Please, No More Pie-In-The-Sky Sermons

National Review Online: We Need To Tap Into Our Own Energy By Building, Mining And Drilling

(National Review Online)  This column was written by Victor Davis Hanson.

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The other day in southwestern Fresno County, a poor part of Central California, I talked with a number of folks at a rural gas station. Most drove second- and third-hand pickups, large cast-off sedans or used SUVs. Their general complaint was twofold: They didn’t have the cash to buy a new fuel-efficient Honda or Toyota. And they were now spending a day or two of their wages just to fuel their cars for their long rural commutes.

I also happen to fill up three hours away on the San Francisco peninsula near Stanford University, where I work. High-priced hybrid cars and new more-efficient SUVs are everywhere. Mass transit is available and crammed.

After listening to these quite different motorists, I can confirm an obvious rule about energy use: The wealthier and better-educated seem less concerned about the price of gas.

Indeed, from my informal conversations at two very different gas stations, I would go even further: The wealthy, particularly those who are politically liberal, also like that high-priced gas translates into less burning of fossil fuels by others and helps accelerate research into alternative energies.

What these elites don’t seem to realize is that the energy policies they tend to advocate are for the present paralyzing almost everyone else in the country - and that the truly ethical and environmental solution would require embracing positions long considered anathema to traditional liberalism.

The debate in Congress over more refineries and nuclear power plants; drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and off our coasts; and developing oil shale, tar sands, and liquid coal usually follows a script fit for a soap opera: Grasping Republicans supposedly wish to enrich energy companies, while idealistic Democrats want only to protect the environment. But those black-and-white positions, hatched in the good old days of $1.50-a-gallon gas, should now be revisited on the basis of far different moral considerations.

One is fairness to the poor and middle class. Like it or not, radical environmentalism (and those behind it who provide the lobbying, funding, and influence to block energy legislation) appeals to an elite not all that worried when gas prices rise or electricity rates go up - since fossil energy use goes down.

But a paradox is that most environmentalists think of themselves as egalitarians. So, instead of objecting to the view of a derrick from the California hills above the Santa Barbara coast, shouldn’t a liberal estate owner instead console himself that the offshore pumping will help a nearby farm worker or carpenter get to work without going broke?

Another paradox: American laws and technology ensure a rig off Florida or in Alaska has far less chance of springing a leak than one in the Persian Gulf or the Russian tundra. If there really is a shared Planet Earth, then aren’t we all its collective stewards? By locking out energy exploration in the United States, we are encouraging it almost everywhere else.

No one is talking of more domestic drilling to give our SUVs and Hummers one last gasp at $2 a gallon gas. Everyone is already cutting back and waiting for more efficient engines and methods of conservation. Instead, producing as much of our own energy as possible means extracting more safely the world’s oil for the world’s biggest consumer.

Consider also how oil triggers a massive transfer of wealth abroad that is as illiberal as it is dangerous. Productive energy-strapped Americans, Europeans, Japanese, Chinese, and Indians are working day and night to give the world critical material goods, ideas, and services. To be blunt, oil-rich Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Russia, and Iran are not.

At best, the massive transfer of national wealth to most oil producers translates into a Chinese worker on an assembly line working longer for less money while artificial island resorts pop up in the Persian Gulf. At worst, that strapped Chinese fabricator is also working harder for another Iranian centrifuge, al-Qaida landmine, or Saudi-funded madrassa.

We should stop talking about suing the OPEC cartel, jawboning the House of Saud to lower prices, blaming the oil companies, or adding yet another massive tax on sky-high gas prices. What we don’t need right now are more pie-in-the-sky sermons about wind and solar saving us all or about millions of new jobs in green technology that can be almost instantly created.

That all may be possible in a generation. But in the here and now, we still need to tap the abundant conventional energy we already have in the United States. And in large part that means building, mining, and drilling.

[irliberal]

"What we don%u2019t need right now are more pie-in-the-sky sermons about wind and solar saving us all or about millions of new jobs in green technology that can be almost instantly created. "

Another fool from the NRO.

Alternative energy is where it''s at. More drilling, especially at the cost of our last unpolluted and pristine and protected lands, is not the solution. This isn''t pie in the sky, it''s reality and the NRO is a political enemy of the state for feeding propoganda consisting of lies and deception to continue their own political agenda.

