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Complete Madness In The Biden Administration: Energy Policy
Manhattan Contrarian ^ | 29 Nov, 2021 | Francis Menton

Posted on 11/29/2021 4:53:23 AM PST by MtnClimber

Is President Biden doing anything right? To this observer, his policies range from at best merely incompetent, to at worst malicious hatred of the country and people whose interests he was elected to advance. Somewhere in between those two extremes we have Biden’s energy policy. In this arena, appropriate adjectives would be inconsistent, incoherent, and destructive. Don’t even attempt to make sense of it. To summarize in one word, it is complete madness.

I’m old enough to remember the 1970s, and the two “oil shocks” that occurred during that decade. A brief summary of the history can be found in this 2012 piece from Foreign Policy. By 1970/71, U.S. oil production had peaked and begun to decline. 1973 brought the Yom Kippur War in the Middle East, and OPEC halted oil shipments to the U.S., Western Europe and Japan. By January 1974, crude oil prices on the world markets had “more than quadrupled” (from around $3 to $12 per barrel). Further constraints on supply in the late 70s, most notably a big drop in supply from Iran following the ouster of the Shah, were followed by a further tripling of the price, this time from about $12 to about $36 per barrel. Government efforts at price controls were largely unsuccessful at restraining prices at the pump, but did cause shortages and lines at gas stations that maddened consumers. Without adequate domestic oil supply, the U.S. became a supplicant to the big international exporters, mainly OPEC and Russia. As reported in that Foreign Policy piece, President Carter reacted by “mak[ing] energy independence the central ambition of his presidency.”

Energy independence was a bi-partisan goal of American Presidents and of the Congress, until President Obama came along. Obama had the opposite strategy. He had drunk the climate Kool-Aid, and thought that the right goals were to restrict the production of fossil fuel energy, which would cause prices to rise and thereby restrict consumption. The famous quote from Obama, uttered in 2008 during his first presidential campaign, was “under my plan of a cap-and-trade system, electricity prices would necessarily skyrocket.” Although that statement specifically dealt with electricity prices, the same principle would apply as well to all energy prices. And Obama sought to put his strategy into practice, both by putting proposed “cap-and-trade” legislation before Congress, and by attempting to use his executive powers to restrict domestic fossil fuel development. However, the cap-and-trade legislation failed in Congress, and domestic “frackers” worked around Obama’s federal restrictions to greatly expand U.S. domestic oil and gas production, mostly on private lands.

One could disagree with Obama’s energy policy — I certainly did, vociferously — but at least it wasn’t self-contradictory.

And Trump, of course, reversed Obama’s policies of energy restriction, encouraged development and fracking, and within one term had achieved the energy independence that had been the bi-partisan goal of U.S. Presidents for the three decades before Obama. Energy prices fell dramatically, the U.S. was no longer beholden to the bad actors among the oil exporting countries, and all of those countries — from OPEC, to Russia, to Venezuela — were left with gaping revenue shortfalls to pay their bills.

Now, for the Biden madness. As far as I can tell, here are the key elements of Biden’s energy policy:

-Do everything possible within executive powers to restrict domestic supply of fossil fuels. Executive orders issued in the early days of the administration canceled the Keystone XL pipeline and ended leases for oil and gas development on federal lands. Other orders commanded an “all of government” approach to restricting fossil fuels, so that, for example, financial regulators are now involved in arm twisting banks and other financers to steer clear of the fossil fuel industry. As recently as October 21, the Financial Stability Oversight Council — a consortium of federal financial regulators headed by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen — got into the game with a press release announcing that it would now be “at the forefront of the agenda of its member agencies” to address “the threat of climate change” by restricting access to financing by fossil fuel developers.

-When energy prices inevitably soar, beg Russia and OPEC to increase supply. As early as August, the Biden Administration had begun begging Russia and OPEC to increase supply to keep oil and gas prices from going too high. But wasn’t forcing prices to “skyrocket” the whole idea, the very mechanism by which consumption and “emissions” were to be reduced? And the begging has continued into this month, joined as you might expect by leaders from European countries who also find themselves with energy shortages and soaring prices due to their own suppression of fossil fuel development. As the New York Times reported on November 4, “President Biden and other world leaders have called on countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to increase production because oil prices, which collapsed during last year’s pandemic lockdowns, have now reached their highest levels in seven years.”

