I choose to post this as a blog on my page, rather than in the forums. I seek enlightened insight from "people in the know." I don't post this to debate politics.
I've been a big fan of Tom Friedman for years, as he provides a good global perspective on events. His op-ed piece in the New York Times today - well, I find it informative, yet disturbing. I reproduce the text of the op-ed piece below.
I suspect that Sen. McCain was on the campaign trail for the votes he missed, as Mr. Friedman ment…
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Added by Ron A. Rhoades on September 3, 2008 at 4:50am —
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This Labor Day weekend, I'd like to pause and express my personal gratitude to the hundreds, if not thousands, of volunteers who have contributed to this movement. Again and again I am informed that the motivation for their ongoing efforts - this "labor" of love - is not so much the PickensPlan itself, but rather the realization that this nation cannot continue to proceed down the same path as it has in the past.
Permit me to comment on why it is so important to reach out to our policy-makers (…
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Added by Ron A. Rhoades on August 30, 2008 at 4:27pm —
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Added by Ron A. Rhoades on August 18, 2008 at 6:13pm —
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(1) A WORD OF CAUTION TO INVESTORS, ABOUT INVESTING IN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PROJECTS. If you are thinking about investing in any project, I do encourage that you receive legal, tax and/or investment advice first, in order that you don't end up sending your money away to some highly speculative, or worse, fraudulent investment scheme.
While I am not aware of any fraud going on right now on the PickensPlan site, neither have I reviewed every solicitation for funds. Fraudsters abound o…
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Added by Ron A. Rhoades on July 27, 2008 at 2:32pm —
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Here's a second draft of a letter to a U.S. Senator / U.S. Representative. Thank you to Clyde, Cheryl, and many others for identifying many of the issues which Congress should address in adopting a comprehensive long-term energy policy. Thank you Cheryl for your editing comments.
(ADDRESSED TO MEMBER OF CONGRESS)
Over $700 billion of this nation’s wealth will be transferred to foreign countries this year as a result of the burgeoning trade deficit. Every credible economist agrees that no soci…
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Added by Ron A. Rhoades on July 26, 2008 at 9:30am —
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T. Boone Pickens states that we are exporting this country's wealth to other countries, to the tune of $700 billion a year. He is entirely correct. Every credible economist will tell you that large trade deficits are
unsustainable. It is essential - and critical - that we reduce our imports - especially of oil.
In my over 25 years of studying the economy, the global financial markets, and U.S. trade policy,
the PickensPlan is the first large-scale strategy I have seen that can success…
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Added by Ron A. Rhoades on July 25, 2008 at 12:22pm —
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Lord Byron once said: "
But words are things, and a small drop of ink, falling, like dew, upon a thought produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions think." That's the beauty of The PickensPlan grass roots movement - one old Texas cowboy and oilman has inspired tens of thousands, soon to be hundreds of thousands, and perhaps even millions.
But inspiration and thought is not enough, and it is readily apparent that nearly all of the members who join The Pickens Plan are sea…
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Added by Ron A. Rhoades on July 23, 2008 at 6:29am —
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ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE NOW - 31 THROUGH 81:
31. CHECK BACK ON THE PICKENSPLAN.COM OFTEN. There’s likely to be something new for you to learn, a question you can answer, a friend you can make, or a task you can assist. And other members may be contacting you.
32. PRINT AND DISTRIBUTE FLYERS at work, school, civic association meetings. You will find some in the Featured Discussion, “Useful Information: START HERE for Boone's Army.”
33. SPEAK BEFORE YOUR CIVIC OR COMMUNITY GROUP ABOUT THE P…
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Added by Ron A. Rhoades on July 23, 2008 at 6:24am —
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IDEAS #82 THROUGH #100 – SOME FOR NOW, SOME FOR THE FUTURE. Ok, I’m taking a bit of a shortcut here. Some of the ideas set forth below can be undertaken immediately, and others will only take place in the future. Some of the ideas below will require technical expertise, others will require public speaking skills, but some will simply require resolve and commitment.
SO HERE ARE THESE ADDITIONAL IDEAS – CONTAINED IN A “Q & A FORMAT” in which I add my own perspective on the future of th…
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Added by Ron A. Rhoades on July 23, 2008 at 6:22am —
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The Major Problem, and the Goal of the Pickens Plan.
• T. Boone Pickens’ main motivation is keeping $700 billion that would otherwise go to purchasing foreign oil in the United States: “I’ve got one enemy. I’ve got one rifle. I’ve got one crosshairs. And it’s focused on one spot.”
• “If nothing is done,” the conservative Texas oilman says, “the US will send $10 trillion out of the country in the next decade … the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of mankind."
• In 1970, the Un…
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Added by Ron A. Rhoades on July 21, 2008 at 6:00pm —
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July 20, 2008. Teddy Roosevelt once said:
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the wo…
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Added by Ron A. Rhoades on July 21, 2008 at 2:30pm —
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July 20, 2008. "
The U.S. economy will collapse. Repeat. The U.S. economy, and probably the world economy, will collapse because of the United States' exponentially-increasing trade deficit." Robert E. Powell, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Most economists agree that "increase in foreign debt cannot go on forever. If the Americans do not begin reducing their trade deficit, there will come a time when foreigners will become less willing to hold dollar denominated assets. This in turn will weaken the…
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Added by Ron A. Rhoades on July 21, 2008 at 2:24pm —
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July 19, 2008. I am often asked why we are creating "Boone's Army," and what we can do now. From what I know (and I just a "member" and am not connected to the "national office"), everyone can expect a continued "roll out" of "The Pickens Plan" in the weeks ahead, and video updates from T. Boone Pickens himself periodically. There are significant efforts underway to provide members with more materials and promotional items which can be utilized to spread the word.
But what's the purpos…
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Added by Ron A. Rhoades on July 21, 2008 at 2:23pm —
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July 18, 2008. Lord Byron once said: "But words are things, and a small drop of ink, falling, like dew, upon a thought produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions think." That's the beauty of The PickensPlan grass roots movement - one old Texas cowboy and oilman has inspired tens of thousands, soon to be hundreds of thousands, and perhaps even millions.
But inspiration and thought is not enough, and it is readily apparent that nearly all of the members who join The Pickens Plan are se…
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Added by Ron A. Rhoades on July 21, 2008 at 2:20pm —
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July 16, 2008. I am reminded by a quote from Franklin Covey, "An empowered organization is one in which individuals have the knowledge, skill, desire, and opportunity to personally succeed in a way that leads to collective organizational success." To that end, I am so grateful for the many people who are helping others to join this site, who then assist others in navigating the site and advising them on how each person can personally contribute, and who are taking action now to build the foundat…
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Added by Ron A. Rhoades on July 16, 2008 at 2:00pm —
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