America’s Petroleum Industries are a Tale of Greed, Lies, and Destruction

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart

“America is a business, not a country.” This was a line spoken by Brad Pitt in a movie more than a decade ago. Sadly, it is based on fact. In 2024 our nation’s greedy corporations have left capitalism behind, and have created a Plutocracy. Our country’s 760+ billionaires have complete control of the former Grand Old Party, and partial control over some Democrats. They make every decision which will affect your life and the lives of those you love.

At the top of the “worst of the worst” is America’s petroleum industry. They have lied to the American people throughout my 77 years. Whenever they find the smallest excuse, they raise prices unnecessarily. Although they have few restrictions about where they are allowed to drill for oil and gas, no new refineries have been built in more than three decades.

THE TRANSPORT AND DRILLING FOR PETROLEUM PRODUCTS ARE  DANGEROUS TO HUMAN LIFE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Drilling for petroleum products is a dangerous profession. Even more dangerous than the drilling process is the construction of pipelines across our nation. Leaks from these life-threatening monstrosities have nearly destroyed farmland, streams, rivers, lakes, and aquifers in every corner of America.

The most dangerous drilling process, and the most profitable and popular, is fracking. The process involves drilling deep holes in the earth, and forcing thousands of gallons of water, some sand, and as many as 1,084 different chemicals into the well to force crude oil and natural gas to rise to the surface.

Oklahoma has thousands of fracking wells, and is experiencing an increase in the number and size of seismic events.

The waste from these wells is a danger to local residents, and lethal to land, water, and air.

THE POPULARITY OF ELECTRIC AND HYBRID VEHICLES PROVES THAT AMERICANS ARE MOVING AWAY FROM THE USE OF FOSSIL FUEL

The demand for electric vehicles, and hybrids continues to grow. They have proven to be reliable, quiet, do not produce harmful emissions, and as more powerful batteries are developed, the number of miles traveled before recharging has greatly increased. Maintenance is minimal, and the cost of charging vehicles is less than the cost of gasoline and diesel fuels required to power traditional cars, trucks, SUVs, and motorcycles.

FACTS YOU MIGHT NOT BE AWARE OF

Although the petroleum industry is allowed to raise prices without any government control, and rape consumers, it continues to receive tax subsidies from our corrupt government in Washington.

Although electric vehicles are popular and all companies producing the vehicles we drive are converting large areas of their facilities to the production of hybrids and electric vehicles, there are more fossil-fueled vehicles on our roads and highways in operation today.

With the average price of a gallon of gasoline hovering around four-dollars in most states, it is clear that the corporations providing your fuel are price gouging to ensure bloated profits before they begin to disappear.

AMERICA REMAINS A NATION DEDICATED TO CORPORATE PROFITS MORE THAN TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ITS PEOPLE

Although the petroleum industry has always been the greatest villain in the story of corporate greed, one trip to your local grocery store will enlighten you.

Corporate greed has spread to the companies who provide necessities. The greatest harm is being experienced by older Americans and our nation’s people who struggle in the low-income and poverty levels.

My wife and I are paying nearly 50 percent more for our groceries today than we did two years ago. Another unnecessary increase was in our utility bill. Our gas and electric bill is 60 percent higher today than about one year ago. They are forcing consumers to pay for new construction, refusing to use some of their enormous profits to finance their expanding business. Nevada’s utility commission allows this without honest input from the general public. Why does this fake organization exist?

THE LATEST PIPELINE DISASTER

Recently, just outside Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, a storm caused a landslide. An ethane pipeline broke apart and the deadly spill began.

The company charged with construction of the pipeline were warned that the section where the dangerous incident occurred was unstable ground. However, this information was discounted considering the timeline of greater importance than safe and stable construction.

My advice: don’t trust any man or any company in positions of great power or even greater financial resources.

Op-ed by James Turnage

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Source:

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/05/inside-failure-safeguard-toxic-pipelines-00152225