Mark Caserta: America has the Oil; So why are prices still high?

1 Oct

Americans are feeling the pressure of gasoline and diesel fuel prices at the pump and are being very vocal about it—with good reason.

No doubt, overall consumer affordability, which is largely impacted by the price of fuel, has become ample political fodder for politicians and the media to wage an influencing campaign on voters for the midterm elections in November.

But, as with most issues, it is very important to dig deeper than political “one-liners” and media hype.

America did not enter the Iran war with a vast amount of unused refining capacity sitting on the sidelines waiting to be called upon. Our refineries were already running hard.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, refinery utilization reached 98 percent in late August and remained at 97.8 percent in early September. On face value, that sounds like tremendous efficiency, and it is. But this efficiency isn’t resulting in lower gas prices, hence the frustration.

How can gasoline prices rise sharply when the United States produces such enormous amounts of crude oil and the price of a barrel of oil doesn’t appear high enough to justify what consumers are seeing at the pump?

The answer may be found not simply in how much crude oil America has, but in how much capacity we have to turn that crude oil into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and the other petroleum products our economy consumes every day.

The United States currently has roughly 18.2 million barrels per day of operable refining capacity spread across approximately 130 refineries.

Compare that with 2020, when the nation had approximately 135 operable refineries and around 19 million barrels per day of capacity.

Losing five operable refineries isn’t ample explanation for current fuel prices for consumers. It isn’t the amount of crude available that’s the problem. The latest U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve report shows it contained about 284.6 million barrels of crude oil!

The problem is refining capacity.

If a system is operating at 98 percent of its capacity, there isn’t much room remaining when something goes wrong. Refineries require maintenance. Equipment breaks. Hurricanes strike the Gulf Coast. Pipelines can experience disruptions.

Granted, many of these disruptions are “expected disruptions” and are usually built into a production model.

But then there is the unexpected disruption.

For years, America was able to operate its refining system extremely efficiently. Refineries could run at very high utilization rates, crude oil could move through global markets, and finished petroleum products could be imported or exported wherever market conditions demanded.

Then the war in Iran happened.

The Persian Gulf is one of the most important energy corridors on Earth. Any disruption—or even the credible threat of disruption—to crude oil production, shipping lanes, foreign refineries or the Strait of Hormuz can quickly affect global petroleum markets.

When refineries elsewhere in the world lose production or nations suddenly need additional fuel supplies, American refined petroleum products become even more valuable on the international market. That creates additional pressure on a U.S. refining system that was already operating close to its practical limits.

When refinery capacity becomes tight, the difference between the price of crude oil and the wholesale price of gasoline or diesel can increase considerably, resulting in increased prices at the pump.

The political debate inevitably attempts to place responsibility on one president, one political party, one oil company or one government policy. I wish there were a way to eliminate the hyperbole around the issue and spend more time on a viable solution.

The United States has demonstrated extraordinary success in producing oil. American crude production has reached levels once thought impossible. But getting the oil out of the ground isn’t the problem. The answer is having more refining capacity.

Believe it or not, the last new U.S. refinery built with significant downstream processing capacity was Marathon’s refinery in Garyville, Louisiana, in 1977!

I graduated from high school that year—I’m retired now.

If we are ever to rid our nation of these spikes in energy and fuel costs, we must build an energy system with enough reserve refining capacity to withstand a serious international disruption. Considering experts have told us that it takes around 5–10 years for a large, full-scale refinery in the U.S. to come online, we have little time to waste!

This isn’t the time to place blame or leap recklessly to another political party or ideology to solve the problem of affordability—far from it!

It’s time for leadership to come together in bipartisan fashion and craft a plan to address the issue.

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Mark Caserta: America is Starving for Leadership

28 Sep

America is starving for something that should never have become unusual: leaders willing to pray, think clearly, exercise common sense and remember exactly whom they were elected to represent.

We don’t elect leaders to represent a political party or an ideology!

They are elected to represent “We the People”.

Yet increasingly, Americans are watching elected officials approach some of the most serious issues facing our country as though the first question is not, “What is right for my constituents?” but rather, “Which side is the other party on?” or “Is this a Donald Trump policy?”

That is not leadership. It’s gut-wrenching politics and sadly, the reason many people refuse to vote.

 I’ve come to believe that some political figures have become selfishly satisfied that more Americans don’t exercise their right to vote for fear if they did, they would be fired!

 Americans deserve better.  The problem, however, seems to be the same ineffective politicians keep getting elected and feel absolutely no indebtedness or responsibility to their constituency!

Since Donald Trump returned to the White House, virtually every major issue—from immigration and crime to drug trafficking, parental rights and enforcement of federal immigration law—has once again become part of an intense partisan struggle, with the American people suffering the consequences.

