After reading Meteor Blades' excellent diary on Sunday, I decided to google around the internet for more information. I had already read about the possible connection between fracking and earthquakes, watched the flaming water video, but then I found something new.
Apparently a woman in Ohio found a binder dropped by a gas and oil lease salesman in her driveway. The document titled "Talking Points for Selling Oil and Gas Lease Rights" uses some of the same tactics to convince "low-information" voters to vote against their own self-interest" such as...
Patriotism,
Most landowners will be patriotic Americans, and will desire to free our nation from
foreign oil dependence. Make certain you lead with this selling point. CHINA
bought more oil than the United States last year. Fear of foreign encroachment is
the biggest asset we have in selling our development strategy.
Greed,
Offer a slight increase in the initial lease payment. Even a $50 increase may be
enough to sway the decision. Tell them it is to cover the Notary Public costs. That
way you are making a concession without caving and getting into a negotiation.
Mid-west Americans appreciate feeling valued. This will work in your favor.
and outright Manipulation.
Radioactivity - Reports have shown that fracing and other oilIgas exploration techniques have increased radioactivity in the groundwater. This is caused by releasing naturally occurring radon from the ground into the aquifer. ENSURE you tell the landowner that we use NO RADIOACTIVE materials. The radioactivity comes From natural sources in the ground ahd is released by the process, but don't tell them this. Most landowners will not know. Tell them we are RADIOACTIVE FREE, and that should alleviate those fears. If pressed, tell them it is natural radiation that is always there, we will not increase it by adding anything.
The authenticity of this document has not been confirmed by mainstream media yet, but I'm sure they are on it as I speak.