NewsOK reports that Oklahoma Governor Fallin’s response to depression in the Oklahoma oil industry is … to pray it gets better.
A statewide prayer initiative focusing on the oil fields and beleaguered energy industry will culminate Oct. 13 with an annual breakfast in downtown Oklahoma City.
The Rev. Tom Beddow of Ada, coordinator of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma’s Oil Patch Chaplains ministry, said he would like to see similar gatherings around the state as people pray for individuals affected by current economic woes, with the energy industry at the center.
“The oil field is hurting right now,” he said.
“We’re asking churches all over Oklahoma to open their doors, put on a pot of coffee and pray for the oil field, and not only for the oil field but the state, because the economy of our state is so connected to the oil field.”
Hubbard, with Oilfield Christian Fellowship- Oklahoma City, agreed.
“We have a saying: The oil field trickles down to everyone,” he said.
Hubbard said Gov. Mary Fallin has proclaimed Oct. 13 as Oilfield Prayer Day to raise awareness about the initiative.
I can’t help but think that perhaps they should be working on diversifying their economic base, not praying that, somehow, their major industry will magically get better. The time to work on that is now. Scout Finch with The Daily Kos points out that some have done very well with the industry – perhaps too well:
The “oil field trickles down to everyone.” Well, Oklahoma’s wealthiest person is Harold Hamm, an oil billionaire with a nearly $15 billion fortune, most of it from shale oil fracking. Yes, the same oil extraction method responsible for at least 90% of the earthquakes in Oklahoma. Maybe Oklahoma could raise his taxes and encourage him to trickle a little bit more down to the oil field workers? Or how about George Kaiser? Forbes Magazine pegs his net worth at nearly $10 billion.
