Oil Trends Blog

There has been a good deal of discussion lately with regard to the add campaign being undertaken by T. Boone Pickens concerning the interchangeability of wind power and natural gas usage. It is not clear at this point, however, what his true intentions for this campaign really entail. There has not been enough real information available to intelligently comment on the viability of his general statements. For this reason, I have chosen not to get into the technical details other than to say that wind usage is not a new idea and is rapidly being implemented in states such as Texas, Wyoming, and California. I do wish, however, to comment on character. I have been in the oil business since 1970. During this time I would need less than one hand to count the number of oil producers and investors who were concerned about anything other than their own financial well-being. Don’t get me wrong, the oil industry is a tough business requiring high investment and considerable risk and I do not criticize those who enter this risky game. Most are reputable businessmen who conduct their affairs in a responsible manner. However, there are those who will go to extremes in an effort to promote the industry at the expense of the general good. T. Boone is one of these.

A case in point, during the last presidential campaign, an insidious and unfounded smear campaign was launched against the Democratic candidate for President, John Kerry. The gist of the campaign was to cast dispersions on the awards for valor presented to Kerry during the Vietnam War. So absurd were these allegations that the term “swift boating” is now the generic term for any unfounded smear campaign launched for what ever reason, against anyone running for office. T. Boone was one of the prime movers in this smear campaign. His objective was to insure the re-election of the Bush/Cheney oil monopoly that has run this country since, at least, Bush’s first term and was started by the Cheney secret oil policy meetings of the early 2000s. In fact, T.Boone offered $1,000,000 to anyone who could refute the accuracy of the nebulous campaign allocations. In fact, they were refuted by reputable sources, but since T.Boone was the sole judge, of course the data was found to be irrelevant and payment was not forthcoming. It is producers like T.Boone, who will do and say anything about anyone to promote their interest, regardless of the harm they create, and their motives must be severely questioned. Although, I am an oil man, I am also a retired US Coast Guard Captain. As such, I have a deep regard for the traditions of the military. Particularly, the most sacred tradition of the issuing of awards, particularly those for valor. The military services do not take this responsibility lightly and do not award medals for behavior that have not been thoroughly researched. To challenge the Dept. of the Navy on their evaluation of John Kerry’s service is not only an indication of misunderstanding of the military tradition, but is a slap in the face of all who have been awarded medals for valorous service. Not having served in the military, T. Boone would not understand the disservice he did to our military heritage. In all probability he could have cared less. The point is that T. Boone will take any position, however absurd, to promote his oil agendas and he cannot be relied upon to provide factual information concerning oil issues if they do not promote his agenda. Do not let T. Boone T-Bone (broadside) you regarding the oil industry. Do your own investigation and be skeptical of the oil industry pundits. It is time to stop the oil industry’s control of our government. It has resulted in unprecedented price increases in the past few years, having nothing to do with supply and demand.