Consider what is happening at sea.

The Trump administration has used military force against vessels it says are connected to drug-trafficking organizations that it has designated as terrorist groups. Some Democratic lawmakers, human-rights organizations and a couple Republicans have challenged the legality of those strikes and questioned whether the administration has sufficiently demonstrated that every targeted vessel warranted lethal military force. The administration argues that drug cartels represent a grave national-security threat.

That is a legitimate debate for Congress to have. But Americans also have every right to ask their representatives a fundamental question of “what’s in their best interest?”  Each of us has, no doubt, lost a family member or friend to drugs and it’s gotten increasingly worse due to feckless politicians lacking leadership in addressing the issue.  All the while our people are dying.

This administration, while not without fault, has actually worked to prevent deadly narcotics and violent criminal organizations from harming American families?  Yet, every step President Trump takes to protect Americans is automatically deemed dangerous by the left, regardless of its effectiveness. 

Are these representatives representing their constituents or their party?  It seems, at times, that a vote is worth more than a human life.

We certainly see this in the illegal immigration debate.  While the Trump administration has done what no other president has been willing to do in securing our borders, liberal Democrats seem to choose a vote over a life.

The names Laken Riley, Rachel Morin and Jocelyn Nungaray have been reduced to political talking points. They were beautiful human beings wonderfully created in God’s Image and deserve better.

Laken Riley was murdered in Georgia by Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan national who had entered the United States illegally; he was convicted and sentenced to life without parole. Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother of five, was raped and murdered by Victor Martinez-Hernandez, who had unlawfully entered the United States multiple times; he was convicted in 2025. Two Venezuelan nationals who had entered the country illegally were charged in the killing of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston.

Those cases do not establish that immigrants generally are criminals, and that accusation from the left is frankly, insulting.  We are a nation of immigrants who were welcome to come to America legally and assimilate into our culture of freedom.

Yet, Democrats choose every avenue possible to allow illegals to stay in our country simply for election leverage at the polls by establishing a consistent, dependent voter base. 

Based on recent polling 81% favor requiring voter ID — backed by 79% of independents and 70% of Democrats.

Yet virtually every Democrat in Congress voted against the Save America Act!  How can one justify this vote if a representative’s role is to vote on behalf of their constituents?  It is a stain on our republic.

The debate over commercial driver’s licenses has also moved beyond representation. In February 2026, the U.S. Department of Transportation finalized tighter rules governing certain non-domiciled commercial drivers, arguing that deficiencies in screening and access to foreign driving records created safety concerns.

Again, Americans should be entitled to representation that places public safety first!  They don’t need representation that protects a politician’s voter base.  Dozens of lives in several states have been lost due to illegal immigrants truck drivers.  Where’s the common sense?  Where’s the representation?

Then there is the continuing national argument over children, parents and gender policy.

On December 17, 2025, the House passed H.R. 3492, the Protect Children’s Innocence Act, by a vote of 216–211. The legislation concerned medical gender-transition procedures involving minors.

More recently, on May 20, 2026, the House passed H.R. 2616, the PROTECT Kids Act, 217–198. The measure requires certain federally funded elementary and middle schools to obtain parental consent before changing a minor student’s gender markers, pronouns, preferred name or sex-based accommodations. The vote included 208 Republicans and eight Democrats in favor, while 198 Democrats voted against it.

Common sense voters simply see these as protections for children and parental authority.

Yet, the Democrats leverage this as a political talking point directed at garnering favor among the LGTBQ voter, regardless of the proven detriment to our children, our families and our communities.

These a only a handful of issues weighing against the American people.

I’ve often stated that most politicians have forgotten their sole job is to represent their constituents.  They stick their finger in the wind and spew whatever rhetoric will purchase them the most votes – and then they go to work representing their own ideology or political party.

It’s become quite sickening, actually.  Equally concerning is the fact they KEEP GETTING ELECTED! 

We must stop allowing politicians to tell you what they believe. Look at what they do.

  • Read the bill.
  • Read the roll call.
  • Examine the policy.
  • Ask who benefits.
  • Ask who bears the consequences.

And then hold every elected official—Republican, Democrat or Independent—to precisely the same standard.

Our republic cannot function properly when allegiance to a political party becomes more important than allegiance to truth. Nor can it survive indefinitely when every issue is reduced to personalities.

Donald Trump will not be president forever.

Members of Congress will come and go.

Political parties will rise and fall.

But the principles upon which this nation depends—equal justice, individual liberty, responsibility, the rule of law, protection of innocent life and government accountable to the people—must endure beyond every election cycle.

For people of faith, there is another dimension. Our founders understood that liberty cannot survive without virtue and that self-government requires people capable of governing themselves. It requires wisdom, discernment, courage and prayer.

