Focusing On Being An American First Makes the Impossible Possible!

Americans cannot segregate themselves from other Americans due to race, religion or skin color since none of us had any control on how we entered the World. It’s not important if we were born as Anglo-American, African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic-American, Native-American or Fill-in-the-blank-American. What is important is that for some reason, we are among the World’s fortunate few and are Americans! As Americans, we need to work together in making America a better country for all of us.

Many of us have allowed our social beliefs or even our parents to influence and direct us to classify ourselves as Democrats or Republicans. We’ve permitted our economic beliefs to force us to identify as Conservatives or Liberals. But we cannot allow anything to distract us from the fact that we are first and foremost Americans and as Americans share in a life style envied by most of the World’s populace. Clearly, as Americans, we are fortunate but along with the privilege of being Americans we have a major responsibility which many of us have ignored: We must become informed voters and vote for candidates which support policies beneficial for most Americans, not just for a selected few!

I’m a good example of today’s American. Starting on my Father’s side, I’m a second generation Polish immigrant. On my Mother’s side I am Native-American and a member of the Choctaw Tribe of Oklahoma plus fill-in-the-blank-American.  I’m not rich and I’m not poor but through hard work and good fortune, my wife and I have created a comfortable life for ourselves. We are now retired but likely due to the fact I’ve spent a significant portion of my working life involved in the energy and agriculture industries, I have spent more than a decade researching the energy and environmental situation confronting Americans. It is from this research that I became extremely concerned about how Americans are being misled as to America’s energy and environmental options by the “self-serving” energy industry, the “sky is falling” environmentalists and the “say anything to get elected” politicians. Although as a common, everyday American with limited resources, I recognize the improbability of getting the attention of a significant number of American voters. But I have to try!

America, constitutionally, has a “free press”. Unfortunately, this does not necessarily mean an “unbiased press”. Due to outside pressures and even personal beliefs, much, if not most of the news and information provided by various media sources may be presented in a manner which is misleading. For example, a story about energy might be harmful or even beneficial to a major advertiser and as such, might be toned down or embellished. If the media has ready access to certain powerful political leaders, a story which might be harmful to the policies or future of the political leaders might be presented in a less demeaning manner to protect the media’s future access to the political power. The owner or other significant manager of a media may have strong environmental beliefs and down play any story which conflicts with those beliefs. The bottom line is that we are all human and as such have weaknesses.

Unfortunately, energy and the environment are far too important to be politicized or distorted in any manner. Americans need to understand the importance and urgency of America developing a meaningful energy and environmental policy. America can no longer afford to react to energy, economic and environmental issues without an energy and environmental policy. America simply must become proactive by creating a pragmatic energy and environmental policy. If America is to have a realistic energy and environmental policy it will be because the American voters made it clear to their elected leaders that unless they support such an energy and environmental policy, forget about being elected or re-elected.

Why is energy so important? America’s economy is driven by energy. Without secure, stable, reliable and affordable energy, America’s economy will not support the needs of middle class Americans. America’s good paying jobs will continue to disappear and be replaced by lower paying jobs. Americans will never know from time to time how much to budget for fuel required to travel back and forth to work or to heat and cool their homes. Food costs will continue to increase along with many other items necessary for modern life. If America does not create a strong, expanding economy, there is no way global climate change can be successfully conquered. No other issue should be more important to Americans than energy. If America is to have the energy it needs, Americans will have to make it clear to politicians and elected leaders that America must develop all its energy resources.

If American voters are to get behind a meaningful energy and environmental policy, they must understand the real consequences of America’s various energy options. Americans need access to energy and environmental information which is presented in a form which makes it clear how various options will impact the lives of all Americans. That is the basis for BizzEB.com and the book: “Secure Our Ship! Fuel America Now!”