Shoot, if Dr. J. were single, he’ consider working up there!

The great Emily Grace (@greatgrace84), our resident #ninjababe, brought this article to Dr. J.’s attention in which Saudi Arabia is concerned that oil exports are down due to decreased demand. Much of this decrease in demand is due to the fracking revolution going on in the US and Canada.

Hello, it’s Bell. I’m tolling for thee.

There are multiple lessons to be (re)learned from this.

• Diversify your portfolio. Saudi Arabia has been essentially a single industry economy for decades. If the United States and other nations become less dependent on Middle Eastern oil, the OPEC nations will realize that they need to adapt or suffer economic hardship. The Saudi’s are already realizing that and are clearly nervous. While we grumble in the US when the economy sours, our friends on the Arab street are far less friendly. Ask Mubarak, Qadaffi and Morsi, oh wait, you can’t. Hopefully for the Saudi leadership they can adapt, rather than suffer the consequences.
• Energy independence is a national security issue. When we produce our own oil, we can power our own economy and are less vulnerable to spikes in the world market. As a producer and exporter, we can revenue from other nations into our treasury. That certainly is a good thing. We, therefore, need to support our energy sector rather than further restrict it. Furthermore, crude does us no good if we can’t refine it. A few more refineries and a better transportation system for the oil we and our Canadian friends generate is necessary for us to to become more independent from foreign oil. Even at a break-even cost point, domestic oil is smart foreign policy. Furthermore given how much they love women and gays in the Middle East, is it a good idea that we send so many petrodollars over there?
• Enlightened self interest is not selfishness. Dr. J. had a legion of Marxist teachers growing up who didn’t think ‘it was fair’ that the United States act in her best interest. They actually advocated for acting in a manner that was directly opposite to our interests. When confronted by Dr. J. as to the reality that no other nation, from the U.S.S.R. down to the lowliest third-world Banana Republic, would purposely hamstring themselves. America is the greatest force for good on the planet and our ability to do good comes from being in a position of economic and military superiority. A world where America and our allies are strong is a safer world. As a consequence, Dr. J.’s teachers would usually call Dr. J. selfish, tell him he just didn’t get it, man, (because they made no frickin’ sense), or simply send him to the principal’s office. If this energy boom affords us the riches with which to do good, we should unembarrasedly do good.
• Never count the US down for the count. Despite the Obama administration’s darnedest efforts to drive a stake into the heart of the recovery of our economy by regulatory fiat, the fracking revolution is growing on private lands throughout the United States. If areas of the US like North Dakota and Texas are thriving, it is only a matter of time until other constituencies demand that the the US economy is unleashed through liberalization of our energy policy by voting and voting with their feet. 
• Gwyneth Paltrow is a smug narcissist. Despite her terrific turn as Pepper Potts, she annoys the crap out of Dr. J. Here you see her in all her glory with 20 obnoxious food quotes. #5 is particularly bad. 

Forty-two recipies using avocado and veganase…

Dr. J.