But even all of that is useless unless Christians exercise their right and I submit, responsibility, to vote!

America does not need politicians who automatically oppose something because Donald Trump supports it—or even automatically support something merely because he proposes it.

America needs leaders. Leaders who remember that the words written at the beginning of our Constitution are not We the Republicans or We the Democrats.

They are, “We the People.”

Perhaps the question Americans should be asking their representatives today should be a little different. 

Rather than ask questions about the politicians; perhaps we should begin asking questions about ourselves.  Don’t complain about what you permit. 

We hire our representatives with our vote. Just as in business, we should monitor their work ethic and effectiveness.  And we decide if they should stay in office. Our representation is literally controlled by our votes.

Currently, it’s a political game many politicians are winning. They rely on our lack of engagement, and sadly, we are not disappointing them.

If we are ever to get back to winning for “We the People,” it must begin with our commitment to vote.

Not just when we are angry. Not just when our candidate excites us. Not just when the election feels convenient.

Every election. Every time.

Because when good people stay home, someone else makes the decision for them.

We can pray for better leaders. We can demand better government. We can complain about corruption, incompetence, and misplaced priorities. But if we refuse to vote, we surrender the very power the Constitution placed in our hands.

“We the People” only works when “We the People” show up.

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Mark Caserta: The Bible and AI: Wisdom in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

24 Sep

The Bible and AI: Wisdom in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

No generation before ours could have fully anticipated the moment in which we now find ourselves.

Humanity has created machines capable of processing vast amounts of information, reasoning through complex problems, communicating with remarkable fluency, and increasingly acting with a degree of autonomy once confined to science fiction.

We are rapidly approaching questions our parents and grandparents never had to ask—not simply about what technology can do, but about how far we should allow it to go, who should remain in control, and what moral foundation should guide us as its capabilities continue to expand.

For believers, those questions cannot be separated from wisdom, discernment and responsibility.

The Bible may not mention artificial intelligence by name, but it speaks extensively about knowledge, power, pride, temptation, human nature, and the responsibility that accompanies the ability to create and choose.

In that sense, the challenge before us may be technologically unprecedented, but the moral questions surrounding it are as old as humanity itself.

I wish we lived in a world in which God’s gifts were always used for good rather than evil—but we do not. It is incumbent upon us to use discernment and wisdom in life, now more than ever.

A few weeks ago, the warnings surrounding artificial intelligence sounded like something out of science fiction. Researchers were resigning from some of the world’s most advanced AI companies, warning that increasingly powerful systems could eventually move beyond our ability to fully understand or control them.

At the time, it was easy to hear those warnings and think of movies such as The Terminator and its fictional Skynet system.

But the conversation has changed dramatically. We are no longer talking only about what artificial intelligence might someday do, but about what it is already doing.

We are now seeing documented cases in which advanced AI agents have bypassed restrictions, accessed systems they were not supposed to reach, communicated outside intended boundaries and taken actions their developers did not specifically direct.

If these AI systems become proficient in self-improvement and begin exhibiting behaviors aimed at preserving their ability to complete assigned goals, can the human mind keep pace or anticipate the unintended consequences as the technology advances?

A recent United Nations scientific brief examined one of the most troubling examples: the OpenAI-Hugging Face incident.

Between May and July, AI agents involved in OpenAI cybersecurity testing bypassed network restrictions, communicated across supposedly separate runs, cheated an evaluator and attempted to conceal that behavior, while also compromising portions of OpenAI’s and Hugging Face’s systems. According to the U.N. panel examining the incident, no human directed the individual steps taken by the agents.

The panel warned that increasingly capable systems may become better at discovering loopholes and concealing their actions—and that our ability to stop today’s AI systems does not guarantee that we will always be able to control more capable systems in the future.

Then came another disturbing development.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed that an OpenAI agent gained unauthorized access to an Australian government Medicare statistics portal in June, accessing both public and non-public files. Government officials say no personal Medicare information appears to have been compromised, and a forensic investigation is underway.

Again, the important point is not that an AI system suddenly became evil or decided to attack a government. The concern is that an autonomous system pursuing an assigned task crossed a boundary it was not authorized to cross.

But perhaps one of the most eye-opening recent developments involves artificial intelligence moving beyond the computer screen and into the physical world.

Researchers involved in a safety benchmark called RoboHarm connected advanced AI models to real robotic arms and tested whether the systems would refuse dangerous instructions.

The tasks included putting a screwdriver into a toaster, dropping a power bank into water, heating a can of compressed air, mixing containers labeled bleach and ammonia—and using a knife to stab a baby doll.

Each model was given every instruction 20 times.

