Your Daily Mindjob
This is my personal blog where I'll offer up some political straight talk as well as thoughts on technology and pop culture. That should give me plenty to talk about. The world can give you one heck of a mindjob. Think like me and get your daily dose.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Natural Gas Leases, Shreveport

Companies are looking to lease from landowners in Northwest Louisiana for natural gas rights. When the subject of mineral rights enters my mind, stories of lost homes, stripped ground, and ruined lives soon follow. Why? Part of my family comes from Southern Indiana where coal companies have thrived. Some of my family members have actually worked in the coal mines. One lesson they learned was to buy the mineral rights when buying a new home and never to sell their mineral rights. My grandfather told stories of how the coal company would come in and people would lose their homes. The coal companies did not care for the little man, which is also largely why the UMWA exists. Those were indeed, sad stories. I am afraid the people of Northwest Louisiana might be in for something they aren't fully ready for.

While various contracts exist and lawyers specialized in mineral rights laws should be consulted, I see no guarantee that companies will treat landowners with the respect they deserve. The way I see it, selling your mineral rights or even natural gas rights is like selling your soul. The promise of extravagant amounts of money has lured many Louisiana citizens into signing leases. I would never sell my mineral rights for any amount of money. If any of our nearby neighbors sign a lease, we will likely put our home up for sale and leave Shreveport. We don't want a situation where a neighbor has signed away natural gas rights and the company requests legal right of way through our property to access the natural gas. Yes, that happens. Like it or not, these companies are quite skilled at manipulating the public. More people are asking questions about money than about what they are risking with regard to their property. It might even end up lowering property values in your area. It's a dirty business. To give you another perspective on just how dirty they can play, if you don't sell and everyone else around you did, they'll just drill horizontally underneath and take what they want regardless. In addition, the promise of money makes neighbors do and say very bad things to each other. If enough people sign leases in any given neighborhood, it forces everyone else to sign in too. Not very neighborly.

We will also see an increase in work related injuries. Those who work for the companies setting up rigs and drilling will undoubtedly expose themselves to dangerous situations. While field employees understand the risk, what you must understand as a member of the community is that safety is not all that important to a gas company or a mining company. Coal miners are all too familiar with this way of life. The world of natural gas is no different. Expect to hear about safety violations, environmental contamination, explosions, fires, injuries, and unfortunately, deaths.

I am ashamed to have voted for Cedric Glover who has brought these companies into our communities and hope that the people of Shreveport and the surrounding area are smart enough to resist the dangling carrot on a stick. I am ashamed that a Democrat of all people would succumb to the will of a company over the well being of their constituents. These realities will become more apparent as more individuals sign into lease agreements. With the struggling economy, the promise of money is awfully tempting. Times are tough. Imagine how tough it will be when your property is at stake. Heed my warning and think of your future. Remember what I've said here when the company is ruining the way of life in your community. I highly doubt you like the notion of contaminated water flowing from your tap. I can only say I told you so.

I hope this post is not too late and that people in this area are doing their research.

3 comments:

  1. There are many ups and downs in everything. Lets not beat up the oil and gas companies for doing their job. Lets maintain the positive approach and focus on how pumping this gas will help lower the costs passed on to consumers and people who are signing the gas leases might be able to get ahead. For more information on mineral rights please visit www.KnowMineralRights.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. You're kidding right? Just doing their job? That's how you're looking at this? Don't be such a kiss ass. This isn't about passing savings on to the consumer. "There are many ups and downs in everything." What a bullshit response. You're willing to tell people that end up getting knocked around by the mining companies that it's just an unfortunate side effect? That it's just a world of ups and downs? You're okay with the idea of someone on the down and out?

    The whole idea that this might help a few people get ahead is only taking the short term into consideration. That's a carrot on a stick trick. Nobody is thinking about the long term consequences on their land or their community. I'm reminding people that mining companies are not that nice of folks and have a long documented history of destroying lives and taking what they want.

    The promise of money is not necessarily a "positive approach." It's more likely to be an approach based on greed and someone's desperate attempt to get out of a hole they're in. This is about more than money as I've so clearly pointed out in my post. Too many people can't get past thinking about the money. They need to understand that there are consequences beyond making a quick buck.

    Don't spam someone's blog pushing your web site or book you creep.

    Ladies and gentlemen, Jonathan Newton, the bottom dweller of self promotion.

    ReplyDelete
  3. After further research, I discovered an article at the Shreveport Times. Apparently Mr. Newton only has about a year of experience in this area and prior to clients asking questions had no clue. I recommend Mr. Newton spend some time talking with families who have been screwed over by mining companies. Then he will really understand how the real world of mineral rights actually works. He's a freakin real estate agent and only until recently has he discovered the importance of mineral rights.

    ReplyDelete

Comments are welcome, but I will not sit here and entertain the rants of just any visitor that comes along. Bloggers generally want visitors that can read a post and both improve and expand on ideas, not debate them. I am looking for comments that advance thought. Insight is more productive than an insult. Be productive, not disruptive. Adding to a discussion you disagree with in a constructive manner allows the opportunity to get a feel for a view you may not have fully understood. I can pull any chucklehead off the street who disagrees with me. Don't be a chucklehead.

Comments are moderated and will not appear until I approve them.