of acres of national park land that Americans will never see or step foot on are off limits. The standard environmental argument is no longer credible.  The radical environmental groups stated the Gulf of Mexico would be dead for 100 years during the BP incident, and now we see that the effects of the BP spill have faded into history.  We don’t limit rail transportation because a train derails.  We don’t eliminate the use of natural gas because there is an explosion.

One thing is certain, whether it is a foreign country, or our own home land, you cannot separate energy from politics.  Oil and gas was established as the basis of National and International political power from the earliest days of its exploitation.

We now know “global warming” was a scheme to allow a few to make fabulous profits, I think it fully explains global warming to say; “The planet has warmed since the last ice age”.  Most environmental opposition to our industrial activity is based on flawed theories put forth by those opposed to the idea that American is exceptional.

If we ever hope to achieve energy independence and reclaim industrial and technical dominance, we will have to slash the EPA and OSHA to a level necessary to perform their basic task, and then add some oversight to reign in their behavior that tramples on Americans constitutional rights on a daily basis, and has caused business to flee the U.S.  Who else in the world has the capability and willingness to engage in heavy industrial activity in an environmentally friendly way, while protecting worker’s safety? If American citizens understood how many high paying jobs have been needlessly destroyed, by unreasonable regulation and globally uncompetitive corporate tax policy, they would demand real change.

Hard decisions are only hard before they are made.  Implementing a hard decision is much easier than making it, so let’s get to the easier part by putting America first.

Let’s create an attractive business environment through a tax code that attracts business back to the U.S. from polluted shores around the world.  Cut fat, waste, and duplication from government spending.  This business environment would create high paying industrial jobs increasing the tax base and pointing the U.S. to the achievable goal of being a debt free, energy independent nation.

The current philosophy of punishing successful people will never create good jobs.  Is there anyone that has a good job working for a poor person? The flood of social reengineering taking place in the U.S.A. uses energy dependence to further the social agenda and concentrate central power. America has a big job to do at home.

As for foreign energy policy, let’s align with cultures in the western hemisphere that more closely mirror our own.  Let American military might guard freedom and the high seas on our side of the planet, while developing a practical approach to support foreign nations based on their willingness to repay our generosity.

Maybe the best energy contingency policy is to eliminate the barriers to developing America’s vast oil reserves, and return to what made us the world’s largest oil exporter in the 1950s. You see, back then, we drilled wells everywhere oil might be found.

Blacky