The conversion of energy into goods and services is the source of true wealth in this country. It is also the most equitable means of distributing that wealth to the largest number of people.
Relatively cheap energy is the engine that drives the production of goods and services, and with this flood of product, prices everywhere drop, as a result of the much increased productivity for every working person. Higher productivity provides a much more stable and reliable source of revenue for higher wages to be paid to the individual worker, and with the higher wages, more people are attracted to employment.
Capitalism at its finest. And yet, there are those who will not, cannot, bring themselves to look at RESULTS, not promises, when it comes to equitable treatment in the market place. Striking for higher wages, when there is no commensurate increase in productivity, is self-defeating, as the employer will simply discharge the excess workforce, to keep his expenses for hiring to an economically viable level, and expect the remaining workers to provide more output per person to justify the wages they are being paid. The employer, for his part, provides these remaining workers with sufficient innovative tools to gain this greater productivity. The workers still have to be smart enough to be able to competently apply the new technology to their work product, and achieve the greater productivity.
None of this knowledge is new or arcane in any way, it has always been that increases in productivity, through the use of energy, have resulted in increases in the average standard of living. But the employee still has to be willing to apply himself (or herself) to the rudiments of learning the job, and to gain expertise in the discharge of duties, reliably and consistently.
One problem, once the GOP gets elected, they sit back grinning and slapping each other on the back and saying “yes we were right all along, thank God the people finally see that” and doing nothing.
The choir hears you Johnnie baby. But this message has to be boiled down to a campaign slogan that rings with the Lofo's. Because the Dems are lousy at math but very good at demonizing the good policies with idiot slogans like "war for oil" and "destroy the environment" and "killing the polar bears".
That first sentence right there is really part of the problem. Who says that anyone is entitled to "cheap fuel?"
The real question should be: What does the fuel cost, regardless of whether a consumer feels like it's "cheap" or not?
The problem is the GOP believes in a GuvCo that's every bit as big, and almighty powerful and just as intrusive and invasive as the demonrat's vision of GuvCo.
It's what they each build when they have the power to do so.
The only difference is the GOP is still less blatantly socialist than the full strength demonrats are and that makes them somewhat better managers, at least for now.
At some point, what difference will it make? And is that point already in the rear view mirror?
Why are the only two choices Socialism and Socialism Lite?
Bring back the Whigs!
The price for oil or natural gas will not go down, regardless of what political party is currently in control. US energy production policy is too fickle, too prone to disruptions from enviromental groups, special interests, and commodities manipulations. Most of the cheap-to-extract oil and gas has already been pumped out of the ground. We now have to rely on fracking and tar sands for reserves, and it is a very expensive process. A barrel of crude has to stay above $80 just to make any profit. Add to that the leftist war on electricity generation (coal, nuclear, hydro, etc.), and you can see why nobody wants to engage in any sort of heavy industrial venture in the US, which is why heavy industry is still moving offshore at a breakneck pace.