Russian Invasion Highlights American Need for Energy Independence

Rightwingpatriot.com ^ | March 4, 2014 | Rightwingerpatriot

[rightwingerpatriot]

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in the Crimea has once again highlighted the vital power and significance of energy. You would think an assault upon a neighbor of the European Union, especially one that had been close to integrating more with the EU, would have Europe in an uproar. However, Europe is behaving like a timid kitten in the face of Putin's naked aggression. One of the key reasons is their need for energy. A great deal of Europe's gas passes through Ukraine from Russia. In the past, Putin has stopped the flow when in dispute with Europe with the result of Europe capitulating. Once again, this situation highlights our need to become fully energy independent.

We have the energy resources in America to become not only energy independent but also an exporter of energy. North America is insanely abundant with resources, but the federal government (prodded by environmental whackos) are keeping us from tapping into them. Since Obama took office, the amount of permits on federal land has decreased by at least a third, and the number of wells in use have plummeted forty percent. Overall oil production is up due to companies working on private land, resulting in an economic windfall for those particular regions. In fact, the oil and gas companies pay $85 million a day to the government in the form of taxes. Factor that with the fact that 87% of federal land is off limits to fuel production. It's sheer madness.

Just take a look at natural gas. In the span of five years, we've gone from importing natural gas to exporting it. The result is more jobs and the price of natural gas has fallen due to the increased production. Conservative estimates show that if we increase our oil production, we can be a net exporter by 2024 and it is predicted that the overall cost of oil would drop by a full twenty percent! What does that mean? It means that nations hostile to America will be royally screwed financially. The Middle East can only thrive if oil is kept at an artificial high. The same goes for Russia where studies have shown that oil needs to stay above ninety dollars a barrel for the Russian economy to stay afloat.

By being energy dependent, we give power to our enemies and embolden them to act against us. If we, or Europe, resist, they cut off the flow until we give up. It's such a no-brainer that it drives reasonable mad with frustration that nothing is being done. I've heard for the last twenty plus years that plans for increased oil production, new refineries, and new nuclear power plants would take a decade to show any reward for the effort. Now we find ourselves decades later still sitting on our hands. If we had started increased production back in the Clinton administration, the Middle East and Russia would be dancing to our tune. Instead, the federal government and liberals wring their hands over the possible environmental impact of a facility upon the spotted slug population. Yes, things could go wrong, but we actually have a great track record for safety overall. Accidents have happened, but they've never been the end of the world as the media loves to portray. An airplane may go down once every couple of years, but does this mean that we refuse to fly any longer? The answer is no. Yet we refuse to act upon the abundant natural resources God has given us for no valid reason. It's time for the grownups to take back the country and put the spoiled tykes (eco-freaks, liberals, etc.) into time out. Preferably after a good spanking.

[Finny]

What about when Russia looks across the straights and see Alaska ... and decide they’d like to have THAT goldmine of energy for themselves?

[Kevmo]

The pathway to energy dependence is with Low Energy Nuclear Reactions.

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/lenr/index?tab=articles