Lots of people like to bet against America, including a number of Americans. Not me. With one exception, the USA is positioned to kick butt and take names. Here are four reasons why I think this way:
We Have the Cleanest Environment
Since 1980, carbon monoxide levels have fallen 82%, ozone has fallen 27% (estimated emissions are down 50%), lead is down 89%, nitrogen dioxide is down 52%, and sulphur dioxide is down 83%. Particulates are down 38% since 1985. Fine particulates are down 27% since 1999.
According to Stephen Hayward in the Almanac of Environmental Trends, “Virtually the entire nation has achieved clean air standards for four of the six main pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act (carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and lead). The only pollutant where the clean air standard is still widely exceeded is ozone.”
Also worth note: while not necessarily good news for the air conditioning industry, global warming seems to have taken a break and might even be reversing.
According to Judith Curry, chair of the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Georgia Tech, “Attention in the public debate seems to be moving away from the 15-17 year ‘pause’ to the cooling since 2002. This period since 2002 is scientifically interesting, since it coincides with the ‘climate shift’ circa 2001/2002 posited by Tsonis and others. This shift and the subsequent slight cooling trend provides a rationale for inferring a slight cooling trend over the next decade or so, rather than a flat trend from the 15 year ‘pause’.”
Heck, even polar bear population is increasing. According to Canada’s National Post, “The latest government survey of polar bears roaming the vast Arctic expanses of northern Quebec, Labrador and southern Baffin Island show the population of polar bears has jumped to 2,100 animals from around 800 in the mid-1980s.”
Just about any way you measure it, the global environment is in good shape and the U.S. environment is in great shape, which is a problem for the EPA and green movement. It’s hard for a bureaucracy to justify its existence when it’s achieved its original mission. It’s hard for the environmental non-profits to raise money in the absence of a crisis.
We Have the Most Energy
North America is awash in energy. If we can muster the will, we can be energy independent within a decade. The Institute of Energy Research reported, “North America is blessed with enough energy supplies to promote and sustain economic growth for many generations. The government’s own reports detail this, and Congress was advised of our energy wealth when the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress released a report showing that the United States’ combined recoverable oil, natural gas, and coal endowment is the largest on Earth.”
We Have the Greatest Spirit
The U.S. is the most productive nation on earth. Despite battling the most anti-business government since the Great Depression, the resilience of the American entrepreneur continues unabated. While all of us would like a more dynamic economy, the fact that we’re growing at all in the current regulatory and tax environment is a testament to American entrepreneurs and workers.
We Have … People in Leadership Positions
We’ve got the cleanest environment, the most natural resources, the greatest innovators and entrepreneurs, and the most productive people. All we lack is leadership.
Imagine an America free of ever increasing regulations. Imagine an America powered by abundant and cheap energy. Imagine American entrepreneurs turned loose to innovate, create, and build wealth. Imagine leaders who believe in America and American business. Sooner or later we will get the latter and once again America will kick butt and take names.
Join other contractors who are committed to kicking butt and taking names. Join the Service Roundtable. Visit www.ServiceRoundtable.com or call 877/262-3341 and ask a Success Consultant how you can kick butt and take names.
Matt Michel is CEO of the Service Roundtable (ServiceRoundtable.com). The Service Roundtable is an organization founded to help contractors improve their sales, marketing, operations, and profitability. Call toll free: 877/262-3341 for more information about how to join.
