A City of Light
Tonight my wife and I are in the City of Lights: not Paris, but Odessa, Texas, the West Texas oil town made famous by the book and similarly-named movie, Friday Night Lights, about its powerhouse, Permian High School championship football teams. What we are seeing everywhere we go is truly amazing, for this is indeed a boom town in every good sense of the word. Want a hotel room? Be prepared to pay in excess of $200 a night for nothing exceptional. The rooms are filled with energy industry workers willing to pay top dollar because they’re earning top dollar. Likewise, be prepared to wait for a table in the packed restaurants and don’t even think about tipping ten percent. Caution is advised when driving because the roadways are filled with the biggest, most powerful (and most expensive) pickup trucks the American auto industry can produce, all going somewhere with a great deal of purpose, business, money-making purpose.
If Barack Obama and his advisors want to see how to create jobs, they should get themselves to Odessa, forthwith. Instead of condemning the fossil fuels industry, they should take a day and learn firsthand what a pulsing economic engine can be generated by the almost limitless spin-off businesses and jobs that a producing energy industry creates. They should bring Tim Geithner with his pocket calculator to give them some idea of the tax revenues being generated by this economic behemoth. They should meet with local oil industry executives to gain some perspective on how this has all come to be then they should spend some time with local political leadership and small business leaders to gain some insights into how this all translates into a rising tide for every economic boat in the Permian Basin.
Immediately upon leaving West Texas, the same team should fly to California and sit down with key folks in the solar energy and wind energy fields. They should meet with the political leadership in the communities where these entities are located and determine the financial impact these industries are having on their local economies.
Then they should fly back to Washington and compare the economic realities in West Texas with those in their beloved green industry communities. It might, just might, help them see how ass-backwards their approach to restoring America to economic prosperity really is. The simple truth is this: if Democrats want America to become the economic powerhouse it has been traditionally, then all they need to do is get the hell out of the way and let American energy and ingenuity lead the way. All Obama and his administration have to do is nothing, nada, zilch.
Something Democrats are damned good at…
By the way, I just realized something: I haven’t seen a single Chevy Volt since we hit town.
Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Economy
There’s too much common sense in what you want Washington to do for them to actually do it. Use an example of a town with a sucessful econmy and businesses for ideas on how to help other cities and businesses? Inconceivable!
Somebodys monster pickup probably ate the Volt….
I was gonna say, check the undercarriage of the nearest Ford for what’s left of a Volt.
Now I will say this about that–having been a kid raised in the oil patch, life can turn to warm runny shit if the price of oil takes a dump. Just ask them how times were back in the late 90’s when oil was about $10/bbl.
You should come up to Midland. It’s got a better economy than Odessa, and it doesn’t have the excessive number of trashy people like Odessa.
Mind you, I’m one of those Yankees who came down here for the boom, so I’m only going off what all my Midland friends have to say about Odessa. Both cities are legit as far as I’m concerned.
It wouldn’t help. They would see the solar plants as floundering and failing because those evil rich people in Odessa weren’t paying their fair share. And the success in Texas would be seen as something that needed to be curtailed because they made too much money.
Any adviser who tried pointing out the problems with those observations would be quietly shown the door to make room for someone else with the correct ideas.
I was gonna comment, but NR Pax seems to have covered everything quite well.
Oil patch country in west Texas is a scarred, toxic wasteland. If you want to live in that carcinogenic chemical soup, be my guest. This backward looking attitude is exactly what we need to get away from. Incredibly short sighted post with a complete lack of vision.
Joe – have you ever actually been to the Midland-Odessa area?
Yes, and other oil patches too.
Joey got his talking points for the day. Now he can post.
Hondo, I doubt Joey has ever been very far from his rock. He’s a lot more down with solar power, ala Solyndra, United Solar and others. It’s the “wave of the future”, donchaknow?
He’s yet to figure out how to put the windmill on top of the cars yet, but he’s working on it.
Of course not, Hondo! Actually seeing or understanding an issue is not required to telling everyone else how they should live.
What is it with libs anyway? They are never satisfied with simply making choices for themselves – they must impose their choices on others. Weird.
OK, Joe – now, how about describe your time there. Where, when, how long, what you did, etc . . . . It’s called “establishing your credibility” to discuss the subject.
You’ve made a claim. Now back it up.
You’re full of shit, Joe. I grew up in an extremely progressive Midwestern city, lived in Southern California, and the people I’ve met in Midland-Odessa are some of the kindest, most open minded individuals in America.
