The news shows real time footage of Israel and Iran exchanging missiles and drone strikes - and I can’t help but wonder, “maybe this really will be WWIII.”
I remember when as a kid, hearing my great grandfather and my family visit about both world wars, it seemed impossible to imagine. A world where they repurposed everything, the grasshoppers ate the paint off the house in drought years, and you made mud pies with your siblings because you had no toys.
Death, tragedy and hardship were common themes. Yet when my family described it, they didn’t dwell on the sad times, only the good.
The news these days, however, is looking a little spooky.
The book of Revelation seems to predict this historic battle of ancient Persia (i.e. Iran) and Israel, at least by my reading. Revelation gives us enough detail through cryptic description to let us know to prepare for the end times.
I watched Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel deliver his speech regarding the war, calling Israel’s mission “rising lion.”
In Revelation, Jesus is called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. This relates back to a Genesis prophesy when Jacob blessed his son Judah, foretelling a future ruler from his lineage.
The lamb was slain, the lion returns.
Preparation is physical and spiritual of course. The spiritual purging of society has been going on for quite some time already.
Why do you think questions of morality and autonomy from God and self are everywhere? Our culture is boiling over and common sense is winning. Riley Gaines and Simone Biles are the most recent, obvious example of that.
This isn’t about bathrooms if you haven’t figured it out yet.
But preparation is physical too. Imagine a world war coming to our homeland. Imagine the bombing scenes you see on the news in New York or Washington DC instead of some distant land.
It could happen.
Recognizing the uncertainty of the world’s affairs, Wyoming has an opportunity to lead the country in national security and preparation while ensuring our own economic security.
Wyoming is the third largest supplier of energy among the states, on par with some middle eastern countries. We must take advantage of our God-given blessings here in Wyoming. We have seen the regulatory impediments in oil and gas. Coal production is down.
Yet, Wyoming produces 40% of the nation’s coal and is the eighth largest crude oil producer. If we utilize our resources we can prepare for future generations in our state.
Letting science, rather than politics drive coal production is essential, Rep. Scott Heiner, R-Green River, said at a recent Wyoming Freedom Caucus town hall.
Wyoming must prioritize our economic endeavors. Enhanced oil recovery should be a primary focus. Did you know that 75%-80% of the oil is left in the ground when an oil field is shut down? With CO2, the old fields can be revitalized and 30% of that oil can be recovered. Recently, a field in Wyoming went from producing 19 barrels a day up to 9,500 barrels a day by injecting CO2 to enhance oil recovery.
Other industries, like nuclear, seem to present more problems than benefits, like where to store the nuclear waste. Similarly, taxpayers subsidize wind and solar, creating increased costs for fossil fuels who bear the brunt of regulation and taxation while dealing with diminished aesthetics and dead birds in their fields.
Wyoming needs to explore below the surface and stick to what we know works during these uncertain times.
Taiwan and Japan want coal. They want natural gas. Their officials do not travel to Wyoming to look at our wind turbines.
We need to explore providing long-term contracts for baseline energy to other states that are dabbling in wind, solar, and AI data centers. Rep. Christopher Knapp, R-Gillette, noted.
For far too long we’ve had state leadership focused on special interests and green new deals.
We got lost in the weeds and we left liquid gold in the ground and let workers lose their jobs. Our leaders abandoned us in the pursuit of new deals and new money. The pursued the next shiny object while our industries died quietly.
The best way to protect ourselves and our neighbors, is to put reliable energy first. It is time to push aside these BS agendas of greenism, wokeism, and environmentalism that fly in the face of common sense and leave our people in a vulnerable position.
Cowboy State Daily columnist Cassie Craven is a University of Wyoming College of Law graduate who practices law in Wyoming. She can be reached at:longhornwritingllc@gmail.com
