“But humanity, since you brought it up, is better served, at this juncture, by higher prices (not too high, obviously).”
Sorry, but you are completely wrong.
Humanity constitutes people, whereas you are referencing countries.
No one in their right mind would ever claim that people are better served by paying more money out of their pocket for energy.
Their is no convincing argument you could ever make that says otherwise.
The energy sector will be demolished for sure(and I am a +40 year veteran of that) but so what? If energy was as free as the air we breather, people in this world would be immensely benefited.
What are countries made up of, wise guy, but people.
Who depends on dividends for savings and retirement but people?
Who works jobs in the energy and related sectors but people?
Think before you type.