You will not touch Anwar, scum.

[talkingham]

Talk about a sermon, listen to this slop from NRO and you''ll go impotent.

Perhaps the NRO''s trillionaire buddies could stop shipping our best jobs out of the country then we might have an economy that has a future and a reason to develop new resources.

The oil companies have done nothing but line their own pockets with trillions using tax breaks from the American work force and since they control most of Congress we won''t see any alternative energy development until the same people own it as own the oil resources. It''s hard for them to own the wind and the sun and that''s why they don''t want energy resources built around competely renewable resources. They would rather send you another 3-mile island and Chernoble in your future.

[aakalan]

More NRO bull. Is there no end to their treachery?

Note that they failed to mention that it would take more than seven years before the first drop of oil is pumped from Anwar.

A new nuclear plant will take ten years to build.

And when the coast of the US is awash in sludge (Prudhoe Bay, anyone?) and one of the last unspoiled ecologies in your country is despoiled, what are these idiots going to say - whoops?

If, instead, we spend the same time and resources creating new technologies and alternative resources, we can be free of the "black gold" forever and create a huge number of new jobs and a meaningful stimulus to the economy.

Too bad the oil companies own The National Review and its dishonest, bought-and-paid-for owners and writers.

The good thing is that almost no one reads this cr*p.

[joyous88]

what a piece of propaganda, wow!,

this is the legacy of the neo con administration,

one lie after another, for eight years, actually this

all started with the first great criminal, the very UnAmerican ronald reagan.

It has been nothi ng but klie, cheat and steal by the

fascist republicon party ever since in their attempts to retain power,

Hopefully we are finally rid of this parasite on america

[incog-nito]

Another straw man argument. Nobody has said to go out and buy a new Toyota or Honda. Funny how some people make an unfounded assertion about others and then blast them for it.

BTW, there are plenty of used vehicles for sale or trade in for if one is so inclined. Judging by the people who drive large, late models SUVs and trucks. They sure look more like the "elite" than those who drive small economy cars. And if they really wanted they could trade it in for a smaller new or used car, probably with no additional cost. But I doubt these elites would even consider such a move.

[taxguydave]

There is no way we can drill ourselves back to $4/gallon gasoline. We are already the world''s #3 oil producer (7-7.5 million bbl/day). We already pump a greater percentage of our reserves than any other leading producer. We could turn the entire western US into a forest of pumping rigs, buy every drop of oil that Mexico and Canada produce, and still fall short of the 23-25 million bbl/day that we consume.

I used to sell cars (new and used). We always had some small, inexpensive, fuel efficient cars on the lot. But the folks you''re talking about wanted a pickup or SUV (usually one of the bigger ones--they weren''t interested in S-10s or Trackers, either). When I tried to steer them to the smaller cars, they would have none of it. Now they''re complaining that they can''t buy the cars they turned their noses up at even a year ago, when they were quite cheap.

[element51]

I just heard last night that of all the leases that the oil companies have in this country 85% of them are approved by congress for drilling. It is the oil companies who are making the decision NOT to drill, not the congress. It is not congress who is standing in the way of new or re-built refineries. The oil companies are choosing NOT to build new or to re-condition existing refineries. Of course, one would not expect the truth from NRO but the truth is out there. And the republicans use this mis-information to blame democrats for blocking drilling in America. The truth about Anwar is that even if drilling was to start today, it would be at least 7 years before any oil was produced. Then it would be sold on the world market just as the oil from the Alaska pipeline is. And until big business finds a way to make a claim on the sun and the wind there will be little progress made in these alternative sources. Wake up America and get these crooks out of Washington. Until we do, not much will change. Elect McCain and NOTHING will change.

[flagwavrblue]

The writer of this article is a traitor to the American people and a regressive of the highest order. It is not a question of when if oil will run out but when. We should have taken care of this problem starting in the eighties after OPEC tried to hold our economy hostage. Brazil did it. Why couldn''t we? Reagan napped through all of this. Now on to the stock answer all conservatives give: "Just drill more." Oil, as I said is running out. As a blue collar American worker, I know hard work and hard choices must be made on energy and these articles that advocate sticking our head in the sand and hoping the energy crisis will go away are horrible.

