The average American voter has a problem. He or she has been trained to accept lies, misdirection, and ignorance. They make opinions based on television “news” shows, and ads by special interest groups and desperate candidates. The average voter fails to seek the truth or vet candidates.

The average voter believes everything their favorite personality says as they blatantly lie to their viewers and receive reimbursement in the form of millions of dollars each year. Whether they watch FOX Noise and its fake-journalists, or listen to disgraced men and women such as Dick Cheney, Newt Gingrich, Ann Coulter, Sarah Palin, or Rush Limbaugh, they are not seeking the truth, and are continuing to allow the efforts of these un-Americans to control their supporters through fear and anger.

I have promised to always tell the truth, and offer you information the mainstream media ignores. You will not be influenced by ‘emotional warfare.’ Emotions are man’s greatest weakness, and politicians and the media are fully aware of that fact.

Who can we trust? It has been often said that ‘if a politician opens his mouth, he is lying.’ For the most part I continue to believe that decades old adage. Sadly, the truth is that we have come to expect misleading or fallacious comments by those we elect. What frightens me more is the lack of credibility and morality from the media. Let me give you a single example.

Not a single “news” network has allowed the discussion regarding the dangers of ‘fracking’ for the immediate danger it causes to the American people and the future of our nation’s environment. The oil and gas companies spend tens-of-millions of dollars in advertising, while they receive tax breaks from government.

What is fracking? Fracking is a drilling process now used by the petroleum industry. It is faster, more efficient, and less costly that past drilling methods. But, it is also the most dangerous. Here is how it works.

More than four-million gallons of water is mixed with sand and more than 600 chemicals, some of which are carcinogenic. This mixture is then forced thousands of feet under the surface using extremely high pressure. This already dangerous mixture cracks the shale, releasing crude and natural gas. Some effort is made to retrieve the dangerous substance used in the process. Now for the truth you will never hear from the American media.

If you believe the ads by the Koch brothers, BP, Chevron, or others, you are horribly misinformed, and need to retake your citizenship test. Although the actual percentage of the recovered mixture is an unavailable statistic, environmentalists have proven that much of it remains under ground and seeps into our subterranean lakes and rivers. This formerly potable water is now poisoned. The soil beneath the surface contains chemicals which make the land unusable for growing crops, and other uses for humans and animals.

Oklahoma has the largest number of fracking wells. What is now occurring in that state is frightening. In areas which previously had little or no seismic activity, earthquakes are frequent. Presently, they offer little danger to the people who reside in the area. However, the extreme pressure, used repeatedly in the same area, will eventually be the cause of larger seismic activity in the future.

“The United States is a business, not a country.” This line from a movie is far too accurate. The oil and gas companies, the NRA, the Christian religious right, large corporations who pollute the environment, and others, own more than one-half of Congress.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

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