Venezuela, in a time zone east of Miami and with its beaches on the Caribbean Sea along the northern shores of South America, is a long way from New Mexico.
Yet, the connection is all too clear.
Oil.
New Mexico continues to have its economy boosted by the oil and gas industry, as does the economy in Venezuela. The difference in the two is that Venezuela is one of the world's largest suppliers, and its resources are ultimately controlled by a strong-armed leader who many consider to be much like a dictator.
That means on any given day, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez could make radical decisions that directly affect you at the gas pump.
Prices are high enough now, so imagine if . Chavez decided to play games with our supplies, of which his country provides 10-12 percent. A gallon of gas hoovering already around $4 a gallon could spike higher, and faster.
Chavez said he would not do such a thing, that although he despises the Bush administration, he appreciates the American people.
Analysts agree, not so much because of his feelings about the American people, but because they realize he also appreciates American dollars.
It would cost much more money for Venezuela to ship its oil on a 45-day trip to China as opposed to a four-to-five-day trip to the United States.
Also linking New Mexico to Venezuela are the energy-related jobs that bind the two. Dozens of workers here have lived and worked in Venezuela, and there are many ties.
Nevertheless,
The Daily Times published a four-day series that concluded Sunday and highlighted the New Mexico-Venezuela connection. It included interviews with Chavez, and Gov. Bill Richardson shared his comments, pointing out that a recent visit he made to Venezuela was intended to open new dialogue as much as anything else.
That is because large and spread out states like New Mexico, Richardson observed, largely depend on fuel supplies for long-distance transportation. Stability at the gas pumps is critical to our state's economy.
Yet, more than just New Mexico's well-being is at risk as long as the United States must depend on outside sources controlled by people such as Hugo Chavez.
Additionally, Chavez himself says that Americans waste too much. He is right about that.
Along with finding self-sufficient energy supplies, Americans must learn to conserve, and no doubt the higher gas prices will force that issue.
We must conserve more, and we must expedite exploration of new ways to power our collective engines.
Our future, as early as tomorrow, depends on it.
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