-Blame the soaring prices and supply shortages on anything but your own intentional policies. Per that New York Times piece, on November 2 Biden said that the rise in oil and gas prices “is a consequence of, thus far, the refusal of Russia or the OPEC nations to pump more oil.” Apparently in the weeks since then, he or his handlers have had a political epiphany, and have decided that it would be more beneficial to blame the increase in prices on the evil oil companies. On November 17, Biden sent a letter to FTC Chair Lina Khan asking the Commission to investigate “mounting evidence of anti-consumer behavior by oil and gas companies.”

Here’s my question: If soaring oil and gas prices are caused by anti-consumer conduct by greedy oil and gas companies, were those same companies really less greedy when Trump was President and oil and gas prices were falling?

With Obama, at least he appeared to have some understanding that the whole idea of his policies of fossil fuel suppression was to force consumption down through the mechanism of rising prices. But with Biden you’re never sure. Is he just too stupid to understand that his policies were designed to have, and likely would have, the effect of dramatically raising prices and throwing us back into dependency on OPEC and Russia? Or is it that he understood what was likely to happen, but thought that the American consumer/voter would be stupid enough to fall for his tawdry effort to blame some bogeymen for the intended results of his own policies? Is there a third alternative?


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Society
KEYWORDS: communism
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To: griswold3

Energy is Wealth that the Ruling Class cannot horde.


21 posted on 11/29/2021 6:08:38 AM PST by MattMusson (Sometimes the wind blows too much)
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To: old school

“..You are powerless to combat evil except through prayer...”

In and of our human selves and strength, you’d be absolutely correct: we’re powerless against the enemy.
But thru Him and the price He paid, we have 3 major weapons in our arsenal:
1. The Word (Logos, not Rhema). For it is Written.....
2. The Blood. There’s Power in the Blood..
3. The Name. In Jesus’Name. There is Power in that Name..
Prayer, Supplication, Praise and Worship have been, and are, the missile delivery vehicles for these weapons all throughout Scripture.
We (myself included) all need to learn to use them more effectively. Sorry to sound like a preacher.....I’m not one. I just spend a lot of time in the Bible.


22 posted on 11/29/2021 6:10:14 AM PST by lgjhn23 (Pray for America....)
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To: lgjhn23

Not that your post needs fortification; however, there is John Adams’ letter to the Massachusetts Militia 1798 and George Washington’s farewell address among others.


23 posted on 11/29/2021 6:33:09 AM PST by old school
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To: logi_cal869

Well said. This started with the agenda to dumb down society three generations ago. I wonder if it is now being passed down through genetics.


24 posted on 11/29/2021 6:38:25 AM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: MtnClimber

The High level Nuclear Waste Repository FUBAR wasted billions of dollars that resulted in..... nothing. Required to assure safety for 10,000 years, the goalpost was suddenly moved to 1 million years. One could have just as accurately (and more cheaply) predicted that future with tea leaves.

The continued construction of nuclear power plants was practically destroyed by an anti-nuclear regulatory kakistocracy.


25 posted on 11/29/2021 6:41:48 AM PST by Carl Vehse (A proud member of the LGBFJB community)
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To: Openurmind

It’s the ultimate achievement of a century of propaganda and population control, all mainstreamed by Edward Bernays.

Power, control & money.

In spite of technology, a historical perspective is pertinent: Our downfall is looming large.

Re: “Genetics”...sorta makes one wonder why they’re so keen to get everyone jabbed and insert this mRNA crap into our food doesn’t it?


26 posted on 11/29/2021 6:45:52 AM PST by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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To: logi_cal869

I am having trouble understanding how so many cannot see all these HUGE red flags right in front of their faces. As much as I do not like to think this way, I am losing my compassion and sympathy for these ignorant sheep. I am starting to wonder if they now deserve what they are asking for and will receive.

I am now to the point where I see it as every man for himself and making all efforts possible to keep them from dragging me down with them.


