Frontline Shows, It’s All About Perspective.

17 min readMay 3, 2022

Mistakes made, are only mistakes if nothing is learned.

FRONTLINE - The Power of Big Oil Part One: Denial

Is the reason we couldn’t unite behind Climate Change be because we don’t accept that in some way, we are all right?
My analysis of this video, will be based on the truths I believe in:
1. No One Want Law And Order, We All Want Justice.
2. The Best Deals Are When Everyone Win.

From the beginning of the video, I think it’s important to point out how scientific, and ethically correct, Exxon appeared to be as employers. If I was to read those directives and work orders, I would feel a certain pride, in how important what I was about to do, was not just for me, for the company, but also for the world. This kind of leadership would be a dream for anyone that want to make a better world, tomorrow.

This kind of enthusiasm is obvious from how the ex-employers talk about the company, their leadership, the pay, and the work they were to do.

In 1978 $18.600 per year (I take it) would be around¹ $82.000 or around $40 an hour. Don’t think they go into if they get paid sick and vacation days. That’s one of the main thing among these companies, the starting pay are very competitive.

Looking into Exxon today, we see that they plan to have a lower than the avg inflation increase to salaries². Naturally, despite continuous huge profits. But it is this part I want to draw attention to “The highest average increases will be awarded to employees working in the company’s upstream division, but all pay decisions will depend on individual performance, according to the report.”
That is the same kind of vague and crappy language they use, when they want to say “we decide what you are worth”.

I had a friend in Denmark. Who ended up being a lead researcher for a rather big pharmaceutical company in Denmark. How big, I don’t know, but they were well known. Now how he ended up there, is beyond me. But he was certainly qualified for the job, even though not always right, he helped the company with massive profits from research he had done, by looking into what others have done in the field. The product he was part of developing, sold well, and for the next at least two years his salary was increased to about the avg inflation. With no bonusses. Don’t get me wrong, the pay was good, and it is Denmark, so cost of living is way lower than here in CA. But still, I am of the firm belief that you reward everyone involved in the success of a product. Especially those directly involved. Eventually, and thankfully, he came to see it that way as well, and he quit the job. Though he had in that time kept doing his job, and improved and researched other products.

I wanted to see the avg pay today and found this:

Do you get paid sick days at ExxonMobil?
Indeed’s survey asked over 1,597 current and former employees how many paid sick days they received for their role. Respondents said they received . When asked if their paid sick days reset each year, 53% of respondents said that they did.

Why are these kind of business practices hidden from public? Is there a reason we not allowed to see if they are paid sick and vacation days? or especially if it reset each year … why is that even allowed?

So Exxon is not far away from being the villains we always saw them as. But judging from the start of this documentary, they didn’t always use to be. At least they were not selling themselves as such, and their workers seemed to have been thrilled with their job.

Around 8:30 on the “Rationale for Exxon Involvement”, that is straight out of a scientist’s recruitment textbook.
Around 10:40 they use the same evasive language as they do today, when they talk about which employees are getting a raise. Already then, it start to feel like they are pushing the issue forward. Always the same “we need more data, we need to be sure”. Why? Their research collaborated that of independent researchers around the world. They were not the only ones looking into Climate Change. The topic was already a hot subject, that called for a serious response or it would be a disaster. and they wanted more data to proof, what their data already proofed? This is a delay tactics, and they continued to do that for decades.
Around 11:40 it’s clear, they knew their way of doing business was affecting the climate in a significant way.
Around 12:00 it sounds like Exxon opens up in the year 2000 to silence the rising pressure, and show that all along, they have taken this issue very seriously. They even spend a fortune on looking into it, and while their own research did indicate there was a correlation, there just wasn’t quite enough data to be certain this was not just nature going through a phase. But they knew. The proof is in the extreme amount of evidence they kept. Yet managed to evade, by claiming others didn’t agree with them. And people relied on their product. But far worse, they were put in charge of our energy council. Our government back then, made a deal with the devil.
Around 13:32 we are in 1982, and it sounds like that was the time Exxon decided what strategy, what deception and lies they were going to stick to. And they fired the researchers in Climate Change and Renewable Energy. That kind of commitment, can only come from a very strong reassurance, that it will pay off. So who was is in the government in 1982? It likely come as no surprise that was Ronald Reagan. Now don’t get me wrong. I actually like Reagan as a person, and he raised Ron Reagan who is one hell of a guy (he’ll get it). But his economics were absolutely terrible. Whomever sold him on trickle down effect deserve to burn in the hell Ron Regan doesn’t believe in. But it was our failure not to learn from such a disastrous economic view, which completely ignored humanity’s greatest weakness, greed.

A little digging found this³:

Decreased Government Regulation
“In order to restore market signals in the economy, Reagan removed price controls on oil and gas, reduced restrictions on the financial services industry, and relaxed enforcement of the Clean Air Act. The Department of the Interior also opened large areas of public land for oil drilling.”

