After Gutenberg

This blog noted with interest a thread referenced by The Oil Drum — Discussions about Energy and Our Future — (2007-01-21). A two part article entitled, “Behold the Rise of Energy Based Fascism” asserts that we are witnessing “increasing state involvement in the procurement, transportation, and allocation of energy supplies, accompanied by a greater inclination to employ force against those who resist the state’s priorities in these areas.” And, I would add that those that oppose such fascism, whether outside or inside the United States, are becoming enemies to assail by whatever means and at whatever cost.

While Michael T. Klare, author of “Blood and Oil”, foresees “increased state intrusion into, and surveillance of, public and private life”, fascism implies more. Torture sanctified by policymakers serves the purpose of creating an unspoken fear that they might come for me next, so I better avoid criticizing our foreign or energy policies.

When espousing the rational for such behavior “U.S. policymakers often adopt an altruistic stance,” claiming that the United States is performing a ’social good’ by protecting democracy and defending the world against terrorism. However, as the article points out, the United States is the “world’s leading gas guzzler, accounting for one out of every four barrels of oil consumed daily around the world,” so our motive in defending the global oil flow on behalf of the world community is very much one of self-interest.

This blog previously said something similar, i.e., members of Congress may want to reassess their position on their obligations to the Big Oil – Big SUV complex versus the planet rather than continuing to use “democracy” as a code phrase to mean “we want your oil”. The article predicts that with such fascism on the rise, we shall see further “transformation of the U.S. military into a global oil protection service, whose primary mission is to defend America’s overseas sources of oil and natural gas, while patrolling the world’s major pipelines and supply routes.”

In recent years, however, American policymakers have concluded that the United States must extend this kind of protection to every major oil-producing region in the developing world. “The Geopolitics of Energy,” published by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in November 2000 concluded, “[T]he geopolitical risks attendant to energy availability are not likely to abate.” Under these circumstances, “the United States, as the world’s only superpower, must accept its special responsibilities for preserving access to worldwide energy supply.”

And, such foreign policy further enriches the coffers of the energy brokers. “The Pentagon is one of the world’s great oil guzzlers, consuming 134 million barrels of oil in 2005, as much as the entire nation of Sweden.”

The Bush Administration appointed Lee Raymond, former CEO of Exxon-Mobil to lead an influential study to develop policy solutions to America’s energy crisis. Meanwhile, the Union of Concern Scientists has reported that between 1998 and 2005 Exxon-Mobil gave $16 million to 43 ideological groups in an effort to mislead the public by discrediting the science evidence showing a correlation between green house gases and global heating.

While Energy Fascism exercises external control with terrific brute force, internal control is economic and political. An excellent example previously noted was the appointment of Lee Raymond, former CEO of Exxon-Mobil to lead an influential study to develop policy solutions to America’s energy crisis. An example of economic control is, as recently noted, that 2006 should have been the year we saw plug-in hybrids available from each major market — Europe, Japan and the U.S. We did not.

In applauding passage of the Clean Long-Term Energy Alternative for the Nation Act of 2007, Jerome Ringo President of Apollo Alliance stated, “The days of our federal government giving free rides to big oil are over.” But, until the days of our elected representatives in the federal government receiving free rides from Big Oil are over, we are likely to see transportation policy and energy policy in line with their dictates.

Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of America’s Growing Dependency on Imported Petroleum ASIN: 0805073132

Hell and High Water and What We Should Do ASIN: 006117212X

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