Maybe we should move there? Hmmm. No Chevy Volts…people working? Sounds like a plan!
You want a bit of mid-morning irony? Look at Congress Revolts On Obama Plan That Would Ban ‘Buy American’ at (uhhg) HUFFPO. Sheriff Joe the Champion of Middle-Class Americans and Barry The Terrorist Slaying Super Hero are in full stroke mode on some turgid Chinese Guandong.
Irony that HUFFPO would carry this story, not that the Sell-Out Kings and their enablers and handlers are, well, wholly self-interested sell-outs. Ahh, the sights you see on the Road to Serfdom.
Boom happening in south central Ks. (fly over zone). Reminds people of the 70’s when the oil and gas business was saving our ass from Carter.
If one ever had any doubts conservatives are backward-looking, you need look no further than this post. Somehow they’re producing clean energy in Europe on a grand scale, but according to you guys it’s beyond our capabilities.
You’re trying to change the subject, Joe.
You’ve claimed to have spent time in Midland-Odessa and “other oil patches too”. When? Where? How long were you there? What did you do?
Now it’s time for you to establish you’re bona fides to criticize Midland-Odessa as being a “scarred, toxic wasteland” – and show that you to have any knowledge about the subject of the post at all. Or, if you can’t – it’s time to admit you’re talking out of your ass and really know nothing about the subject.
I currently live at the edge of an oil patch. I see the conflicts all the time. The battle between private property owners, people with water rights vs. the avaricious oil companies is an ongoing fight here. The shrill spokesmodel for the state gas and oil industry screams, “The sky is falling” anytime even modest regulations or safeguards are proposed. A few years ago a house in this area spontaneously exploded due to leaking methane from nearby well. Reports of local air pollution, ozone, water pollution, leaking toxic holding ponds and burning tap water are common. I see it everyday, I don’t need to prove it to anyone. FYI, look at the area surrounding Odessa on Google Maps or Google Earth if you want to get a clue. Each of those thousands and thousands of active wells you see are leaking pollution into the atmosphere, and into the lungs of the locals.
No dice, Joe. You’re avoiding the question.
1. When were you ever in Midland-Odessa?
2. Where is this “edge of an oil patch” in which you currently claim to live?
3. How long did you spend in the Midland-Odessa and other “edge of an oil patch” areas you claim to have spent time in?
4. What did you do in either location that gives you expert insight into either the oil or alternative energy industries?
Answer the questions. Validate your bona fides. Or admit you were blowing smoke without personal knowledge and quit implying you know anything about the subject beyond what you’ve read in the papers. What’s published in the media may or may not be accurate, complete, or objective – and, frankly, probably isn’t any of the three.
I’ve passed thru Odessa once, that was enough. I live on the edge of the largest gas producing region in the U.S., does that count? I have read volumes about local conflicts between residents, municipalities, environmental regulators, water users vs. big oil. I’ve heard big oil’s lies repeated over, and over, and over, Goebbels style.
Oh yeah, I have a background in geology.
“I’ve passed through Odessa once”. Yeah, that really makes you an expert on local environmental issues there, Joey-boy.
I lived on the “edge of the Atlantic” for several years, Joe. But hat didn’t make me an expert on deep-sea fishing or oceanography. Sheesh, that’s as bad as your bogus argument on the Afghan girl thread. And in any case: the natural gas and oil industries are related but different, Joe. They have some issues that overlap and many that don’t.
And given your willingness to be forthcoming here, that background in geology you’re claiming sounds like a code word for “I like rockclimbing”.
Yeah, I thought you were bullshitting us.
Hmmm. Is that what it sounds like?
Sounds like Joe is admitting to being one of those envirowackos who moves to an area then expects everyone there to conform to his idea of how they should operate.
Here’s a clue, Joe: If you are not happy with what is going on in your neighborhood, the one you chose to move into, leave it. You don’t even have to admit that you made a mistake; just leave.
And it dawns on me, sitting here working away and occasionally glancing at the vitriol heped on me, no one has disputed my contention that Europe has made huge strides in green energy, something you guys claim is impossible or economically infeasible. Over there they are evidentally immune to your pessimism and continue not to listen to you nay-saying – they simply are getting the job done, and weaning themselves from your beloved arab oil.
Why would anyone even consider engaging a topic for which you only make an assertion but offer no back up documentation?
