by Matthew Pilling, guest author

SALT LAKE CITY, UT | 21 July 2008 | When individuals can’t have their way, they often resort to the only other tactic they know—force, or tyranny.  In this case, it’s a slightly veiled use of force, but it is force nonetheless. 

As the GOP is pushing to do what more and more Americans see as necessary and begin exploring new oil possibilities in our own lands, the Democrats have started singing along.  Unfortunately, they are off tune.  They don’t think we should drill in any of the areas where Republicans think we should.  While the Republicans want to explore regions along the east and west coasts, the Democrats wish to see oil companies tied down to exploration and drilling on the lands where they already have leases. 

And, like most liberal policies, it sounds like a good idea at first glance.  Indeed, many frustrated voices have been calling out, wondering why big oil companies want more lands when they haven’t yet made good use of the lands they currently have access to.  Therein lays the problem.  According to Glenn Beck’s sources, there’s a piece to this puzzle that isn’t being made known to the general public.  Leases have been given to most major oil companies allowing them to explore certain areas for oil and gas.  Such a generous offering from the government!  But, these leases bear clauses banning necessary steps to move forward with production.  In some cases, exploration is allowed, but drilling and production aren’t.  In others, even drilling is allowed, but production is still taboo.  To be able to move forward, the oil companies have to return to Congress and seek further permissions.  And that’s a drawn out process.  Glenn says that the Chevron company received a lease in 1981, found major amounts of natural gas, and ended up having to sell the lease back to the government recently because they couldn’t ever get the needed approvals to develop a finished product.  It’s as though Congress is saying, “We’ll let you peak and see that what you want is out there.  Then, once you’ve seen it, we’ll slam the door closed and laugh at you.” 

Key Points

This shows use of force and deception on numerous levels:

• Fixing an agreement that leads to a presumable end, knowing that you never intend to allow that end to happen is pure deception.  Deception, as a form of force, ultimately destroys freedom and prosperity.  The oil companies pay for the lease and the exploration process, presuming that they will be able to eventually recoup those costs and create a profit.  Were it clear that they would not be able to produce a marketable product, they never would have taken out the leases in the first place.
• As Congress strings the oil companies along, the unjustified costs created get passed to the consumer, driving up the price of existing fuel.  Tax revenues on fuel are paid at the pump by consumers and then again on the profits by the oil companies.  Congress is using deception to ultimately increase tax revenues.
• The legislation being pushed by the Democrats focuses on a “use it or lose it” concept.  Failure to develop useable end products during the lease period will cause oil companies to lose their right to continue that lease.  It will also likely make it harder for the same companies to acquire new leases in the future (if they’re even still in business in the future).  Because of the lack of freedom within the current leases, oil companies are bound to not be able to produce and will lose their leases.
• Perhaps this is a calculated move by the left.  When their attempts failed to control big oil companies in the name of saving the environment or protecting the little consumer, they had to move to harsher tactics.  And what could work better than deceiving oil companies and luring them into faulty contracts so that they spin their wheels and hurt their profit margins.  And, if their profits take a steep enough dip while at the same time the public can somehow be convinced that big oil has been negligent and irresponsible with the leases they have received, then perhaps big oil companies could be driven out of existence and all the world’s problems could be solved in one fell swoop!  It’s just a little bit of deception, but it accomplishes so much!
• Democrats are playing both sides of this issue, and so far, they are succeeding at it.  They are saying that they are all for drilling, but they secretly stand behind clauses that prohibit drilling.  They set up calculated road blocks, and then spin the lack of production and subsequent price hikes to look like the fault of the current administration.

Conclusion

Part of the major impetus that allowed the Democrats to take control of the House and the Senate was the promise of a common sense plan to lower gas prices.  Two years later, we have yet to see that plan.  And, as gas prices continue to rise, rather than present a plan, they point the finger of blame at President Bush.  Are they just adding the finishing touches to their plan?  Or, have they received orders to wait until King Obama takes his throne so that he can present the plan as the new hero of the people?

It should be know surprise that Congress hasn’t accomplished what it promised.  That’s just par for the course.  But, when they have made calculated moves that are diametrically opposed to the end result promised, it’s time to call them on the carpet. 

Action Items

1. Consider adding your name to the Drill Here, Drill Now Petition
2. Contact Congress (especially those opposed to drilling) and let them know how you feel about their use of deception to manipulate the markets.
3. Share this story (or the source materials cited below) with friends and family.  The more that people know about Congress’s deceptive practices, the more prepared they will be to make the right choices in November’s elections.
4. Take a moment to focus on your own level of integrity.  Ask yourself the following questions:
   1. Do I make promises that I don’t intend to keep?
   2. Do I manipulate situations to my benefit?
   3. Do I publicly proclaim one set of beliefs and desires, while privately hoping for something else?

While the use of force by public officials is deplorable, your personal commitment to integrity and principle will have a much greater effect on your life than the price of gas ever will.

MRFC Principles:  (11, 12)

Sources:

Andrew Taylor, “Dems try to spur oil drills on available land in Alaska, the West, Gulf of Mexico”, Associated Press, July 17, 2008

Glenn Beck, Transcript from radio show, July 15, 2008

(Matthew Pilling is a member of the FreeCapitalist movement known as the Canadian Capitalist. Despite his time in the Great White North, Matthew loves America and all that it stands for. He lives with his wife and two children in Taylorsville and works in finance.)