[cattlekate]

I just heard last night that of all the leases that the oil companies have in this country 85% of them are approved by congress for drilling. It is the oil companies who are making the decision NOT to drill, not the congress. Elect McCain and NOTHING will change. Posted by Element51 at 01:59 PM : Jun 14, 2008

EXCELLENT POST ANTIMONY!

From where I am, in the Interior Rocky Mountain West, the leases (not locatable, like gold) have been given away for a song and it is only our Wildcatters which drill here. Not many regulations, as we just read in High Country News. Exxon-Mobile/Dutch Royal Shell have moved on.

BTW: Guess CBS has choosen to prohibit angry Old White Women from posting venom to counter the suckering platitudes about Tim Russert. Timeh.

I am SO ANGRY that NO ONE is talking about Timmeh%u2019s lack of Murrow-Cronkite Fourth Estate journalism in 1997 to 2008.

He forgot us, the average American, who sought news in 2002 and 2003, about Iraq. He blew us off as we googled and yahooed about the PNAC, Cheney, Harken, Halliburton, Dressler, OSP, WHIG, Bin Laden family and planes, et al.

Trying to fit the pieces together.

Yeah, let Timmeh, go meet the sons and daughters of this Iraq invasion and occupation. And the Iraqi families who resisted us as "insurgents."

Talk to them.

God Bless, Timmeh. Talk to those in Heaven you would not listen to in the life Jesus and God blessed you with.

[element51]

FlagWaverBlue....I totally agree. The days of cheap gas are long gone never to return. In the late 70''s when the Arabs cut off the oil supply, Carter tried to warn the American people of what was to come and he tried to push for conservation and research into alternative sources. But along came Ronnie Raygun and the nation was so busy making fun of Carter that nothing was done. Then Ronnie started to de-regulate everything in sight and the American auto makers gave us those wonderful gas guzzling SUV''s and the days of rationing were forgotten. We have the ability to solve this problem but it will not be done until big business has sucked every dollar possible out of the economy and they have the help of our elected leaders to do so. If Obama is elected we have a slight chance to get something done but if it is McCain it will be BUSINESS as usual. And remember, after they have raped us on the oil situation next will come food.

[wogerwabbit]

"What these elites don%u2019t seem to realize"...

Boy, the neoconazis are really sticking to that ''Liberal Elite'' theme they seem so fond of this year. I''m sure we''ll all be sick of hearing that before too long. Oddly enough, the only elites I know are Republicans... the ones who want to slash and burn the environment and suck every last dime out of our country without a care in the world for us our our childrens future.

[samthetvcat]

---"What these elites don%u2019t seem to realize"---

LOL Yeah, The only people who keep trying to call Barack an ''elite'' seem to be the ones who are actually viewed as elitist by most people . . . Victor Davis Hanson, Charles Krauthammer, Tucker Carlson, etc

[gkc99]

This failed architect of the Bushit world domination plan, Viktor Davis Handjob, had less than 0 credibility!

Your last plan is in the toilet Viktor.

Why don''t you join it?

[gkc99]

Strange how the undead like Victor and Anne Cunter don''t know it''s time to go back to their graves!

It''s morning and the rooster is crowing, vampires! Time to return to your tombs.

[joyous88]

the NRO, what a joke,

these clowns are nothing but a bunch of NAZI propagandists

spreading lie''s for the conservatives

the greed driven conservatives that have made america a third world country

republicons are nazi''s

[ll2owt]

Just how damnnn stupid can nro get??

[andor3]

This guy CANNOT be as stupid as his argument makes him seem, so he must think he is being clever and we are all stupid enough to be bamboozled.

Somebody tell him we see the man behind the curtain, his naked butt is showing, and it is not a pretty sight.

[hypnotoad72]

"After listening to these quite different motorists, I can confirm an obvious rule about energy use: The wealthier and better-educated seem less concerned about the price of gas. "


Don''t worry; their jobs will be seen as "excessive cost" and will be offshored too.

[hypnotoad72]

BTW: Did the NRO writer do a web search to find out if all the oil drilled for in America stays in America, or is sold elsewhere (and how many barrels and for how much money)? Or from more reliable sources than a mere website... Assuming that''s a valid question to ask, of course...

[sharncedar]

" also happen to fill up three hours away on the San Francisco peninsula near Stanford University, where I work."

This piece of feces stuck to my arse hair is commuting 3 hours every day, apparently - STOP WASTING GAS YOU RIGHT WING FIEND.

