Over Dependence on Foreign Oil Challenged
Unique Perspective Offered on Energy Consumption
May 25, 2009 Christine Carroll
Author Robert Bryce makes a case for a conflicted America. One that has become as obsessed with energy independence as it is with a lifestyle of energy consumption. The book is not a critique on the American lifestyle, rather it is a fact-filled analysis of our historic relationship with oil and an examination of future U.S. alternatives. Alongside the facts, author Bryce provides a heavy helping of his interpretation of these statistics.
His message? Energy dependence isn’t bad or unwarranted. He states that our increased consumption of oil is in line with our growth in gross domestic product. Our wealth is tied to oil exports and imports, we are growing, and we use products to be expected of a successful nation.
He takes issue with national political agendas that tell the public energy independence is possible. He outlines aggressive energy reduction plans promoted by Presidents Nixon, Carter and Bush as examples of unsuccessful initiatives.
Energy Independence and Political Agendas
The book presents as false the following eight political-driven promises to Americans:
- Energy independence means the U.S. can abandon the Persian Gulf militarily.
- Energy independence will reduce or eliminate terrorism.
- A big push for renewable and alternative fuels will mean energy independence.
- Energy independence will insulate the U.S. in case there’s another Arab oil embargo.
- Energy independence will allow America to halt the flow of petrodollars to rogue petrostates.
- Energy independence will mean reform in the Arab and Islamic worlds.
- Energy independence will cause a collapse in global oil prices that will benefit the U.S.
- Energy independence will mean better energy security for the U.S.
Oil and Protectionist Trade Policies
If the U.S. turned inward to meet its energy demands, what would be the global implications? Bryce is opposed to protectionist trade policies. “When it comes to energy, America stands at a crossroads. In one direction is the empty rhetoric of energy independence and the concomitant evils of protectionism and isolation. In the other direction lies the modern world of engagement, politics, free markets, and the active embrace of globalism and all the complications that come with it,” Gusher of Lies by Robert Bryce (PublicAffairs 2008).
Bryce presents oil as a commodity too valuable to be vilified. He also points to a global economy that is counter-intuitive to policies in pursuit of domestic energy independence.
An Alternative Energy Approach
If America’s energy czar, Bryce would recommend the following:
- Get government out of the energy business.
- Stop obsessing over prices and reduce the number of fuel blends.
- Reject the culture of fear and engage the Arab and Islamic worlds.
- Redefine energy security.
- Accept increasing energy use and adapt to a changing global climate.
- Embrace solar and nuclear, and pursue new technologies and efficiency.
- Create the superbattery prize.
- Increase domestic oil production.
- Embrace natural gas.
Excellent resources are presented on both sides of the oil debate throughout the book. Americans are asked to become more informed on the available energy resources, related costs and potential benefits. Bryce wants the public to begin separating out the rhetoric of political energy agendas and to better understand the global perspective of energy interdependence.
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