I was doing some research today and came across a very peculiar report on the PBS website. It struck me as quite odd that this reporter, Ray Suarez, would somehow find a way to paint the situation of a town in North Dakota with an unemployment rate at 1% and a booming economy due to development of oil on private lands, in somewhat of a negative light. Pointing out that so many people are descending upon this small town there aren’t enough homes or lodging to satisfy the demand and traffic problems and the fact that there aren‘t enough people to fill all the job vacancies…
Excerpt from PBS Report: Tonight, we begin a series on the changing landscape of energy in the U.S. and the consequences of ever-increasing development. In western North Dakota, near the Montana border, there's so much oil around, it almost feels risky to say it: boom -- a 1 percent unemployment rate, heavy traffic in what was once a sleepy town of 12,000, nowhere to live, restaurants that close early because they can't find enough people to work at $15 an hour and others offering signing bonuses to dishwashers and fast food workers.
This boom has caused unforeseen growing pains and a gusher of cash surging through a town not totally ready for it. Williston's population doubled in size in two years. Suddenly, the parking lots are full with cars from all over and job-seekers coming from every direction. Joe Gunderson moved from Montana and says he is making the best money of his life.
JOE GUNDERSON: It's been good. It's really good, I mean, anything you want. Money is not really an issue. I mean, if you want it, you just buy it and make it work.
RAY SUAREZ: Another man, Tyler, is working as a cook until something opens up in the oil fields and living in his car.
Tyler: (pointing to different sections of his car) That is the food section down there. That is the kitchen. Out back, that is toiletries. Essentially, what I do is, I move everything from back to the front whenever I want to sleep and then the front to the back whenever I want to drive around or can fit a passenger in. I have my cooler. I have a lot of good camping gear, but there's nowhere to camp around here, unless I want to pay a ridiculous amount of money. Yes, welcome to my home.
RAY SUAREZ: So, for now, home is a parking place.
Why not point out the obvious fact that developing our country’s natural resources will have the same effect on our country as it did in this small town in North Dakota and create millions of jobs? Today, there is still over 80% of offshore acreage that is off limits for drilling…ANWR remains untapped… and the Keystone Pipeline’s approval still sits on the back burner. Maybe the reporter should put out there that, if our current leadership in this country would recognize the pile of new wealth and economic growth lying just below our feet, then small towns like Williston, ND wouldn’t be so overwhelmed with people desperate to find work. There would be plenty of work spread throughout the country. And… I also would like to point out that if restaurants are so busy and the job market is so competitive that they have to pay wages of $15 per hour and offer signing bonuses to dishwashers…THAT’S A GOOD THING!!! THAT’S THE FREE MARKET AT WORK!!!
Excerpt from PBS Report: Tonight, we begin a series on the changing landscape of energy in the U.S. and the consequences of ever-increasing development. In western North Dakota, near the Montana border, there's so much oil around, it almost feels risky to say it: boom -- a 1 percent unemployment rate, heavy traffic in what was once a sleepy town of 12,000, nowhere to live, restaurants that close early because they can't find enough people to work at $15 an hour and others offering signing bonuses to dishwashers and fast food workers.
This boom has caused unforeseen growing pains and a gusher of cash surging through a town not totally ready for it. Williston's population doubled in size in two years. Suddenly, the parking lots are full with cars from all over and job-seekers coming from every direction. Joe Gunderson moved from Montana and says he is making the best money of his life.
JOE GUNDERSON: It's been good. It's really good, I mean, anything you want. Money is not really an issue. I mean, if you want it, you just buy it and make it work.
RAY SUAREZ: Another man, Tyler, is working as a cook until something opens up in the oil fields and living in his car.
Tyler: (pointing to different sections of his car) That is the food section down there. That is the kitchen. Out back, that is toiletries. Essentially, what I do is, I move everything from back to the front whenever I want to sleep and then the front to the back whenever I want to drive around or can fit a passenger in. I have my cooler. I have a lot of good camping gear, but there's nowhere to camp around here, unless I want to pay a ridiculous amount of money. Yes, welcome to my home.
RAY SUAREZ: So, for now, home is a parking place.
Why not point out the obvious fact that developing our country’s natural resources will have the same effect on our country as it did in this small town in North Dakota and create millions of jobs? Today, there is still over 80% of offshore acreage that is off limits for drilling…ANWR remains untapped… and the Keystone Pipeline’s approval still sits on the back burner. Maybe the reporter should put out there that, if our current leadership in this country would recognize the pile of new wealth and economic growth lying just below our feet, then small towns like Williston, ND wouldn’t be so overwhelmed with people desperate to find work. There would be plenty of work spread throughout the country. And… I also would like to point out that if restaurants are so busy and the job market is so competitive that they have to pay wages of $15 per hour and offer signing bonuses to dishwashers…THAT’S A GOOD THING!!! THAT’S THE FREE MARKET AT WORK!!!
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