My opinion...take it or leave it.

Anyone who has lived in Stillwater knows the name and anyone who puts gas in their cars should recognize the name - T. Boone Pickens. The man has billions of dollars and is a classic example of rags-to-riches. He makes his money off the oil business and started doing so in the 1950's. Stillwater citizens do not particularly like him because of the $170 million he put into athletics. This money led to the destruction of 412 homes north of campus and the construction of T. Boone Pickens Stadium (and therefore closure of Hall of Fame Ave), which when completed will hold about 60,000 screaming Cowboy fans.

Lately, his name has been popping up on news reports, newspapers, magazines, and anything to do with oil and the economy. Even though he was pretty much directly responsible for the annihilation of my very first apartment ever - I find myself defending the man and often arguing with the TV. I must admit that if it had not been for an Energy Finance course I took this past spring semester, I would stand with the 90% of America who would readily blame Boone Pickens (and by doing so the oil industry) for the economic problems that are facing our nation and many other nations in the world today. Let's get one thing straight - Boone Pickens is NOT responsible for rising gas prices or for the economic recession. I guess it is not enough to blame an entire industry (aka: oil) for our problems; we must put a face to the name and that face is Mr. Pickens. Pickens is an extremely shrewd businessman... and extremely intelligent. If he says oil prices are going up - oil prices go up. Is it a self-fulfilling prophecy or does he just know the industry really well after being in it for 50+ years? I will let you decide.

There are a few things I would like to point out. Despite popular belief, men like Mr. Pickens are not out to scrape up your feeble savings to make their pockets deeper. They have money. They have money because they maximize shareholder wealth, watch the markets, study their respective industries, and are forward thinking. Yes, our country has hit a crisis. Oil prices are higher than they have ever been and we, the middle-class Americans, are feeling it in our pocketbooks everytime we fill up at the gas station. However, the hurt wouldn't be so bad if Americans weren't already in so much credit card debt that they are drowning. What's happening to the economy is not the result of one man or one industry. It is the result of greed, pride and covetousness. Inflation is rising, debt is rising, and the market is declining. Americans need to learn money management.

Instead of blaming Boone Pickens for our problems why don't we listen to the man? Last year Mr. Pickens predicted that oil prices would reach $150 per barrel of oil. If you had listened and decided to invest some money in oil you would have more than doubled your investment. Now he is looking to wind energy. Am I saying you should invest in wind? No. I am saying to stop blaming other people for your problems and stop being bitter towards those making money and do something about it. Take control of your finances and listen to the changes taking place in the energy industry. Be a forward thinker like the many millionaires out there and invest in alternative energy. Do your research. Last fall I followed the stock price of First Solar - in three months the stock jumped from $99 to $250 per share. Once again, despite popular belief which says no one is doing anything about the oil crisis and we are running low on crude oil (which we aren't by the way) and the industry is just trying to steal all of our money so they can live in comfort when the economy busts - what is really happening is that there is a change for alternative energy happening right now. Wake up and take a look around you. Be a forward thinker - take control of your future. That is what Boone Pickens did many years ago.