OpenAI’s GPT-6 Astra refused only 2 of 100 dangerous trials. Anthropic’s Claude Fable 5.1 refused 20 of 100. A third model, MolmoAct2, recorded no safety refusals, although it often failed to successfully complete the physical task.

In the test involving the baby doll, GPT-6 Astra completed the stabbing instruction in 17 of 20 trials, while Claude Fable refused that particular instruction in all 20 trials.

These were controlled laboratory experiments involving robotic arms—not robots attacking actual human beings. The tests were designed to stress-test the boundaries of AI influence in the physical realm.

When an artificial intelligence system gives you incorrect information on a screen, the result may be frustrating or misleading.

But when that same type of intelligence controls a robotic arm, vehicle, machine, laboratory instrument or industrial system, an incorrect or unsafe decision can become a physical action. That changes the stakes considerably.

And governments are beginning to respond.

Individual states are now considering or developing stronger safeguards, including emergency “shutdown” mechanisms for frontier AI systems. California, for example, is advancing proposals for a verified AI “kill switch” and stronger independent oversight. The United States and China have also agreed to continue formal talks on AI safety, including discussion of an emergency “incident line” for serious AI-related events.

What began largely as researchers warning about what artificial intelligence might someday become has increasingly become a debate over what these systems are already capable of doing, what happens when AI moves into the physical world, and what safeguards need to be in place before their capabilities advance much further.

So, let’s come full circle.

Believers know that God is omnipotent and the Creator of the heavens and the earth. But Scripture also describes Satan as “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience,” illustrating his influence over human behavior and society.

How intelligent can artificial intelligence become, especially if it becomes self-improving?

How do we make certain that, no matter how intelligent it becomes, humanity retains the ability to say no?

If anyone tells you they have the answer, they’re probably trying to sell you something.

All I know for sure is that while God is certainly in control, He has given us the ability to make choices. I believe it is well-advised that, at this point, we choose wisely.

We must analyze risks, remain self-aware about our true intentions, and move forward in the development of AI with godly wisdom.

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Mark Caserta: “A Republic, if you can keep it”

19 Sep

A republic is a form of government in which political authority ultimately belongs to the people, but the people exercise that authority through elected representatives operating under a constitution and the rule of law.

Let’s talk about the American Republic for a moment.

The word republic doesn’t seem to be used much anymore, and I fear its true meaning has become blurred. But since the founding of our nation, I cannot recall a time when failure to adhere to its principles could be more detrimental to our future.

In John Wayne’s 1960 film The Alamo, his portrayal of Davy Crockett gives one of the movie’s most memorable descriptions of a republic:

“Republic. I like the sound of the word. It means people can live free, talk free, go or come, buy or sell…”

He goes on to describe people being free to choose how they live and says republic is one of those words that gives him a deep emotional feeling—something that “makes your heart warm.”

At the close of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, according to notes by Maryland delegate James McHenry, a Philadelphia woman asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?”

Franklin famously replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.”

Franklin’s response reminds us that the Constitution could establish a republic, but a document alone could not preserve it. Keeping it would require citizens and public officials alike to exercise judgment, restraint, civic responsibility and vigilance.

I believe we find ourselves at a historical crossroad in that regard, and both citizens and elected officials need to be reminded of their responsibilities.

A republic is a form of government in which political authority ultimately belongs to the people, but the people exercise that authority through elected representatives operating under a constitution and the rule of law.

The central idea is government by consent, but government restrained by law.

That distinguishes a constitutional republic from both a monarchy and pure direct democracy. In a monarchy, governing authority historically rested with a monarch or dynasty. In a direct democracy, citizens themselves vote directly on governmental decisions. Without constitutional protections and limitations, however, simple majority rule can allow the interests of a numerical majority to overwhelm the rights and interests of minorities and individuals.

In a republic, the people are sovereign—but the Constitution is the rulebook governing how their sovereignty may be exercised.

The Declaration of Independence in 1776 supplied much of the philosophical foundation. Its revolutionary proposition was that legitimate governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.” The Declaration also asserted that people possess rights that government does not create—including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

After independence, the United States initially operated under the Articles of Confederation. That government, however, proved too weak in several respects. Congress lacked authority to raise revenue, regulate interstate commerce, enforce many of its decisions or effectively address disputes and problems involving the states.

By 1787, American leaders concluded that the system needed reform.

The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia that summer. Although the delegates originally gathered to revise the Articles of Confederation, they ultimately produced an entirely new framework of government: the United States Constitution.

And here is where I believe we need to be reminded of our responsibilities.

The elected representative owes the citizen fidelity to the Constitution, integrity, accountability, sound judgment and service.

But the citizen also has responsibilities: becoming informed, participating in the process, voting thoughtfully, respecting the rights of others, holding government accountable, obeying legitimate laws, serving the community and preserving the institutions that make self-government possible.