27 posted on 11/29/2021 6:57:54 AM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: MattMusson; griswold3
"Energy is Wealth that the Ruling Class cannot horde."

Which is why I like solar power from a libertarian perspective: if you're in a good situation for it (live in the south, plan to be at that home for a while, have a metal roof, part of the roof facing south, little to no shade over the roof, etc.) then take matters into your own hands and generate a substantial portion of your own energy so that the Dims have less power over you.

With the production I get from my solar system it provides over half the power I need in my all-electric, two-story home and will pay for itself in about 13 years, assuming a 3% inflation rate in electricity prices. Obviously if the Dims keep making rates skyrocket my system will pay for itself a lot sooner with me grumbling only half as much about their policies monkeying with my budget. And since I put most of the cost within a 1.9% interest loan, I barely see the cost. (Right now my minimum loan payment is barely above the average savings per month from my solar system -- in the summer months I save more than the loan "costs" me.) As the loan gets paid off and the minimum payment is lowered along with it, I'll soon reach the point where I regularly save more than the loan costs me.

28 posted on 11/29/2021 7:03:17 AM PST by Tell It Right (1st Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: MtnClimber

It’s looking better for Trump by the day he cured problems Biden makes them.


29 posted on 11/29/2021 9:00:14 AM PST by Vaduz (women and children to be impacIQ of chimpsted the most.)
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To: Openurmind

It’s pretty pathetic, isn’t it? Especially the FReepers with their heads in the sand.

We’ve been played, and a new game is afoot. I’ve e repurposed the Belgian quote of “COVID-21” to represent the new game.

I won’t be playing with my bullhorn, keyboard or pen…

…and I won’t be turning my back on anyone either, especially Republicans.


30 posted on 11/29/2021 9:54:07 AM PST by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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To: logi_cal869

There was a time not long ago when you could trust a direction of ideology. Now everyone is selling out left and right, don’t know who to trust anymore.


31 posted on 11/29/2021 12:56:00 PM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: Openurmind

The worst part about it is that formerly intelligent people are now firmly entrenched in the ‘normally intelligent’ camp (my euphemism for ‘the stupid’).

I have much deeper thoughts on this but cannot give away that aspect of my book.

Suffice to state that I have coined it here at FR as ‘the true pandemic’ (i.e., “pandemic of stupid”).

It really does explain everything, but the dilemma you describe remains...


32 posted on 11/29/2021 1:10:21 PM PST by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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To: logi_cal869

And you are right on target too...


33 posted on 11/29/2021 1:24:31 PM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: MtnClimber

In my area we’re looking a big power bill increases next year. Our power sources are all either hydro or nuke in this region.


34 posted on 11/29/2021 1:27:41 PM PST by Hillarys Gate Cult
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To: DownInFlames

do NOT care..........I think you meant to say!!


35 posted on 11/29/2021 1:29:46 PM PST by Osage Orange (1961 VW Two Door Truck)
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To: logi_cal869

This is the level you speak of. Here is what happens to be trending viral on Rumble. Apparently if you ignore it then it will go away.

https://rumble.com/category/viral


36 posted on 11/29/2021 1:36:29 PM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: MtnClimber
Why don't we just buy cheap solar energy from countries where it hotter then hell...and buy our cheap wind power from countries where the wind blows 24/7s.....

We need to start thinking outside of the box...ship it here by Federal express or the Post Office.....which ever can do it the cheapest......Problem solved!....../s

37 posted on 11/29/2021 5:26:19 PM PST by M-cubed (The MSM is now the 4th Branch of Government.....)
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To: Openurmind

I looked and didn’t see “Great White Eats Democrat”.

Algorithm must be broken.


38 posted on 11/29/2021 8:12:21 PM PST by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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To: logi_cal869

I didn’t see “Death of the Republic” either. Everything is Don’t worry... Be happy... :)


39 posted on 11/30/2021 4:33:55 AM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: logi_cal869

The one that really gets to me are the priorities. As Rome burns the priorities are...

https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/4016852/posts?page=1

I don’t think this will become an issue when we are all forced to live stone age around a campfire.


40 posted on 11/30/2021 5:13:52 AM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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