Peak Oil, Where Art Thou?

Saintly Prophet Drowns in Texas Oil Lake

Russel Norman, head of Greenpeace NZ, came down off the mountain about fifteen years ago and proclaimed that the world would hit "peak oil" by around 2010.  A shiver ran through the Force.  Thereafter, said the Prophet,  a long, slow, painful industrial decline would descend upon the world.  Therefore, said Russel (who was co-leader of the Greens at the time) it was essential that the world start developing "green energy" before it was all too late.  Blah, blah, blah.

Russel has since moved on to become the leader of Greenpeace in New Zealand.  Doubtless he is ruefully reflecting on his reckless prophecy.  He finds the world awash with oil.  Not only that, the United States is on the verge of becoming the world's largest producer, and it has scarcely got started.

Russel's prophetic powers are now thoroughly tarnished.  However, we do not doubt Russel "Peak-Oil-By-2010" Norman will go down in history as New Zealand's most astute economic forecaster and all-round-best druid.  We are like that Down Under.

Texas to Pass Iraq and Iran as World's No. 3 Oil Powerhouse
by Matt Egan

@MattEganCNN
Shale exec: US will surpass Russia in oil production

Don't mess with Texas. It's a global oil superpower.

Letter From America (About Culpable Blindness)

‘Voluntary’ Sharia Tribunal in Texas

This Is How It Starts

by Pamela Geller 
28 Jan 2015
BreitbartNews

Breitbart Texas confirmed Tuesday that “an Islamic Tribunal using Sharia law” is indeed operating in Texas. But not to worry: an attorney for the tribunal assures us that participation is “voluntary,” and one of the Sharia judges, Dr. Taher El-badawi, says it’s devoted only to “non-binding dispute resolution.”

This is how it starts. This is how it started in the United Kingdom. When Sharia courts were instituted there, Muslim and non-Muslim officials alike all assured the British public and the world that they would be voluntary, restricted to matters involving non-criminal matters, and subject to the British courts. Any areas in which British law and Sharia law conflicted would be referred not to the Sharia courts, but to the British courts.

That is not how it worked out. The Telegraph reported in August 2011 that “there are growing concerns” that the Sharia courts “are creating a parallel legal system — and one that is developing completely unchecked.” The Independent stated in April 2012 “some Sharia law bodies have been misrepresented by the media as being transparent, voluntary and operating in accordance with human rights and equality legislation. This is not the case. Many Sharia law bodies rule on a range of disputes from domestic violence to child residence all of which should be dealt with by UK courts of law.” Instead, “they operate within a misogynist and patriarchal framework which is incompatible with UK legislation.”

Letter From America (About Texas)

 Give It Back

The principles of fiscal prudence and responsible government would suggest that whenever a government runs a surplus, raising more in taxes than it spends, it should either pay down debt or reduce taxes or give the money back to the citizens.  Rarely is this ever seen.  The norm in such circumstances is for governments to keep taxes high and dream up new ways to spend taxpayers money, whilst turning a blind eye to government debt.

Rick Perry, Governor of Texas is a rare political leader.  He gets out vote for the most fiscally ethical politician of the year.