Conquering Fear and Fighting for Energy Freedom

On this Thursday, February 16, 2023 broadcast, Kim Monson welcomes Colorado State Representative Rose Pugliese to discuss efforts to repeal the retail delivery fee, Laramie Energy CEO Bob Boswell to examine energy policy and the misuse of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and psychiatrist Dr. Mark McDonald to explore the psychology of fear and the critical importance of free speech in fighting back against censorship.

Overcoming Fear and the Battle for Free Speech

Start listening at 70:00 – Hour 2

Dr. Mark McDonald, California psychiatrist and author of “United States of Fear” and “Freedom from Fear,” shares encouraging news that the California Medical Board dropped its investigation against him for supposed medical misinformation. This victory came the same day a parallel lawsuit won an injunction against California’s AB 2098 medical misinformation bill.

Dr. McDonald emphasizes that these individual battles matter and create reverberations that can turn the tide. He explains that the left’s manipulation of language, such as replacing equality with equity and justice with social justice, serves to change how we perceive reality. The side that suppresses speech is more likely to be wrong, providing a simple barometer for truth in confusing times. He encourages people to engage at the local level, from school boards to city hall, where grassroots efforts are achieving real success against the radical left.

“Which side on the debate is suppressing speech? The side that is allowing speech is more likely the correct side. That’s a good barometer. It’s a really good barometer. It doesn’t require you to do any research. Who’s canceling who?”

Dr. Mark McDonald, Psychiatrist and Author

Eliminating the Colorado Retail Delivery Fee

Start listening at 19:30 – Hour 1

Rose Pugliese, Colorado State Representative for House District 14, joins Kim to discuss her legislation to eliminate the retail delivery fee. The fee was imposed during COVID when people were forced to have goods delivered to their homes, and now the state is taxing those deliveries. Pugliese explains that this was the number one complaint she heard while knocking doors during her campaign.

The representative emphasizes that Colorado does not have a revenue problem but rather a prioritization problem. Transportation and infrastructure should be funded within the general fund as part of the proper role of government, not through additional fees that burden families already struggling with inflation. The bill will be heard on Tuesday, February 21st in the Local Government and Transportation Committee.

“We do not have a revenue problem at the state of Colorado. We have a prioritization problem, which you and I have talked about in the past. We should be prioritizing the state budget to conform with the proper role of government. And transportation and infrastructure is part of the proper role of government. And it should be funded within the general fund and not taxing people more.”

Rose Pugliese, Colorado State Representative, House District 14

Energy Policy and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve

Start listening at 35:00 – Hour 1

Bob Boswell, CEO of Laramie Energy, discusses the Biden administration’s misuse of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and the broader assault on American energy independence. The SPR was established in the 1970s after the Arab oil embargo as an emergency reserve, not as an economic tool to manipulate gas prices before elections.

Boswell connects the dots between Biden’s cancellation of the Keystone pipeline, restrictions on federal land leasing, and the 125 different policies working against domestic energy production. He explains that CO2 is not a pollutant but rather essential plant food, noting that when CO2 levels were at 1,000 parts per million, the earth was at its greenest. The climate conversation documentary featuring Gregory Wrightstone from the CO2 Coalition will address these facts.

“The strategic petroleum reserve was never meant to be used as an economic tool. And what the Biden administration has done is tried to use those reserves to try to mitigate pricing on the national and global level from this actions of both the cartel, the limitations they’re putting on oil production, and as well as what Russia’s done in terms of their production. So it’s being misused.”

Bob Boswell, CEO, Laramie Energy

Real Estate Inventory and Government Regulation

Start listening at 63:20 – Hour 2

Karen Levine, award-winning realtor with RE/MAX Alliance, reports that the housing market is more active than expected for 2023, with multiple offers and appraisal gaps returning. The fundamental problem remains insufficient inventory, which is a direct result of government regulations and policies.

Kim and Karen discuss the true cost of housing regulations, citing studies showing that 24 percent of new home costs come from rules and regulations, while 40 percent of multifamily project costs stem from government requirements. They also address the homelessness industrial complex, where big money flows to those who benefit from the problem rather than solving it.

“We have not enough inventory. And that’s because of public policy.”

Karen Levine, RE/MAX Alliance Realtor