July is a special month for many Americans. Most of us will eagerly take a break from our busy summer schedules to celebrate Independence Day once again. There will be much fanfare with fireworks, parades, picnics and other patriotic events. But when the festivities have ended, only a few will have reflected upon the true meaning of independence and the role it has played in shaping our nation’s character.
Freedom and independence are cornerstones in the foundation of our country’s heritage. The independent ideology of the American people is a fundamental element of our society and a key to our nation’s prosperity. We must protect that independence at all costs.
One important freedom we must protect is our free enterprise system. American business was founded upon the ideology of independence and free-market principles. Those principles allow business to be governed by the laws of supply and demand without government interference and excessive regulation. The dynamic free market has led to innovation and wealth creation and has established an economic environment where hard work is rewarded.
But now, it seems free-market capitalism and independence are under attack. Over the past four years, the Biden Administration has tried to shift energy policy away from fossil fuels and some expected this thinking to be the wave of the future. But, that kind of thinking is a threat to economic development in the U.S. and around the world.
When policy signals prevent energy leadership here at home, there are going to be consequences. Using well-worn talking points, Democrats are trying to deflect criticism that their party’s policies are to blame for rising gasoline prices. We now see a drumbeat of efforts from Democrats to blame higher gasoline prices at the pump on the actions of the fossil fuel industry — not Biden administration environmental policies.
At a time of persistent inflation and geopolitical instability, the American people need more affordable energy and less political gamesmanship. Reliable, affordable energy policy will support American families and businesses in the fight against inflation. Yet misguided policies and heavy-handed regulations, particularly over the past four years, threaten to undermine our existing energy advantage, potentially increasing costs and jeopardizing a key pillar of American leadership. Our current national energy policy is based on insufficient information and a lack of perspective.
Ahead of the 2024 elections, presidential candidates, as well as policymakers and candidates on both sides of the aisle, can support leveraging America’s energy resources to help protect consumers and cement U.S. energy leadership.
I encourage policymakers and candidates to support actions to secure American energy leadership, protect consumers, and help reduce inflation. Such actions include supporting policies that protect consumer choice, restore the role of American energy in bolstering our geopolitical strength, leverage our abundant natural resources, reform the regulatory policies that increase certainty and unleash private investment, and advance sensible tax policy.
In his 1946 Independence Day speech, John F. Kennedy said, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” Those words were never so true. Being mindful of the erosion of our independence and free-market system through excessive regulation and government interference cannot be over emphasized. We must, now more than ever, remain steadfast in our resolve to protect and preserve the precious independence that has molded our nation’s character.
Ed Cross
Kansas Independent Oil & Gas Association President