Note, Prologue – As the book begins, what is the reader’s position on the fossil fuel industry, and the economics / values / consequences of that industry’s operations and values?

One of the book’s fundamental intentions is to serve as an expose, or a revealing, of the values and practices of the American fossil fuel industry – and, it could be argued, of corporate America in general. It is important for a reader to have an understanding of how s/he perceives the industry, the corporate philosophies behind its function, and the relations that both have with the general public.

Part 1, Hoopies – Section 1. A key component of Rick Baker’s argument for support of fracking is that on a fundamental level, it is the patriotic thing to do – a means of ensuring that America preserve its position of dominance in the world. What is the reader’s response to this claim?