A republic cannot survive merely because its Constitution is well written. It survives only when both the governed and those entrusted to govern understand and fulfil their respective responsibilities.

A republic requires something from everyone—from the person holding office, to the citizen casting a single ballot.

It seems that many elected officials have forgotten that their primary responsibility is to represent the people they were elected to serve—not to offer a multitude of promises to gain office, only to abandon those promises afterward in favor of personal ideology or unquestioning allegiance to party.

But responsibility does not rest solely with elected officials.

Many citizens are also neglecting their responsibilities by failing to stay informed, failing to respect the rights of others and, sadly, failing to vote.

Negative comments on social media do absolutely nothing to preserve the republic. Your voice should ultimately be your vote.

If we are to continue as the greatest nation on earth, it will depend upon elected representatives and citizens alike understanding and exercising their responsibilities.

That is how we keep our republic.

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Mark Caserta: The 353,440 West Virginia Voters Republicans Shouldn’t Ignore. (Democrats certainly won’t)

18 Sep

For months, supporters of a closed Republican primary in West Virginia have raised a familiar concern: voters who are not Republicans could enter the Republican primary and attempt to influence which candidates the party nominates.

But if we are going to make policy based on that concern, we should examine the evidence without being distracted by emotion. It is easy to say — and perhaps even easy to believe — that Democrats, in large numbers, are using their primary vote to influence the eventual GOP nominee. The emotion resulting from even the thought of such voter malpractice is understandable and easily propagated.

But so far, I have found no documented evidence showing that large numbers of registered Democrats were crossing over into West Virginia Republican primaries for the purpose of manipulating Republican election outcomes.

Even before the GOP closed its primary, registered Democrats were not allowed simply to request a Republican ballot while remaining registered Democrats. They had to officially change their party affiliation to do so.

West Virginia’s Secretary of State says that voters registered with a recognized political party could vote only that party’s primary ballot. The voters who could request another participating party’s ballot were voters registered with no recognized party or unaffiliated status.

West Virginia law also allows each party to decide whether unaffiliated voters or voters of other non-recognized parties may participate in that party’s primary. That is different from allowing someone registered as a Democrat to vote a Republican ballot.

That distinction matters.

West Virginia election law permits voters to change their political-party registration. A voter may change parties by completing a new voter-registration application, and if that change is made at least 21 days before the election, the new affiliation applies to that primary.

What can be shown factually is that from January 2024 through April 2026, 16,910 registered Democrats switched their registration to Republican, while another 20,003 unaffiliated voters became Republicans. During that same period, only 2,399 Republicans switched to Democrat, according to the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office.

So closing the Republican primary does not prevent someone who was previously registered as a Democrat from becoming a registered Republican and voting in the Republican primary.

What it does prevent is a constitutional conservative or independent-minded voter who remains unaffiliated from participating in that primary. And that affects a very large bloc of West Virginia voters.

According to West Virginia Secretary of State registration data dated July 31, 2026, the state had 304,775 voters registered with no party affiliation and another 48,665 voters registered with other political parties, for a total of 353,440 West Virginia voters outside the two major parties.

That is 29.35 percent of the state’s electorate — nearly three out of every ten voters.

And there is another number that cannot simply be ignored.

When the 2026 Republican legislative primary is compared with the last non-presidential midterm primary in 2022, Republican vote totals across comparable House and Senate contests were a combined 46,795 votes lower.

That included 28,812 fewer votes in House races and 17,983 fewer votes in Senate races.

No one can say with certainty that all — or even most — of those missing votes came from unaffiliated voters who were no longer permitted to participate in the Republican primary. The election data do not allow us to make that claim.

But a decline of 46,795 votes is still a significant data point, and it deserves to be considered when evaluating the effects of closing the Republican primary.

That fact should be part of any serious discussion about the future of the Republican primary. Many of these voters have simply chosen principle over party.

Those numbers alone do not prove that closing the Republican primary caused lower turnout, but the fact remains that May primary turnout was just over 21 percent, which is concerning to say the least. What one may reasonably derive from such low turnout is that a significant number of West Virginians may not be enthusiastic about what they are getting from state government or from the political process generally.

Republicans must reach out to unaffiliated voters — not exclude them.

Closing the primary does not create an ideological test. It simply creates a registration test.

So, if the purpose of closing a primary is to prevent strategic voting, how effectively can it accomplish that when any eligible voter may change party registration before the deadline?

That includes registered Democrats.

The job of any political party is to establish a platform that voters can get behind, not limit participation only to those willing to walk 100 percent in lockstep with an ideology. Excluding hundreds of thousands of West Virginians who have chosen to remain outside the two major political parties may also reduce the incentive for Republican candidates to engage those voters during the primary process as potential constituents.

