Spencer Supporter Speaks Out on Energy

You are on to the hot topic of this campaign – energy! It has provided much of our material wealth and powers our world in several ways. However, it is now hitting our national security, jobs and bank accounts.

If we don’t fix this, we will be back in the 1700’s economically – on horseback, in the dark, and starving - and will be under the Russians. They get it – those who control energy, especially petroleum and natural gas, control the world. Just look at their actions in Georgia, the Ukraine, the “nationalizing” of BP Petroleum’s assets, etc, etc. And they have found that the easiest way to build up their economies and arsenals is with our dollars paid to them for oil. Now, who are the fools here?

Virtually all (85%) of our energy is produced from fossil fuels – coal, oil and natural gas. Nuclear gives us 8%. Wind accounts for less than 1%, and solar less than 1/10th of a percent. Hydro is actually a larger source than wind or solar. Any reasonable person can see that it will be impossible for us to get off fossil fuels for decades. After all, if the energy from solar increases 1,000% it will still only total 1% of our total demand.

Oh, by the way, in many areas which are being considered for wind or solar we are hearing that famous cry: “Not in my back yard!” And this not just about the “farms”, but the transmission lines to carry electricity to the power grid.

Not only is the world powered by energy mostly generated from fossil fuels, but much of what we use in our daily lives is derived to some degree from petroleum. A few examples are fabrics found in clothing and many other uses, plastics, tires, fertilizer, as well as roofing and other building products. The list is almost endless.

The answers for the next 50 years are oil, natural gas, coal and nuclear in any order. The others, including hydro, can help and must be pursued, but they can’t meet the demand – plain and simple.

This lack of a sane energy policy has wracked our economy over the last decades. Think about it – where have we lost the most “good” jobs? Yep, in manufacturing. And energy powers manufacturing. Competition will force companies to go where it is available and the least expensive. In some heavy manufacturing industries, this may be as big a factor as labor costs, or bigger.

And then the price at the pump for both gasoline and diesel! This not only hammers you and me, it slams business which has to transport goods.

So one is left with the question: Why are the Democrats blocking the only genuine solutions – drilling for oil and natural gas, nuclear and coal and its derivatives?

One need look no further than the radical environmental groups – the lobbyists and the trial lawyers. This may be the biggest “special interest group” in Washington and the 50 states. It is estimated it has become an industry with over $1 billion a year in revenue in Washington alone.

And what are their arguments? It boils down to global warming and disposal of nuclear waste and melt downs. You may not know that a group of over 31,000 scientists signed a petition recently stating their reservations regarding global warming. Simply, this is a theory based on extremely complex computer models of the atmosphere extending out decades. Now, how shaky is that! Check out http://www.petitionproject,org/. Regarding nuclear we only need look to Europe, to say nothing of China and India where it is used extensively and where new plants are being built at a dizzying rate.

As to risks, just think about it, our Navy has been using nuclear for decades with no problems. As to drilling, just look to Katrina for an example of how safe our techniques have become even in a horrendous storm like that. Many rigs were damaged, but there were no spills.

In reality, this has become a spiritual issue. The radical environmentalists worship the created, not the Creator. The sad thing is they are forcing us to do the same with dire consequences. And they don’t seem to care – at least about every one else.

So what can we do? Vote for those at all levels who will attack this problem using all we have at hand – oil, natural gas, nuclear, wind, solar, geothermal, hydro – everything.

$4.00 gasoline was not caused by the speculators! Rather, it was caused by those around the world who had become convinced that we would not drill, develop shale, or whatever. If you recall, the price began dropping when Bush removed the executive order blocking any drilling activity off our coasts and McCain’s making it a center of his campaign. After all, the huge oil companies control only 5% of the world’s reserves – and thus they can’t control prices even if they wanted to.

We have the power to fix this! Vote for Albert Spencer – and others who “get it” and will fight the very tough battle ahead. This country has always looked to the Creator and rested on the people. It is our time to step out!

John Mandeville
Fort Mill