Here’s another clue: You might want to check on what Germany is doing this week about their energy needs.
Another attempt at changing the subject, Joe. Transparent and predictable. Now, do you actually have anything relevant to say concerning the subject at hand?
And yes, Europe has done many good things in the way of environmentally-friendly energy. For example: the French have been getting approximately 80% of their electricity from the most environmentally friendly and renewable (via breeding) source – e.g., nuclear power – for over 3 decades. We should emulate them.
Unfortunately, the US envirowhacko movement convinced the sadly technologically-illiterate US population 30+ years ago that “Nuclear . . . bad!” So we refused to follow suit.
You did know that more people have died in Ted Kennedy’s car than have died as the result of all US commercial power plant nuclear accidents combined, didn’t you?
“You did know that more people have died in Ted Kennedy’s car than have died as the result of all US commercial power plant nuclear accidents combined, didn’t you?”
So far, Hondo, so far. As for some of the brave workers at Fukajima, well, look them up in a few years and see how many are still alive. Look at the slide show below from Chernobyl and tell me you don’t get tears welling up. Is that what you are promoting?
http://inmotion.magnumphotos.com/essay/chernobyl
Yeah, Joe, we on the right want people to die. Preferably members of our own families. And ourselves, of couse.
/sarc
Well Joe wind farms have been proven (in Europe) to be a colossal failure, nuclear energy is a clear liberal no no because of two events that took place in other countries (comparing a U.S. run power plant to a Soviet run power plant proves how ignorant you really are), natural gas is a very clean form of energy, yet that’s also a big liberal no no. In fact according to Mike Papantonio (a favorite of yours or insipids, I can’t remember which one) fracking has killed “thousands of Americans”. Of course, he later admitted that statement was total bullshit, but whatever. Solar energy is a pipe dream, proven by billions of wasted tax payer money. We had a few solar panels installed at the high school I went to in 2005, they were so effecient that after a week in the sun they could light one whole classroom for an hour!
Adam_S,
Continuing breakthroughs in solar technology, and in energy storage, have changed the playing field, but as a conservative I would not expect you to recognize those facts. As I said, conservatives tend to look backwards at what used to work.
Off to explore some desert mountains and canyons. Have a great weekend.
I see absolutely nothing wrong with developing alternate sources of power and fuel. I also see nothing wrong with continuing to use our established sources of oil, coal, and natural gas. Ideally, they should support each other. To attempt to shut down established resources before alternate methods are made reliable is foolish.
You mention breakthroughs yet cite no sources, as usual you have nothing to back up your claims. Solar energy may work in the future but the technology clearly isn’t there yet and the government handing out billions of dollars obviously hasn’t worked, but I don’t expect a liberal to admit the government has failed.
Joe, take a look at the utter collapse of the Spanish “green” economy.
The only other significant “green” energy programs in Europe are nuclear (and several Euro countries are jumping off that bandwagon) and nat-gas. Which they import from Russia, where I’m pretty sure the environmental regulatory regime isn’t as tight as say…. Odessa/Midland?
joe, after the most cursory of research it seems the EU, as a whole, produces approximately 18% of it’s power through renewable sources. The US, a sovereign country, produces approximately 14% of it’s power through renewable sources. Your “huge strides” comment seems to fall a bit short.
I hate to tell you this but it only gets worse! The US produces more power, through renewable sources, than well over 50% of all EU member countries. Austria produces approximately 2/3 of it’s energy needs through renewable sources, before you wet yourself like an excited puppy, consider Austria, a sovereign country, is the size of South Carolina with a population less than North Carolina.
What do Fukajima and Chernobyl have to do with you posit that the EU is light years head of the US in the use of renewable energy resources? Unless all my teachers and college professors lied to me, neither Japan or Russia is in Europe. Your typical ploy of misdirection is so transparent as to be
laughable.
Uh, Joe . . . . last time I checked, Fukajima isn’t a US commercial nuclear power plant. And it’s an open question as to whether the Japanese nuclear regulatory authorities used the correct standards when it was built.
Further, Chernobyl is a red herring comparison. US power plants don’t use the same design and safety standards as were used at Chernobyl. Not even close. Chernobyl was a Soviet f-up of the first magnitude, both in terms of an inherently unsafe reactor and powerplant design (unstable in the event of coolant loss due to positive void coefficient, difficult to control at low power levels, manual control rods, no containment building, no adequate backup for local loss of power) as well as the cause of the accident itself (botched and not formally sanctioned local test compounded by inadequately trained reactor personnel on duty during the test). So, no: another Chernobyl cannot happen in the US.