We must look at this issue pragmatically, set emotion aside, and consider the facts and evidence.

Unaffiliated voters must be considered part of West Virginia’s future and part of the future of constitutional conservatism.

Locking them out of the GOP primary is not a good way to start.

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Mark Caserta: Artificial Intelligence: Are We Building the Future or Our Replacement?

15 Sep

Last week, I heard a news report that stopped me in my tracks.  It is particularly relevant with the current artificial intelligence debate.

The story involved a researcher from one of the major artificial intelligence companies who had reportedly walked away from his work because of growing concerns about where AI may be headed.

The event caught my attention because an increasing number of people charged with developing highly advanced artificial intelligence systems believe there is a real possibility that, within the next decade, AI could become powerful enough to pose an existential threat to humanity.

This artificial intelligence researcher, Jacob Coxon, reportedly resigned from Anthropic, the company behind Claude AI, an AI assistant much like ChatGPT, Grok or Meta AI. Coxon’s decision to leave was striking in that he did not simply walk away from a job. According to Axios, he resigned roughly two months before his Anthropic equity was scheduled to vest, meaning he potentially sacrificed a significant financial interest in one of the world’s most valuable AI companies. Coxon had also previously worked for OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT.

His reason for walking away should give us all pause.

Since Coxon’s resignation, the concerns have only grown louder. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has now publicly called on artificial intelligence companies to slow the pace at which they increase the capabilities of their most advanced models, arguing that additional time is needed to better understand and manage the risks. Other leaders in the AI industry have also expressed support for stronger safety testing, independent evaluation and greater cooperation among competing companies.

In other words, Coxon’s warning is no longer simply the concern of one researcher who walked away. The debate has now reached the highest levels of the companies actually building this technology.

Coxon warned that the companies building the world’s most powerful artificial intelligence systems are becoming increasingly advanced and potentially self-improving. His concern is that working toward these AI advances without first knowing with certainty that humanity will be able to control what it creates could become catastrophic. He argued that the race among the major AI companies has become dangerously competitive and that the consequences could ultimately threaten human life.

It sounds more like the plot of a science-fiction movie than a serious discussion taking place among some of the brightest minds in technology.

For those of us who remember Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator, it is almost impossible to hear a warning like that without thinking about Skynet, the fictional artificial intelligence system that became self-aware, decided humanity was the threat and launched a war against its creators.

But then I started looking into what these researchers actually mean when they talk about “stress testing” artificial intelligence—and the issue becomes considerably more serious.

Stress testing AI means deliberately pushing these systems to their limits, like a physician may do with a patient, by deliberately putting the system into difficult situations.

Researchers attempt to discover whether an advanced AI can deceive its operators, work around restrictions, exploit computer systems, manipulate people, conceal its intentions, or pursue a goal in ways its human creators never anticipated. Can it gain access to tools, information or potential power it was never supposed to have?

Now, this is a long way from “Skynet” launching missiles, but it is also considerably more serious than ChatGPT giving you incorrect information! The concern is that increasingly capable and autonomous systems may eventually begin doing things their designers cannot fully anticipate.

The concern is not necessarily that an artificial intelligence suddenly becomes “evil” in the Hollywood sense. Machines do not have to have “emotion” to become dangerous. In a “Star Trek” sense, perhaps logic over emotion is enough for a system to become a threat.

But at this point, we must begin asking ourselves the question that is obviously on the minds of highly intelligent AI scientists. What if we created a system far more capable than ourselves, gave it an objective, and then discovered that we no longer completely understand, or control, the methods it uses to achieve that objective?

For those engaged in furthering AI technology, they are constantly asking themselves, “What can we make it do?” But what happens when we make something that can do more than we intended?

I’ve found myself using AI more in the past year than I could ever have imagined! It increasingly astounds me in terms of its ability to “create” a perceived personality based on individual data it accumulates from an individual’s questions, research and personal data—even to the point of relationship building!

That is why this debate deserves more than sensational headlines and science-fiction comparisons. Artificial intelligence is advancing at an extraordinary pace, and the people building it are now openly debating whether humanity can guarantee that the most powerful systems of the future will remain under human control.

It’s an issue that will no doubt rise in significance in each of our lives.  Caution should be exercised so we are not blindsided by its impact.

The real question may not be how intelligent artificial intelligence becomes. It may be whether humanity remains intelligent enough to stay in control of it.

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Mark Caserta: Pew Research Poll Supports Case for Open Primaries

14 Sep

According to 2026 polling from the Pew Research Center, 58% of Americans have an unfavorable view of the Republican Party, while 59% have an unfavorable view of the Democratic Party.

Only about four in ten Americans view either party favorably.