I guess we see when Big Oil started to make the rules. In fairness to Reagan, the times called for changes as it was a measure to fight high inflation.
Please, people of history, with influence, do not let history repeat itself because of our current record high inflations. It’s a lie, a deception, a trick. Follow the science. Listen to the experts, record high profits, does not call for record high inflation, no matter their language or threats.

Around 14:40 we have the big reveal. The lie they been working on for at least the past 8 years, since they closed down their alternative energy departments, and had gotten a green card to go ahead and increase production, while practically ignoring pollution, and have the ability to set the cost of gas themselves. This simple lie, has been their standpoint for the last 40 years. “We done a lot of research, we need more data”.

Around 17:40 right on que, is the Reagonomics in full effect. A lesson we should take to heart, on how NOT to do it.
Around 18:50 1988 when the American public first really hear about the threat of ignoring our current state of energy consumption, would cause real problems for humanity down the line. Of course the oil industry knew this was coming, and they had prepared their spread of misinformation and fake testimonies, from fake scientists.
Around 23:10 the excuse by the oil companies was already “we can’t just change our energy dependencies over night”, 34 years ago, and the excuse is still the same, who wonder how many more years they could get away with this had Elon Musk not shown the world that EV can indeed be profitable and desirable, and that most people really want them. Now the pressure is finally on them, not from Climate Change, but from the people that are sick and tired of the same old excuses. This is why corporations are NOT people, this is why Citizen United was the worst decision ever made by the Supreme Court, already back then, everyone that cared, knew the courts were more political than they were suppose to be. They are suppose to be Switzerland, that is the only way Justice can work. When you go all out partisan, you get Law and Order, much akin to Tyrannies and Fascism, but no one want Law and Order, we all want Justice.
Around 23:17 Robert Hager is an analyst and a former correspondent for the US television network NBC News.⁴ Back then it was understandable to take his words on the issue, the problem is, that was almost 40 years ago. That excuse was death long ago.
Around 25:00 that’s when the method of corrupting our political system became an everyday thing. This was when it went full on evil. Any sane government, that actually work on behalf of the people, that truly carry the weight of the responsibility it means to be elected officials. Would hold them accountable for the untold damage that happened, not only to the Climate, but to our Democracy, to the widespread corruption, the continuation of block politics and rise of distrust of the people in the government. In some part, their behavior is guilty of the corruption from other companies that learned and did the same practices, influencing even more politicians, making even more citizens pissed off on our government. All these leeches that corrupted our politicians, all these dirty business lobbyists, they are part to blame for the rise of Nationalism in America. There are not one person who wouldn’t agree with them on one point, our government is a swamp.
Around 26:30 Patrick Michaels is what you get when you have some one smart enough to play word games, but not enough to be the Climatologists that do the science. His “lukewarm” is more akin, to not taking any responsibility, much like Tucker Carlson does today. By just asking questions. Winning court case, because “no ‘reasonable viewer’ takes Tucker Carlson seriously”. And they shouldn’t nor should anyone take “lukewarm” Patrick Michaels seriously. He is a denier, because there was money in that. He knows well, that the only thing that can disproof science, is science. And that’s what him and Tucker Carlson rely on, the fact, that nothing is absolutely certain (under most circumstances). They can say whatever they want, and when they say it so well, they must be right…
Around 30:20 on Al Gore. I love that Al Gore was very aware of the long lasting consequences there would be to ignore Climate Change. But I would hope we start learning to make deals that try to be more of a win for everyone. And since practically half the country think taxation is theft, and the other half, while understanding that is our system, they would prefer not to pay any taxes either. Adding a tax on gas, makes people hate the government, not the oil companies, not the pollution or it’s affect on Climate Change. That would, and has, taken decades to get to. Now people would understand such a tax, but again, I think we all would rather find different solutions. Luckily, we have, and they are being worked on all over the world. I do believe on this, the government made a dumb move, unlike what Denmark told their industries “you the engineers, reduce your pollutions or we will tax you”, within a decade they had the lowest admissions and were researching wind energy. Businesses needed to do better, not the people, but by taxing the oil, it was the people that ended up paying for this terrible deal. Making people hate the government, just a little but more. So sure, Reagan unleashed the beast of corporations. But Democrats were sometimes making it worse.
Around 32:10 The Koch Brothers were among the worst on buying politicians to do their bidding. Why an FBI raid had never been called on them, and a forensic team of investigators and accountant set to unravel their web of contacts, is beyond me. But since we only send S.W.A.T. teams into poor people’s homes for dumb drug possession, I guess we never get to the bottom of the real crimes against all of America. But I feel there would be a lot less need of S.W.A.T. if we dealt more with the crimes connected to politicians, than to poor neighborhoods.
Around 35:00 at the emerging strategy against the BTU tax, it becomes very apparent to corporations what really stopped the tax, was that people couldn’t afford it. They saw the power they had in pretending to have their best interests at heart, that they were the job creators, they were the reason everyone had it so well, cause they were the economy. We today see the pain and suffering this view of a society is hurting 64% of Americans that live paycheck to paycheck⁵.
Around 35:05 at least in this man’s view, the Democrats could be easily controlled and intimidated, as they greatly disliked any kind of pressure from “grass roots”. So when THEIR party was not in power, they still could control the narrative. So at least to this expert, Republicans are the ones owned by special interest groups, while Democrats are easily controlled. Doesn’t seem so much has changed on that lately.
Around 38:45 And he continues, revealing his lack of remorse and would have done the exact same thing. It’s a pragmatic view. It is a business like view. It is sadly also a sociopathic view. Like I said, they were not just messing with our Climate, they were also ruining more and more people’s faith in the government. Their actions over the years, gave us Trump, and their actions nearly destroyed our Democracy, and thereby our nation. If we do not recognize the present threat these companies and their corruption on our power has, then we will end up in one form of Tyranny, like very alike to that of Russia. A defeat from within, like predicted by Nikita Khrushchev⁶.
Around 44:00 we have the playbook. It’s what they use against anything they don’t want regulated, because they know their product or stand point is damaging. They use the same tactic against the Tobacco industry, Firearms, Climate Change, Vaccines, Pandemics, Masks etc Their campaigns help funnel the divide and create far reaching conspiracy theories. It really used to be rare to have people believe in the wildest conspiracy theories, now I would say everyone do. And why not, this right here is a conspiracy, and they admit it straight up “this is our playbook, and this is how we deceit you”.
Around 45:10 No one, who hear and learn about the devastating effect of Climate Change would have a “blast” about writing in opposition to it, as being a voice of denying the facts. No one, that is not a sociopath. He is the tool, a blunt instrument against humanity and the countless of suffering he has been part in creating. The devastating effect of Climate Change has been felt for decades, and it keeps getting worse, how much of this win will be on the scale when this sinner is facing his creator? It is in times like this I wish there was a creator that measured ones worth. I might be poor and a failure in society’s view. But I am fairly confident, that on the worth of my heart, those ways would be held open. But there is no such Justice, no such Karma. There are no crime that deserve an eternity in torment. But his are close.
Around 47:00 Another sociopath trying to deflect guilt, that he doesn’t feel, with the overwhelming data they had, the insurmountable proof from science, and he sticks to the playbook, after all that’s why he was paid. Claiming he is but a simple person trying to find the truth. But when you know what your goal is, to be an opposing voice to Climate Change scientists, then you are not a force of good, you a tool of greed, of corporations that already have decided that the faith of billions, are worth the wealth for the few. He did their dirty work, not by being a scientist himself and doing his own research, but be a voice for the deniers, those making a massive profits of getting him to oppose the science. That’s pseudoscience, that’s a sell out, a lying conman that would sell you snake oil for vision impairment, and claim you should have read the small print.
Around 49:15 “Detection of climate change and attribution of causes”
https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/03/TAR-12.pdf