[ljb6599]

There is plenty of blame to go around related to this gas situation.You can blame the government for its inability to see this problem coming,U,S carmakers whom continued to sell large vehicles instead off focusing on hybrid technology,but the American people also have a part to play in this problem for our continued excessive use of energy particularly gas.We continued to drive large vehicles like Hummers and very lage trucks and SUVs as if entitled, believing that low fuel prices would be around forever.Our governmnent has fiddled while our country is burning.We have ignored Asian countries like India and China and now heir huge demand is contributing to the high price of fuel.We are now bogged down in the Middle East in our maddening serch for more oil to fill a thirst that will never be filled.We are hopelessly co-dependent.Now many people believe that the answer is to drill here in this country.Foolish,foolish people.If the oil was here we would not be seeking out other countries for it.Even if we did find any it would not last very long.Natural resources are not forever.So what is the answer? Well there is no simple answer.We are now in a crisis knee jerk mode and the only thing that we can do is to begin to change our bad habits,conserve,spend less and hope that our government can begin to do something with a problem which has been festering for years.

[sparks224]

The technology is here.
http://www.afstrinity.com/

[elz523]

Hanson, it''s as simple as this, so long as oil remains priced as low as it has been in the past, we will not develop alternatives. Drilling for more only delays the pain we are feeling today. We need to change lifestyles and develop new technologies, the high cost of oil is our incentive. Take away that incentive and nothing will be done.

[rushlimpdrug]

NRO & Victor Davis Hanson

uh, yeah.
The gas prices and problems
are the fault of libearal,
especially those that own estates.

Pleeze help us vicki!

you have come to save us all!

Wow, what a krappy article.

Only on CBS.

[jcr103]

Ooooh, it all the liberals fault. Never mind the Republicans in Congress have protected the oil and automobile industries for decades, inhibiting not only higher federal fuel mileage requirements but stopping funding for all kinds of alternative energy projects that are seen to threaten the status quo of big oil and the automobile industry in this country. Ever seen the documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car?" Give it a try before embarking on absurdly simplistic arguments such as "it''s all the fault of liberals."

[aerhed]

TWO THIRDS of our oil is imported. Drilling the ANWR will not increase DOMESTIC PRODUCTION by more than a couple percent. That''s less than 1% of our total supply! If we drilled all of our special places like the Alaska Wildlife refuge or the massacre that''s happening in the GREEN RIVER VALLEY it would only be a drop in the old hummer tank. Victor you''re in blind denial. PEAK OIL IS COMING, why not switch now before we have planetary wars over the last few barrels? DRILLERS DRILL WHERE THEY MAKE THE MOST MONEY. Ever wonder why they drill in windy wildernesses? You think thats where all the oil is? NO! They drill there because there''s nobody around to impede their full-tilt land rape! MUCH AS YOU CAN, FAST AS YOU CAN! Around here they wear T-shirts that say "EARTH FIRST! (WE''LL DRILL THE REST LATER)!" P.S. This oil and gas is all on Federal land. It belongs to you and me. I didn''t tell Bush he could sell it off to a bunch of foreign oil companies (Shell, Encana, BP, etc.) for a few nickles, did you? I say store it in the ground until we really need it. There''s NO SHORTAGE RIGHT NOW, JUST HIGH PRICES.

[imnho]

The track record of the oil companies whe it comes to deal with spills is not reassuring. If they want to drill in places that are very sensetive then they need to demostrate that they have the ability and the motvation to be proactive and fix problems before they become wildly out of control. Whe they had the Exxon Valdez spill the responible party tried to quietly walk away from the problem.

If the wish to drill in ANWAR they will have to convince the public that they can do it in a sound manner.

[bluestardad]

PLEASE NO MORE WAR FOR ISRAEL!

PLEASE NO MORE NEOCON BABBLE!

NO MORE COVER UPS FOR MIDDLE EAST DICTATORS!

START WAR CRIMES TRIALS NOW!

AMERICA STAND UP OR SHUT UP!

[bluestardad]

STOP GIVING ISRAEL 30 BILLION A YEAR IN WEAPONS!

TRANSFER THAT MONEY TO RENEWABLE FUELS PRODUCTION!

THERE PROBLEM SOLVED!

AMERICA STAND UP OR SHUT UP!