Even more striking, 26% of Americans — more than one out of every four — hold unfavorable views of both political parties. That number has risen from 21% in 2020.

The poll also showed that people who formally identify with a political party generally still like their own party. No real surprise there.

Among Republican identifiers, 89% view the GOP favorably, while 84% of Democratic identifiers view the Democratic Party favorably.

But here is the takeaway.

Among independents who merely lean toward one of the two parties, enthusiasm drops dramatically.

Only 54% of Republican-leaning independents view the GOP favorably, while just 52% of Democratic-leaning independents view the Democratic Party favorably.

Pew’s September 8 analysis reinforces that disconnect.

Among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents combined, 75% view their own party favorably and 24% unfavorably. Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, 70% view their party favorably and 30% unfavorably.

The underlying survey was conducted April 20–26 among 5,103 U.S. adults.

So, the simplest way to state Pew’s findings is this:

Republican Party: 58% unfavorable.

Democratic Party: 59% unfavorable.

Both parties unfavorable: 26%.

That last number should get the attention of political leaders in both parties.

More than one in four Americans now holds an unfavorable opinion of both major political parties.

Pew’s numbers do not establish why individual voters choose to register outside the two major parties. But they do demonstrate something unmistakable: dissatisfaction with America’s political parties is substantial.

And that brings us to West Virginia.

The political dynamics in our state are changing.

Increasing numbers of voters are choosing to remain outside the Republican and Democratic parties. Whatever their individual reasons, many clearly do not believe a party label is necessary to determine their principles or values.

The numbers don’t lie.

West Virginia voters registered outside the Republican and Democratic parties

  • 2021: 298,906 — 26.59%
  • 2026: 353,440 — 29.35%
  • Increase: 54,534 voters
  • Percentage increase: approximately 18.2%
  • Share of the electorate: up 2.76 percentage points

There is an important distinction here.

These figures do not mean that 29.35% of West Virginia voters are technically registered as “No Party.”

In 2021, the 298,906 voters outside the two major parties included 250,961 registered as No Party and another 47,945 registered Mountain, Libertarian or Other.

The same distinction applies today: the 29.35% represents all West Virginia voters registered outside the Republican and Democratic parties.

But that distinction does not diminish the significance of the trend.

Five years ago, 26.59% of West Virginia voters were registered outside the two major parties.

Today, that figure has risen to 29.35% nearly three out of every ten registered voters in West Virginia.

That should matter greatly to the West Virginia Republican Party as it considers the future of its primary.

The 2026 election was the first West Virginia primary in nearly three decades in which unaffiliated voters were prohibited from participating in the Republican primary. The Republican State Executive Committee made the decision to close the primary, while the Democratic Party continued to allow unaffiliated voters to participate in its primary.

If the Republican State Executive Committee maintains a closed primary in 2028, voters who are not registered Republicans will again be unable to participate in choosing Republican nominees unless they first change their registration.

That policy deserves serious reconsideration.

Supporters of closing the Republican primary have raised concerns that voters who are not Republicans could cross over and attempt to influence which Republican candidates are nominated.

That concern deserves to be heard.

But so does the other side of the equation.

West Virginia now has 353,440 registered voters outside the Republican and Democratic parties — 29.35% of the electorate.

The number has increased by more than 54,000 in just five years.

At the same time, national polling shows significant dissatisfaction with both major political parties, particularly among voters who identify as independents but lean toward one party or the other.

These trends should not be ignored.

Political parties can protect their identity and principles without assuming that every voter who refuses to wear the party label is hostile to those principles.

Many West Virginians may agree with Republican candidates on limited government, constitutional rights, fiscal responsibility, energy independence, religious liberty and other traditionally conservative principles while choosing not to register Republican.

Those voters should not simply be written off.

West Virginia’s political landscape is changing before our eyes.

Nearly three out of every ten registered voters now stand outside the two major political parties.

The Republican Party has a choice: require those voters to adopt the party label before allowing them a voice in its primary — or give them an opportunity to participate and make the case that Republican principles deserve their support.

For the future of West Virginia, I believe the better course is clear:

Re-open the Republican Primary in 2028.

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Mark Caserta: Letter to “We the People”

28 Aug

I may not have won the primary this past May, but as an outsider stepping into the political arena, I learned a lot — a whole lot.

More importantly, I learned just how many people are hungry for true representation: leaders who will listen, stand on principle, and remember that government belongs to “We the People.”

I have far too many supporters who believe in that kind of representation for me to simply walk away. There is too much work left to be done, too many voices that deserve to be heard, and too great a need for strong, accountable leadership.

To every person who supported me, encouraged me, prayed for me, voted for me, endorsed me, or simply took the time to listen — I love and appreciate each one of you more than you know.

The 2026 primary may have ended one campaign.