The Madrid convention on the topic of Chapter Eight should be a red flag by anyone, when the language chosen is made by those making the most profit off this industry. This, became the language they use to deceive the public. The oil industry needs to make amends to humanity, and on this I will make a suggestion in my conclusion of this first episode.

Abut 50:05 “Because uncertainty is an irreducible part of climate science. The notion that uncertainties mean you can’t say anything useful about anything, is preposterous”. That is whole talking point of people that don’t understand science. They often confuse real science with “are egg yolks good for you?”. And while that is valid question, the science behind that depends on the vast diversity there are among humanity, from our genetics to our habits. While the science on Climate Change is often measured or even directly seen, and then the data is interpreted. Anyone that put their hands on a hot pan, know, that depend on how hot that pan is, and how long the contact is, there will be a degree of hurt. It’s that simple on the consequences on Climate Change, the hotter we allow it to get, the more it will hurt.
About 51:00 “The balance of evidence suggest a discernible human influence on globate climate. Madrid was a triumph of the science, the science won”. That should have been it. But we know it wasn’t, because humanity’s greatest weakness, made many ignore the truth, the love of money have ruined many things, greed is our worst enemy. And while I am perfectly fine with individuals, and to a degree businesses, are pursuing personal wealth. It should never be acceptable that our government is. They represent the people, not businesses and not themselves. Why is it we give a starting salary for someone as unqualified as Majorie Taylor Greene of $174.000 (which is over $80 an hour, or more than 10 times the Federal minimum salary, that they set. And they are asking for a raise, again), and we end up paying them for the rest of their lives, regardless of how they perform? There has to be made many changes to how we run Congress, one should be a much lower starting salary. Tie the Federal minimum salary to that of Congress (we pay them, only fair, they make sure we get paid as well). Increase the salary each time the person is re-elected. I am against term limits, as that is restricting the will of the people. If they think someone is to old to run, or have been elected too many times, then it’s up to them to decide not to vote on them. But if they are happy with the person, then they should be allowed to keep voting for as long as they run, and for as long as they want to vote on them. Bernie Sanders is a fine example on someone the people are happy for running again and again. While Ted Cruz is what we get with block politics. Even those that vote on him, wish they had a better Republican candidate, but it has to be a Republican, because Democrats are worse than Ted Cruz … and they wonder why politicians are so corrupt. Here is a tip, you don’t hold them accountable. And for the love of Democracy and the American Dream, hold politicians, police, military, and the courts accountable for their actions. And if those actions are as severe as that of Ted Cruz, MTG, Trump, Clarence Thomas etc then one of the punishments, should be no pay, and it is, but will they ever get convicted of their crimes?
https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/96-530.pdf

