What we know for sure is that the solution to everything from Global Cooling to Global Warming is to put the government in charge and stop doing as much capitalism. America hears loud and clear when the voices of environmentalism shout, “Whatever you do, stop making money to save the planet.”
Most Americans are unaware that the millions upon millions of dollars wasted in environmental causes come in one form or another from their pockets. Each wolf, owl, lizard and New Mexico jumping mouse takes money from each American, regardless of if we agree to the theft.
Even worse, the concern for all things environmental is an industry in America with environmentalists making lots of money for themselves while keeping ordinary Americans from making a simple living. The environmental elites fly high above us in their own jets while they plot to keep more and more Americans from being able to make a living.
This environmental political action damages the jobs and infrastructure of working class Americans. Example: look at the logging industry. America runs on wood but we are kept from harvesting our own forests. The environmental rules and regulations stab a dagger in the heart of middle-class America.
Know this: our nation is a lesser nation because it cannot be energy independent and still comply with all the political agendas. We need not import another drop of oil or gas if we so desire.
They frame the argument that if they do not constrict oil and gas all the clean air and water in the entire Earth will be a thing of the past. There are no studies that show this to be true, only political action and financial harvesting by environmental lawyers. We in New Mexico and in America are sitting on a gold mine. Unfortunately, when the environmentalists get done all we citizens get is the shaft.
Take New Mexico for example: it is rich in potential for oil and gas. However, while some of the oil and gas is being harvested, much of that potential is not being used. This is thanks to lots of political action which seeks to shut down oil and gas rather than expand it.
What is not obvious to most New Mexicans is that if oil and gas was completely shut down then their taxes would be significantly higher to pay for the public schools. And they would have to pay those taxes with significantly fewer jobs.
More so, it is not obvious that if the oil and gas production along with other extractives was to increase significantly New Mexico could match Alaska with a dividend paid to citizens instead of New Mexicans paying state income taxes. We could get a check rather than send a check.
In the year 2008, the Alaska dividend because of oil and gas was $3269 per person. Every man woman and child got this dividend which for a family of five came to $16,345. They had that money before they did any other work. While the yearly dividend is not that much every year in Alaska, it is always something so the taxpayers of the state do not pay taxes. They get money instead of a tax bill.
What if the citizens of New Mexico could have a check each year, would that get their attention? Of course it would be great but the leaders of New Mexico do not want citizens to get that money, rather, they want the citizens to pay more money to the state. Further, with increased drilling and pumping the price of the fuel for the citizens should go down since the supply increases. Another bonus to the working class.
So it is simple: keep taking American jobs for environmental reasons or swing the pendulum back to our working class first. We want the goldmine, not the shaft. We want that check each year instead of having to pay taxes.
Dr. Michael Swickard hosts the syndicated radio talk show News New Mexico on six to nine a.m. Monday - Friday on a number of New Mexico radio stations and through streaming. Email: michael@swickard.com
Most Americans are unaware that the millions upon millions of dollars wasted in environmental causes come in one form or another from their pockets. Each wolf, owl, lizard and New Mexico jumping mouse takes money from each American, regardless of if we agree to the theft.
Even worse, the concern for all things environmental is an industry in America with environmentalists making lots of money for themselves while keeping ordinary Americans from making a simple living. The environmental elites fly high above us in their own jets while they plot to keep more and more Americans from being able to make a living.
This environmental political action damages the jobs and infrastructure of working class Americans. Example: look at the logging industry. America runs on wood but we are kept from harvesting our own forests. The environmental rules and regulations stab a dagger in the heart of middle-class America.
Know this: our nation is a lesser nation because it cannot be energy independent and still comply with all the political agendas. We need not import another drop of oil or gas if we so desire.
They frame the argument that if they do not constrict oil and gas all the clean air and water in the entire Earth will be a thing of the past. There are no studies that show this to be true, only political action and financial harvesting by environmental lawyers. We in New Mexico and in America are sitting on a gold mine. Unfortunately, when the environmentalists get done all we citizens get is the shaft.
Take New Mexico for example: it is rich in potential for oil and gas. However, while some of the oil and gas is being harvested, much of that potential is not being used. This is thanks to lots of political action which seeks to shut down oil and gas rather than expand it.
What is not obvious to most New Mexicans is that if oil and gas was completely shut down then their taxes would be significantly higher to pay for the public schools. And they would have to pay those taxes with significantly fewer jobs.
More so, it is not obvious that if the oil and gas production along with other extractives was to increase significantly New Mexico could match Alaska with a dividend paid to citizens instead of New Mexicans paying state income taxes. We could get a check rather than send a check.
In the year 2008, the Alaska dividend because of oil and gas was $3269 per person. Every man woman and child got this dividend which for a family of five came to $16,345. They had that money before they did any other work. While the yearly dividend is not that much every year in Alaska, it is always something so the taxpayers of the state do not pay taxes. They get money instead of a tax bill.
What if the citizens of New Mexico could have a check each year, would that get their attention? Of course it would be great but the leaders of New Mexico do not want citizens to get that money, rather, they want the citizens to pay more money to the state. Further, with increased drilling and pumping the price of the fuel for the citizens should go down since the supply increases. Another bonus to the working class.
So it is simple: keep taking American jobs for environmental reasons or swing the pendulum back to our working class first. We want the goldmine, not the shaft. We want that check each year instead of having to pay taxes.
Dr. Michael Swickard hosts the syndicated radio talk show News New Mexico on six to nine a.m. Monday - Friday on a number of New Mexico radio stations and through streaming. Email: michael@swickard.com