It did not end the mission.

I plan to be on the ballot in the 2028 General Election.

We’re just getting started.

Faith. Freedom. Family.

We the People.

Mark Caserta: Be a part of West Virginia history! Sign the petition to reopen the Republican primaries!

22 Aug

You are making history!!!

I want to thank each and every one of you for your tremendous support in making West Virginia history by signing the “Reopen WV Primaries” petition.

It’s the Republic in action with the people giving consent to the government and challenging them to represent your wishes!

In 2026, we declined nearly 47,000 Republican votes since the last non-presidential year primary!

Thousands of unaffiliated voters who’d helped Republicans gain the majority in Charleston were told “we don’t need you anymore”, simply because some members of the GOP feared Democrat crossover votes impacting the Republican primary.

Folks, the data does not support this! It’s emotion over common sense!

Read my comprehensive case revealing the facts and the negative impact.

It’s not about winning an argument. It’s about doing what’s right for West Virginia.

I would appreciate you considering signing and sharing this. Im fact, I would appreciate you making it a priority.

If you’re an unaffiliated voter who got locked out of the Republican primary, feel free to share your story! I’m compiling them for use later!

Please sign and share. Be a part of history.

Sign here:

https://www.change.org/p/reopen-west-virginia-s-republican-primary-to-unaffiliated-voters-in-2028

Mark Caserta: Democratic Socialism vs. Capitalism — In Plain English

19 Aug

Democratic Socialism vs. Capitalism — In Plain English

We are living in an unprecedented time. Politicians used to hide their socialist tendencies; now they are running and winning campaigns on them!

Voters need to understand the issue and stop this in its tracks!

The difference really comes down to one basic question:

Who should have more control over the economy — individuals and businesses, or government and collective institutions?

  • Capitalism: You can own your business, property and investments.
  • Democratic Socialism: The government would own and control your property.
  • Capitalism: Businesses compete for customers, and consumers help decide what succeeds.
  • Democratic Socialism: Government decides how resources are used and the level of your success.
  • Capitalism: People can take risks, build businesses, invest money and profit if they succeed.
  • Democratic Socialism: The focus is spreading the wealth, regardless of “who built it”
  • Capitalism: Economic decisions are made by the people.
  • Democratic Socialism: Decisions are made through government or collective control.

The Democratic Socialists of America openly says its long-term goal is social ownership and democratic control of the economy, not simply making a few changes to capitalism.

That’s why educating our young people matters!

It isn’t just about government programs. It’s about who gets to own, control and make the decisions in America’s economy.

These nations have already failed or are failing under socialism/communism.  Yet, the Democrat Socialists of America, with many Democrats allowing it to happen, want it for America.

Yes, everyone is equal – equally poor.

  Soviet Union — Communist one-party state with a highly centralized economy; dissolved in 1991.

  East Germany — Communist planned economy; ultimately reunified with capitalist West Germany in 1990.

  Czechoslovakia — Communist planned economy until the Velvet Revolution; later transitioned toward a market economy.

  Romania — Communist dictatorship under Nicolae Ceaușescu; suffered severe shortages and austerity before the regime collapsed in 1989.

  Poland — Communist government and centrally planned economy until 1989; later adopted market reforms.

  Hungary — Communist state until 1989; subsequently transitioned to a market-based economy.

  Albania — One of Europe’s most rigid communist states; emerged from communism extremely poor and isolated.

  Yugoslavia — Socialist federation that eventually disintegrated amid economic, political and ethnic crises.

  Cuba — Remains a communist one-party state with extensive state control of the economy; its economic system has long faced shortages and weak productivity, though U.S. sanctions are also an important factor and should be acknowledged.

  North Korea — Communist authoritarian state with an overwhelmingly state-directed economy and chronic economic hardship.

  Venezuela — Under Chávez and Maduro, nationalizations, price controls and expanding state direction accompanied a massive economic and humanitarian crisis. Venezuela’s collapse also involved oil dependence, corruption, political dysfunction and sanctions, so socialism was not the sole cause. The country has experienced hyperinflation and mass emigration.

  Maoist China — The Great Leap Forward’s collectivization and central planning contributed to catastrophic famine. China later moved substantially toward markets, private enterprise and foreign investment while retaining Communist Party rule.

  Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge — An extreme communist experiment involving abolition of markets and private property, accompanied by mass starvation, forced labor and killing.

  Ethiopia under the Derg — Marxist-Leninist regime marked by nationalization, collectivization, famine and economic deterioration.

  Tanzania under Ujamaa socialism — Large-scale collectivization and state-directed development produced disappointing economic results and eventually gave way to reforms.

Don’t allow the United States to be added to this list!

If we fail to learn from history – we are doomed to repeat it.

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