Welcome to Wednesday, and it is great being back in our beloved Marina District.
An event occurred during our Westside sojourn - maybe you heard of it? The Republican National Convention? I have withheld comment until now, but rather than question the cultish fealty to Dear Leader Trump . . . . . . today's mercifully shorter post focuses on a simple question: Why do the Republicans continue to embrace dirty oil, and resist calls to go electric? After all, some of the biggest cheers at the convention came from exaltations to drill, baby, drill.
But it begs the question: Why are Republicans so resistant to making money from new technology?
Consider the new phrase Trump, Vance, and their followers are pumping out there; this is from Politico:
“Green New Scam” is a recurring line from Trump, Vance, and members of the Republican Party to attack the Biden administration's energy and climate agenda.
But:
The debate over the existence of Climate Change and humanity's role in it are over: The continued use of fossil fuels will be suicidal over time
The United States already exports more oil than it imports; indeed the US is the largest exporter of oil in the world
So why can't we just accept the above and let the legacy energy companies make their money as we wind down oil - while encouraging things like next-gen battery technology and a great electric vehicle charging network? For example, couldn't the government incentivize the sale and adoption of plug-in hybrid electric cars during the transition to fully electric ones?
Like modern passenger trains, I simply do not understand why most Republicans chafe against moving to electric cars. Clean and quiet vs. dirty and noisy? And electric cars are faster, and in most cases, way the fuck faster?
Yet it's electric vehicles that are demonized?
Indeed, couldn't a lot of companies make a lot of money if we fully embraced clean energy and clean energy transportation? You know, the way the government subsidizes Big Oil the legacy energy companies and Big Ag family farms?
Instead, we get "Green New Scam."
I fully acknowledge the charging infrastructure needs work. But I see that as yet another opportunity for good, middle-class vocational jobs, building it out and then maintaining it. The government supporting that is not a scam - it's common sense.
And yes, the minerals used in batteries are environmentally damaging, both in the way they're mined and in how they're disposed. But there's not a chance that could ever equal what oil has done.
Can anyone out there explain the ongoing adoration of this 19th-century technology, oil? When there are cheaper and superior alternatives readily available?
Is it because Republicans don't like being told what they can and can't do?
Cool - I guess they understand how women feel.
FROM THE UNWASHED MASSES
Thank you for reading this newsletter.
KLUF
Perfect for today's topic, and it hasn't been played on KLUF in over 3 years. Here are New Pornographers and their indie classic Electric Version.
