One of the most important issues facing us today is energy. Where will we get it in the future and how much will it cost? The Democrats in Washington have settled on an energy policy. Lower your standard of living. Of course, they certainly don’t include themselves in any kind of lifestyle sacrifice.
Have you noticed that those who bellyache the loudest about global warming and energy consumption are the largest consumers of energy? Think about it: rock stars who jet all around the world performing at energy-hog concerts; Hollywood types whose movies consume more energy than some small countries; Al Gore who owns at least four houses, one a 10,000 square-foot mansion that consumes 10 times the energy of the average home in his area, not to mention the private jets he takes all around the world to put on dog and pony shows to warn the rest of us about global warming and how we need to cut back on our consumption of energy.
The refrain is always the same. Do as they say, not as they do. Last year the president, at long last, lifted the ban on offshore drilling so that America could move toward energy independence. The Democrats who control Congress are determined to ban offshore drilling permanently.
Congressman Jay Inslee from Washington State tells cnsnews.com that the ban will be restored “by any means necessary.” He predicted “there would be a civil war” if there was a serious attempt to remove the moratorium. A civil war? There may very well be one if we see gas climb to $10 a gallon because short-sighted congressmen like Inslee are standing in the way of using our own energy.
We should all conserve, they tell us. We should “live simply so others can simply live” as the nauseous bumper sticker so self-righteously proclaims. This is what the dirt people want, yet very few of them are willing to live the austere lifestyle they try to force on the rest of us. And much of what they promote can actually have the opposite effect. Take hybrid cars, for example. I’m not knocking them. I wouldn’t mind having one, not because they’re going to save the planet but because they might save me money. If they don’t then they’re no good. That’s why they’re collecting dust on car lots across America by the thousands. People aren’t willing to pay thousands more for the hybrid model knowing it would take five or ten years to recoup the added expense. Plus, studies show that everyday driving of a hybrid can emit more emissions than a good diesel model. Because of the perceived mileage advantage, hybrid drivers tend to drive more, which defeats the purpose. What’s more, when you consider the extra energy it takes to build a hybrid?what with the electric motor and the battery pack?hybrids consume more energy over their lifetimes than even the big SUVs.
There’s also evidence that people who buy more energy efficient appliances succumb to the so-called “Snackwell Effect.” The name comes from dieters who negate their weight-loss plans by binging on Snackwell low-calorie cookies. They say that people who buy energy-efficient light bulbs tend to leave lights on longer than those who use conventional bulbs.
Another study showed that at least one-third of respondents saw no change in their energy bills after investing in energy-efficient measures.
The path to energy independence is not through conservation. It’s through developing our own sources of energy. We haven’t fought our way to the top of the economic food chain to live like a third world nation.
Phil Valentine is an author and nationally syndicated radio talk show host with Westwood One. For more of his commentary and articles, visit philvalentine.com.
