Although the president’s anti-oil and natural gas actions might sound fine to his political base prior to 2012, they put the nation’s economic and energy health at risk. By limiting domestic energy production, America will not experience the economic boost, jobs and tax revenues offered by increased domestic oil and natural gas production.

These considerations, however, are not the focus of today’s energy policy debate. They have been supplanted by a campaign of fear of air pollution, fear of water contamination, fear of health effects and other often unsubstantiated worries that have been become part and parcel of the energy conversation. …

As long as unfounded and irrational fears overshadow the facts, elected officials will find it difficult to make sound energy policy decisions. They know that misled and frightened voters aren’t going to focus on the benefits of oil and natural gas production, even when it helps their unemployed neighbors find jobs.