I am writing this on a plane from DC to Dallas. I love when I write this newsletter on a plane because it always makes me step back and appreciate the fact that…human beings can fly! Thanks to man-made flying machines and high-density man-made power (liquid hydrocarbon jet fuel, aka “oil”).
I’m coming from DC where I did my latest Stakeholder Strategy Session with a very ambitious group working on a very ambitious project that, executed properly, could have huge local and national impacts. I hope you read or reread my article from last week on these sessions. If you are undertaking any kind of serious communications project you should seriously consider one of these sessions or at least trying to apply the framework on your own. Remember: the number one form of non-productivity is doing the wrong work. The better your thinking at the outset of a project the more likely you are likely to do the right work–game changing work.
I’m flying to Dallas Friday to participate in a conference at Southern Methodist University that will feature me and also one of my favorite authors, Matt Ridley, author of The Rational Optimist. Matt and I have only met digitally and it will be great to meet him in person and maybe talk about how to impact the energy/environment debate over the next four years.
Which brings us to the recent election that will obviously influence the next four years. I don’t want to focus on whom I did/didn’t vote for and why. I want to focus on what is within my control right now: the ability of officials at all levels of government to articulate a coherent, inspiring energy policy. (More broadly, I think we should all push the Republicans in particular to adopt as many free-market policies as we possibly can, since I believe they are ope
n to influence.) I have written about this here. If you are connected to politicians at any level and they genuinely want help addressing all the different aspects of energy, including the difficult-to-message issue of CO2, let me know.
One government official that I have already helped and am eager to help more is the new Texas Railroad Commissioner, Wayne Christian. Wayne has been a public supporter of The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels. When he won, he sent me this picture with our trademark I Love Fossil Fuels pin.
Again, let me know of any political officials who might be interested in help. Now is the time to start reshaping the debate. The fact that more pro-energy politicians are now in power does not automatically mean they will lead the debate. In fact, they will almost certainly follow unless they are taught how to reframe the debate.