Bob McCarty Writes

News reports during the past 24 hours reveal that a 46-year-old stubborn streak running through the hearts of government leaders in Myanmar closely resembles one that’s been embedded in the bleeding hearts of Congressional Democrats for nearly three decades.

Myanmar Rulers Stubborn

Members of the ruling junta in Myanmar (a.k.a., Burma) have refused the vast majority of disaster relief that’s been offered by the United States following a cyclone that struck the Southeast Asia nation May 2-3.

The reason: They fear Western influences accompanying relief efforts might lead to their eventual overthrow.

The results: Many thousands of people — possibly tens of thousands — who could have been saved by timely delivery of food and medical supplies have died.

Congressional Democrats Stubborn

Stubborn Democrats in Congress have, in a similar manner, blocked all efforts of the U.S. oil and gas industry to tap new sources of oil and natural gas in places like the Alaska National Wildlife Reserve and in several off-shore locations. They’ve also imposed severe environmental regulations that have, for more than 30 years, prevented any new refineries from being built in this country.

The reason: The liberal Democrats are beholden to environmentalists with extreme — and often anti-American — views who contribute mightily to their reelection efforts.

The results: The United States has been forced to remain far too dependent on foreign sources of oil and allowed foreign governments — at great risk to national security, I might add — to exert far too much influence over the U.S. economy.

Is There A Difference?

Some might argue there is a big difference between the results outlined above. To that, I counter by offering this: The only difference can be found in the number of lives impacted thusfar by these examples of stubbornness.

The recent actions by the rulers in Myanmar have had a disastrous and immediate impact on the people of that country, but it can be argued that the actions — or lack thereof — by Congressional Democrats during the last 30 years have had — and, if not changed, will continue to have — a devastating impact on this country.

That impact comes, most visibly in the form of economic and emotional hardships placed upon them by the nation’s long-standing dependence on foreign sources of oil.

Recently, that impact has taken shape in the form of skyrocketing costs of food, fuel and other consumer goods. Over time, however, it has surfaced in the form of brave American soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines being deployed to distant lands in defense of national interests, some of which are now — and have been in the past — tied to concerns about energy.

Conclusion

The rulers in Myanmar could have saved many thousands of lives by accepting immediately the humanitarian aid offered by the United States and other Western nations. Similarly, Democrats in Congress can save the American people from future hardship if only they will allow more domestic oil and gas exploration and make it feasible for construction of new, more-efficient refineries. And now!