Did you like what I did there? Every since Russian forces have marched on into Ukraine, we have seen an uptick in gasoline and diesel prices. Just recently, I paid $97 and some change to fill up my old truck. It’s not fun, but what can you do?
Well, if you were in a higher position of power in the United States, you could help influence and enact policy changes that would stop the price increases. I am once again reiterating that our natural resources should not be ignored or restricted, especially when alternative sources are no longer feasible for what ever reason. De
The whole situation makes me think of a farmer who buys milk from a travelling salesman, even though he has a dairy cow in the back (fun fact: the infamous Huey P. Long was a traveling salesman, and a successful one at that. It is fair to say he may have done deals like the one above). We shouldn’t be leaning on importing oil and gas when we can produce it here in the country. We can refine it, as well! I’ve already spoke to this point in the past, so I’ll try not repeat exactly what I said in the past.
One thing not always mentioned is that our society tends to be reactive instead of proactive. We can (and probably will) complain about $4/gallon gasoline until the cows come home. Why aren’t we spending just as much time and energy planning ahead? Steps should have been taken back during the Colonial Pipeline snafu. The powers that be should have been exploring the ideas and possibilities regarding oil and gas transfer, opening more land to be available to drill, updating or building new refineries, and more to prevent shortages and wild price fluctuations from being outside of our control.
These processes take time and capital, and we need to be making changes now to bring stability in the future. If we keep putting the necessary changes on the back burner, we will always be caught with our pants down when something unexpected happens. Having stability and security is not a dream, it’s a very plausible reality. To keep a reality from staying just a dream, it takes action. It takes folks willing and capable of action in positions of power. And a good helping of common sense.
Bayou Observant 