And unlike you, Joe, I actually do know what I’m talking about concerning this particular topic. My undergraduate degree happens to include rather extensive study in nuclear engineering and related physics/engineering coursework.
No method of producing energy for mankind is without risk, Joe. Dams can break; coal- and oil-fired plants produce pollution and can blow up, ditto for refineries; and people can even be killed in falls cleaning rooftop solar cells. The alternative is to do without energy – which is a non-starter for anyone with a brain.
But in terms of total environmental impact, nuclear is by far the lowest. After initial construction, other than a bit of warm water there are no emissions. Very little mining is required to produce the fuel. And the waste products, while dangerous, can easily be stored safely; all we need to do is decide to do is quit playing politics and do so.
One final point: regarding that “breakthrough solar technology” – that’s what Solyndra was based on, too. Didn’t exactly work out well, did it?
BRILLIANT ESSAY, Poetrooper !!
“TINY TIM” Geithner — unable to use a pocket calculator, or, TurboTax.
Capitalism = The American Way .
Joe — I grew up in Texas and personally, I’m sort of glad you don’t live there — the cops would be out at your place protecting your butt half the time. We may not be what you think is progressive, but Midland-Odessa has something a lot of other places don’t have — working people who go out of their way to help others.
And, Texas is #4 on the list of the 7 best states to start a business, but then I’m sure you will find something wrong with this scenario too:
“4. Texas. Globalization has made it possible for entrepreneurs to serve markets in not just their immediate community, region, or country but the whole world. If your ambition is that encompassing, Texas might be a good place to start. Texas has the most globe-focused manufacturing sector in the country, with export sales at $69,268 per worker—the highest of any state. Another incentive for business owners is the cost of labor—Texas has the lowest workers’ compensation costs of any state. The Lone Star State also lacks an income or capital-gains tax for individuals,”
Plus, as of March 2012, Texas had an unemployment rate of 7%, much lower than all the places you think are better.
I may be prejudiced because I’m a Texan, and as for what you said earlier — ” This backward looking attitude is exactly what we need to get away from. Incredibly short sighted post with a complete lack of vision.” — Jonn Lilyea has more vision with blinders on than most people I know without! You go visit the desert canyons — make sure you take your solar powered GPS so you don’t get lost.
I live on the edge of the largest gas producing region in the U.S. So, you live in Texas, Joey? If not, you’re a liar. Texas is far and away the largest gas producing state in the U.S., so I would imagine it’s the largest gas producing “region” in the U.S. Wyoming is next, and they aren’t even close. http://www.eia.gov/neic/experts/natgastop10.htm
Trot out the next lie, Joey. What’s the monthly bill for electricity in Europe vs the U.S.? We have a good idea on the cost of gasoline, how about heating? C’mon, trot out your knowledge.
Guys, Joe is all butthurt because there’s an oil rig within two time zones of his trailer. What he knows about the environmental impact of oil and gas rigs versus what the THINKS he knows ain’t shit.
So now, Joey–while I’m making the ‘trons this weekend (at OT and DT rates, thank you very much) that keep your fucking Internet and computer going, do us a favor and bang your head on that rock in front of your face. Maybe it’ll knock some sense into it.
@32-Joe-Continuing breakthroughs in solar technology, and in energy storage, have changed the playing field, but as a conservative I would not expect you to recognize those facts.
And which breakthroughs might those be, Joey? Considering that the utility industry is where I work, and that I might know just a wee bit about wind, solar, geothermal, storage, etc., please enlighten me.
Dis gun b gud…
Don’t hold your breath, NHSparky. Like insipid and a few others of his ilk I’ve verbally crossed swords with in the past, they usually seem to disappear when pressed for specifics or asked to provide documentation for their bogus claims.
Although I do have to give insipid a bit of credit – he hangs around longer than most before he bolts.
UpNorth–I know where he lives. Not far from where I grew up. He’s fuller of shit than a Christmas goose.
Joey–you really shouldn’t be wasting work resources to “swoop and poop” here. I’m guessing your employer or the taxpayers wouldn’t care for that very much.
Sparky, if I remember correctly, he doesn’t live in the same time zone as the “largest gas producing region in the U.S.”.
Of course, he could be talking about the Gore field out there off the coast of Cali. Naw, that couldn’t be it.