Oh Say Can You See... Through the Frackers' Big Lie?
The surge in fracked gas is headed for export and won't boost the nation's energy independence.
Big Oil's frackers are wrapping their shameless profiteering in our flag.

In shale fields across the country, you'll see fracking rigs festooned with Old Glory, and they even paint some of their rigs red, white, and blue.
This ostentatious patriotic pose is part of the industry's cynical PR campaign to convince you and me that its assault on our health, water, air, and economic future should be mindlessly saluted, rather than questioned.
"Energy Independence! " is their deafening cry. The so-called shale gas boom, they proclaim, will free America from dependence on foreign producers.
This Fourth of July, can you sing "Oh say can you see through the frackers' big lie"?
Joel Dyer, editor of the Boulder, Colorado Weekly, has peeked behind their-star spangled curtain. The investigative digger uncovered what he called "one of the biggest scams ever perpetrated on America."
Far from independence, we're going to get the pollution -- while foreigners take the energy. The gas extracted from our fractured land is destined for export. How do we know that?
First, because the industry and its government enablers admit it in their internal communications. Second, guess who's paying for the fracking of America?
Dyer cites reports by Bloomberg news that China has pumped $5.5 billion into the U.S. drilling boom -- not only so it can export the energy back to their people, but especially so the Chinese can "redeploy the best U.S. practices and technologies" back to China.
Other foreign investors fracking us hail from Japan ($5 billion invested so far), India ($3.5 billion), France ($4.5 billion), as well as South Korea, the UK, and Norway.
Norway? Come on, America -- don't let the profiteers wrap you up in our own flag. It's the Fourth of July -- let's rebel!
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Big Oil's frackers are wrapping their shameless profiteering in our flag.

In shale fields across the country, you'll see fracking rigs festooned with Old Glory, and they even paint some of their rigs red, white, and blue.
This ostentatious patriotic pose is part of the industry's cynical PR campaign to convince you and me that its assault on our health, water, air, and economic future should be mindlessly saluted, rather than questioned.
"Energy Independence! " is their deafening cry. The so-called shale gas boom, they proclaim, will free America from dependence on foreign producers.
This Fourth of July, can you sing "Oh say can you see through the frackers' big lie"?
Joel Dyer, editor of the Boulder, Colorado Weekly, has peeked behind their-star spangled curtain. The investigative digger uncovered what he called "one of the biggest scams ever perpetrated on America."
Far from independence, we're going to get the pollution -- while foreigners take the energy. The gas extracted from our fractured land is destined for export. How do we know that?
First, because the industry and its government enablers admit it in their internal communications. Second, guess who's paying for the fracking of America?
Dyer cites reports by Bloomberg news that China has pumped $5.5 billion into the U.S. drilling boom -- not only so it can export the energy back to their people, but especially so the Chinese can "redeploy the best U.S. practices and technologies" back to China.
Other foreign investors fracking us hail from Japan ($5 billion invested so far), India ($3.5 billion), France ($4.5 billion), as well as South Korea, the UK, and Norway.
Norway? Come on, America -- don't let the profiteers wrap you up in our own flag. It's the Fourth of July -- let's rebel!
Big Oil's frackers are wrapping their shameless profiteering in our flag.

In shale fields across the country, you'll see fracking rigs festooned with Old Glory, and they even paint some of their rigs red, white, and blue.
This ostentatious patriotic pose is part of the industry's cynical PR campaign to convince you and me that its assault on our health, water, air, and economic future should be mindlessly saluted, rather than questioned.
"Energy Independence! " is their deafening cry. The so-called shale gas boom, they proclaim, will free America from dependence on foreign producers.
This Fourth of July, can you sing "Oh say can you see through the frackers' big lie"?
Joel Dyer, editor of the Boulder, Colorado Weekly, has peeked behind their-star spangled curtain. The investigative digger uncovered what he called "one of the biggest scams ever perpetrated on America."
Far from independence, we're going to get the pollution -- while foreigners take the energy. The gas extracted from our fractured land is destined for export. How do we know that?
First, because the industry and its government enablers admit it in their internal communications. Second, guess who's paying for the fracking of America?
Dyer cites reports by Bloomberg news that China has pumped $5.5 billion into the U.S. drilling boom -- not only so it can export the energy back to their people, but especially so the Chinese can "redeploy the best U.S. practices and technologies" back to China.
Other foreign investors fracking us hail from Japan ($5 billion invested so far), India ($3.5 billion), France ($4.5 billion), as well as South Korea, the UK, and Norway.
Norway? Come on, America -- don't let the profiteers wrap you up in our own flag. It's the Fourth of July -- let's rebel!

