Kate Jorquez is a freshman at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
New Year’s resolutions are a time-honored tradition for many people. There are as many resolutions as there are people who make them. However, a few are incredibly common. Among the most common are getting in shape, practicing better self-care, and improving financial situations.
One of the best ways to improve financial stability is by becoming financially independent. Being financially reliant on someone else, whether a family member, a partner, or a loan company, can be a great source of stress and limit opportunities.
Similarly, it can be dangerous when America relies too much on foreign energy instead of domestic energy. Foreign energy is less reliable and increases the chances of conflict. We should prioritize American energy because it helps the economy. Domestic energy is far more reliable than foreign energy.
When getting electricity from other nations, outside factors are more likely to have a great influence. Undersea power cables between countries are unreliable. They can succumb to espionage, average wear and tear, or even curious sharks and sea life.
Disruptions in supply chains are also an issue when it comes to trading foreign energy. When supplying countries or active third parties face disturbances in their internal supply networks, it impacts the countries that rely upon them for energy. This can cause more problems than just energy shortages for the reliant country.
Because energy is incredibly vital to our daily lives, cut-offs or shortages are major issues. Countries need to keep close, friendly ties with energy suppliers.
Therefore, when an energy-supplying country gets involved in a conflict or war, the countries that rely on that energy are more likely to protect their interests. This leads to a global response to something that may otherwise be a regional conflict, which may cause even more escalation on a larger scale or prevent other countries from intervening to stop a conflict sooner. This has happened a few times in recent history, including in the Middle East and Russia.
This is part of the reason why domestic American energy should be preferred. It stops questions of reliability and solves problems with foreign affairs, giving Americans more control over their energy.
It also boosts the U.S. economy because less reliance on foreign energy naturally results in a greater demand for domestic energy products. Greater demand will cause more investment in domestic energy and create more jobs. In turn, this causes greater circulation of money in the American economy and produces more wealth and prosperity for the everyday American.
When the American energy sector relies exclusively on foreign energy, it can lead to conflict and will be less reliable. Instead, domestic U.S. energy should be used more often because of the economic benefits.
Breaking New Year’s resolutions is almost as common a tradition as making them. According to a study conducted at Columbia less than 10% of people follow through and keep their resolutions. However, those that do often enjoy the rewards of their hard work. Hopefully, when it comes to pursuing energy independence the United States will stand resolute.