“Responsibly developing our resources, in Alaska especially, will allow us to use our energy diplomatically to aid our allies and check our adversaries,” he said in a statement. “That makes America stronger and more influential around the globe.”
We feel that when we swing our dick around, it’s not big enough. This will allow to have a bigger dick to swing around.
Russia regularly extorts European countries by threatening to cut off gas or raise prices. A big part of US foreign policy is guaranteeing energy security to our allies. The US is already nearly energy independent, due in part to the shale gas (“fracking”) boom. Increasing domestic production, along with the new policy of allowing exports to our allies, will do a lot to lessen Russia’s power.
So yes, it’s about carrying an even bigger stick. But it’s our stick or Russia’s stick. Our allies would much rather depend on America than Russia.
Every investment in oil and gas exploration is a tragic waste of resources tho since the world needs to stop using fossil fuels for generating electricity, transportation, and heat. With that geopolitical games centered around control of oil and gas supplies is utterly pointless.
If we don’t do it, our competitors will. Do you want to live in a world where the Chinese and Russian governments have more power over your life than they do now?
Less cynical translation: responsibly developing our resources will make us less reliant on countries like Saudi Arabia, which murdered a journalist, and whose resources have since been branded ‘blood money’
There is no real need for arctic oil, nor Saudi oil for that matter. There are other, easier and cheaper, ways to replace Saudi oil then digging for it in the Arctic.
The United States imports 9% of our yearly crude from Saudi Arabia. More than three times as much comes from the polite, hockey-loving neighbors to the north. [1]
It's not really my problem if you can't see that the quote is about nothing more than the desire for power for it's own sake. And particular it's backwards looking rather than forward looking. Because power in the 21st Century won't be about oil.
That was ultimately my opinion in the real social political reason US waged war against Iraq; the people pushing it thought we will win this war, everything will be great, and after we will walk around Washington with a big swinging dick.
Most people wouldn't think that there's anything immoral about private companies using strategy to be better than their competitors as long as they do it through legitimate means. Why should we hold states to a different standard? In this case, the USA would be gaining an advantage by finding a way to utilize an untapped resource. What's wrong with that?
Being able to reduce everything down to an analogy about monkeys fighting over a banana or a dick measuring contest is just the reality of economics. One could even argue that it's an inherent aspect of being alive, at risk of sounding like a social darwinist.
We feel that when we swing our dick around, it’s not big enough. This will allow to have a bigger dick to swing around.
I’m at a loss for a less cynical translation.