Six thousand products in our daily lives are made from oil derivatives that are manufactured out of crude oil. Besides all the obvious things derived from crude oil — gasoline, diesel fuel, av gas, kerosene, propane, butane, and all plastics used in hospitals and food storage — did you know that our homes are full of products derived from petroleum in their production? Things like construction materials such as roofing and housing insulation, linoleum flooring, furniture, appliances, and home decor such as pillows, curtains, rugs, and house paint. Even much of our clothing and our shoes use petrochemicals in their manufacture. Oh, and how about basketballs, golf balls and bags, football helmets, surfboards, skis, tennis rackets, and fishing rods? And where would we be without soap, shampoo, and toothpaste?

Yet our politicians are bowing to environmental extremists who want to rid the world of petroleum and its products. Of the 700 refineries in the world, marvelous chemical factories that produce the refined materials we need to manufacture all the things we rely on in our modern world, 20% of them are closing in the next five years. Limiting crude oil production will inflict massive shortages and inflation in perpetuity on everyone’s lifestyles. Yet enviros want to close them all. This would be a disaster unprecedented in human history. Billions would die.

To help our listeners understand all this, we are joined by California-based engineer Ron Stein. Ron is a licensed professional engineer and Founder and Ambassador for Energy & Infrastructure of PTS Advance, an energy firm based in Irvine, California. He holds a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from California State University, Northridge. Ron’s first career was in project management and engineering roles with major international engineering firms, Fluor and Bechtel. Ron works now to increase Energy & Infrastructure education and literacy in the wider public sphere. He is an internationally published columnist and energy expert who frequently writes about all aspects of energy and economics.

This piece originally appeared at AmericaOutloud.com and has been republished here with permission.