We are frustrated with the push from government, corporate, and media elites claiming we need to learn how to live without oil. It is obviously due to the fact that those who claim to support this effort are ignorant of everything we use on a daily basis that would be missing if we stopped drilling and pumping for oil. We would not be the country we are now if our Nation had not benefited from the industrial age in the last 100 years, primarily powered by oil. The multitude of technological and economic advances during those years would have left us as a third-world country, dependent to a great degree upon the labor of horses, oxen, and the sweat of the brows of hard-working men and women.
We do not deny that a total reliance upon oil and its derivatives as our Nation moves forward is a fool’s errand. However, there are fools who believe that shifting from one primary source of power to another can be accomplished by a simple flip of a switch. Our Nation has benefited over the decades by entrepreneurs who took advantage of our capitalistic system, and FREEDOM and LIBERTY, to take risks by the innovation and development of new products and systems. Our Nation has benefited as has those developers who have persisted in striving for a better way of human existence. Those who are anxious to see hoverboards, personal flying cars, and a life free of work and toil, need to realize that rarely in life are advances to the human condition achieved overnight. There may come a time when we fly on a commercial jet powered only by electricity, solar, nuclear, or hydrogen power, or even some other form of propulsion not yet made reality, but that time has not yet come. There needs to be a time of transition, and that can take several years, or even several decades. By the time these new technologies evolve, we may only need to walk through a community “portal-in-time” to arrive instantaneously on the other side of the world, or on another planet. Who really knows at this time? The important thing to remember is that good things, great advances, usually take time to evolve and develop. The hardest part for a world living in the “microwave society”, where instant results are expected, is learning to be patient.
Until the time of the “Jetsons” arrive in our Nation and world, it is important for all to understand what must be given up in order to live instantaneously in a world void of oil and the products that are derived by “black gold”, that which made the TV show “Beverly Hillbillies” rich. So, in keeping with an attempt to inform all who read our blogs of facts associated with oil, we will list just a few items below that each one of us would have to give up in order to live free of oil. Our list is not all inclusive but will give you an idea of how important oil is in our daily lives. Your further research can undoubtedly add to our list below. We’ll just start a short alphabetical list.
Anesthetics
Antifreeze (used in your electric cars)
Antistamines
Antiseptics
Asphalt (on which to drive your electric cars)
Aspirin
Balloons
Ballpoint Pens
Bandages
Boats
Cameras
Candles
Carpets (also used in your electric cars)
Cassettes
Clothing
Combs
Crayons
Credit Cards
Deodorant
Dishwashing Liquids
Dyes
Electric Blankets
Electrical Tape
Eyeglasses
Fan Belts
Fishing Boots
Fishing Lures
Fishing Rods
Floor Wax
Footballs
How are you doing so far in seeing anything you can live without? We’re only part way through our abbreviated alphabet. Let’s continue our list.
Glue
Guitar Strings
Hair Coloring
Hair Curlers
Hand Lotion
Hearing Aids
House Paint
Ice Chests
Ice Cube Trays
Insect Repellant
Life Jackets
Lip Stick
LP Records
Luggage
Motorcycle Helmets
Movie Film
Nail Polish
Nylon Rope
Oil Filters
Panty Hose
Parachutes
Perfumes
Petroleum Jelly
Pillows
Refrigerants (used in electric cars as well)
Refrigerator Linings
Roller Skate Wheels
Roofing
Rubbing Alcohol
By now, we are sure you have found something so far on our little list that you find useful to you each and every day. If not, let’s continue our list.
Shaving Cream
Shoe Polish
Shoes
Shower Curtains
Shower Doors
Skis
Soft Contac Lenses
Sports Car Bodies (maybe on your electric car)
Sunglasses
Tape Recorders
Telephones
Tennis Rackets
Tents
Tires (even for your electric cars)
Tooth Brushes
Tooth Paste
Trash Bags
Unbreakable Dishes
Upholstery (also used in your electric cars)
Vacuum Bottles
Vitamin Capsules
Water Pipes
So, for those of you who consider oil to be the demon of our Nation and environment, maybe you should think twice next time you try to vilify those who produce oil, and those who work in that area of our economy. About 19-20 gallons of gasoline are produced from each barrel of oil, only about 40% of each barrel of oil. Each barrel contributes to over 6,000 products used in our Nation (Steve Pryor, Consultant Energy Asset Optimization and ETRM Projects, July 26, 2016). The EPA published that 65% of our Nation’s energy comes from coal, natural gas, and oil. Wind and solar produced a whopping 7% of our Nation’s energy (December 2017, updated July 14, 2021). So, next time you spend $60,000 on an electric vehicle, and rely upon the Nation’s taxpayers to subsidize your purchase, and believe you are “saving the planet”, realize that your “contribution” is minimal at best, and at worst, a waste of money, as your batteries will not last the life-time of your car, and replacement or refurbishment of them is a drain on the quantity of precious metals which usually will be mined using gas or diesel powered equipment.
As always, we implore our readers to fight for and protect the FREEDOM and LIBERTY we have been blessed with by those who have sacrificed so much before us, so that we can bless so many who will follow us.