REOURCES

by David Nuttle

Resources available to any one nation are varied to a great extreme. What resources are available in an one area depend of geological history, climatic conditions, human systems to include technology, economic opportunities, trade, sustainability, positive government, and educated/ skilled work force.

One-third of all land is desert and fresh/ potable water resources are very limited in some areas, climatic extremes are great, some nations lack educational systems to develop a very skilled work force, innovation and entrepreneurship efforts are limited. Trade is not extensive, GDP is low, national debt is high, tax revenues do not meet financial needs, and a corrupt, oppressive, or dictatorial government squanders available resources.

The U. S. is blessed with extensive natural resources like coal, oil, & natural gas. Mineral availability is plentiful and provides copper, zinc. uranium, iron ore, gallium, & germanium.

Soils/ lands in the U. S. are most all fertile and provide food security and agriculture exports.

Fresh/ potable water supplies are adequate to provide needed water for our total population as well as crop irrigation. Innovation, new technology development, entrepreneurship, & the new business starts are extensive. The educational & trades development systems are very

global trade is extensive, and industries are well developed. Manufacture & sales of military equipment are a significant part of trade.

Capitalism, free enterprise, and personal freedoms are actually a strong positive resource although not typically listed as a resource. When it comes to government, the U. S. avoided the failures of dictatorships and communist regimes; e. g. collapsing economies due to state planning damaging industries, collective farms resulting in starvations, reduction of basic population motivations due to loss of basic freedoms, and "brain drain" caused by democide (mass & planned murders by government) and population "flight." A stable, constructive, & positive government are also a resource although not a listed resource in most cases. The flaws of the U. S. Government creating negatives include political gridlock, excessive debt. sustained armed conflict not well justified, and ignoring the many problems introduced by illegal migrants to include criminals and terrorists.

The U. S. has been blessed with many essential resources needed to create and sustain a viable nation. These blessings are the reason so many people, worldwide, seek to come to this nation!!

Such negatives reduce the benefits of available resources.