About 55:20 That is the way Manchin speak. Eloquently, concerning, understandable and just like this man, he is a sociopath. Both know exactly what they are doing, what they are paid for and where their loyalties lie. And for both of them, that is with themselves, everyone else be damned. Let’s not easily for, his argument was dishonest as the uncertainties were in 20% of the report. That the summary to that specific chapter was taken out by the request of the government, and that is the specific issue they raise. When everyone knows there are uncertainties on science. That is no coincidence. Whomever was in charge of sending out a retraction of that summary, is guilty of corruption. And this guy, like Manchin, are not to be trusted for the best interest of the people.
About 56:20 Another definitive conclusion from experts, that humanity is affect the climate.
About 59:10 Everything said about Lee Raymond is right on, except he should pay for his complicity in corrupting American politicians, and keeping the cost of Climate Change going for decades. He is evil, and in China he would have been executed. Except, they do the exact same thing. When it comes to polluting the world, not many world leaders or countries can stand on a box and say “listen to me”. There are some countries that run on renewable energy like wind and hydroelectricity now, like Iceland (100 percent), Paraguay (100), Costa Rica (99), Norway (98.5) and many other European countries are shifting the energy grid away from coal and fossil fuel. It is happening, but it started to late, and have already cost us too much pain and suffering. America should have led the way on innovation in energy like nuclear (by using thorium)⁷ and bladeless wind turbines⁸ (which should please Trump, no more dead birds, though he might want to go after cats on that one).
Around 1:01:10 If we had more politicians like Al Gore, we would have done something much sooner, and we would have been in a better world today. But as it is, there are too many politicians that don’t care about people, that claim they do by supporting “big oil business”, as after all they create jobs. Their time is over, Americans need to vote in politicians that care about people. It took Elon Musk to finally push the innovation of EV to a point, where every major car company joined in. That has happened with Tesla’s massive success. And yet, people that usually mean well, blame him because he is now a billionaire and he should be paying his taxes.⁸ Fair, except that is not on him, that is on our politicians, and that again is on the voters. In particularly the Republicans that refuse to reform our Tax Code, and still cling to the notion that corporations are people and that they are the job creators. They are not.
About 1:18:20 And that is the exact reason why I stand by my conclusion. they lied.
About 1:20:10 This is how we all should feel about the oil companies and those in the government they bought, like Manchin. And if anyone is watching this part, and think “if he is so against fossil fuel, why is he driving a car”. You really don’t get the bigger picture. It’s not about the individual, it’s about the companies and their massive pollution.

Conclusion
It is pretty clear. They knew they were the major reason for a drastic change in Climate Change, and they knew about the cost that over time it would have for society, and the world. But they decided, they are an oil business, and they wanted to make as much as they could out of the deals they have made. Spreading rumors, lies, counter science with fake data and bought scientists. They deliberately corrupted the world, with their relentless greed for black gold.
The damage this has caused in Climate Change, corruption in families, businesses, states, and especially among politicians can never be measured, but it is significantly. Then there are the numerous wars fought over sovereign countries natural resources. This deliberate disregard for humanity, is unacceptable.
My suggestion is simple, but I am aware highly unlikely to ever happen. It should, it would put the blame where it belongs, and extract punishment from those guilty of our woes. Take all assess of the oil industry and use it as an investment into humanity. Make UN a truly global power. Disband NATO and have one council for the entire world. One that respect sovereignty and prevent invasion or crimes against humanity, especially when those crimes are on a global scale, like polluting.
They are the major reasons for the problem, they earned the profit from this, only fair, they pay for a better world.

Frontline Shows, It’s All About Perspective.

FRONTLINE - The Power of Big Oil Part One: Denial

Written by JustADad