It’s never too early to put in a word for something or to speak up for a worthy endeavor. Especially in a world where there are plenty of folks who are doing their best to pre-empt our directions and make our decisions for us. (Are you listening, Washington?)
Let it be resolved that the Permian be more pro-active in making its interests known and its disinclinations heard. Our industry has too often tried to say hunkered down, hoping that the political world will fail to notice us. But oil and gas are such perennial targets for D.C. that overlooking us is something that will never happen.
Let it be resolved that we tout our successes louder. No one is going to do a better job of telling our story, and telling it right, and getting it heard near and far, than we ourselves. Who knows better what we do? Who knows better how clean and safe our operations are? Who knows better the care that goes into energy extraction in our resources-rich environment? We need to say it far and wide. And proudly, not meekly.
Let it be resolved that we keep our senses of humor intact. It takes a lot to stay balanced in a world run amok. A little levity goes a long way toward retaining one’s sanity.
And in the “wishes” category…
We can wish that the oil and gas commodities market be no more volatile than any other commodities market. After all, the price for tin does not go through gyrations when someone rattles a saber somewhere. Nor does the price for bananas. Or cotton. If “renewables” are as productive and prolific as their backers tell us, any impacts on oil and gas should be mitigated by the presence of other, alternative energy sources, right? Well, we can hope.
We can wish that our contributions be valued by the nation and the world as they deserve to be valued. It’s about time that the pendulum swung back in that direction a bit.
And we can wish that the next generation grows up to venerate the ways of life that we have made for ourselves. They need to venerate it because it is worthy of veneration. And they need to venerate it, just as they need to venerate this great nation and the Good Lord who rules from above, because to do so is to lift themselves up as well.
Here’s wishing a merry Christmas season to all our readers and a future that is brighter than any we’ve known in our lives.
Jesse Mullins,
Editor,
Permian Basin Oil and Gas