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Talking points on Biden's State of the Union 2023

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Talking points on Biden's State of the Union 2023

President Biden is evading responsibility for the consequences of the anti-freedom, anti-development, anti-fossil-fuel policies he has supported.

Alex Epstein
Feb 9
74
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Talking points on Biden's State of the Union 2023

alexepstein.substack.com

I can summarize the economic portion of Biden’s State of the Union speech in one word: evasion.

President Biden is evading responsibility for the consequences of the anti-freedom, anti-development, anti-fossil-fuel policies he has supported.

Things won’t get better until he’s held accountable.

  • In the economic portion of his State of the Union speech, Joe Biden focused on 3 problems: 1) the decline of US industry and infrastructure, 2) the global energy crisis, and 3) the supply chain crisis.

    While Biden portrayed himself as the solution to all 3 problems, he is in fact a major cause.

    1

  • 1: Biden’s role in the decline of US industry and infrastructure

    Why have US industry and infrastructure declined?

    Because industry and infrastructure require development—and we have, with Biden’s support, been passing anti-development environmental policies for 50+ years.

  • One of the anti-development environmental policies crippling American industry and infrastructure is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

    The previous administration made some valuable NEPA reforms, which Biden immediately overturned.
    Talking Points on the need for NEPA reform

  • In his State of the Union speech Joe Biden repeatedly heralded the new infrastructure law. But that law, because it rejected NEPA reform, was actually an anti-infrastructure law that makes the projects it supports, along with many, many others, unnecessarily difficult.
    Talking Points on the need for NEPA reform

    Twitter avatar for @AlexEpstein
    Alex Epstein @AlexEpstein
    The biggest obstacle to improving infrastructure is NEPA--the National Environmental Policy Act--which will continue strangling infrastructure development unless it is radically reformed. Unfortunately, our supposedly infrastructure-loving President opposes NEPA reform. THREAD
    6:48 PM ∙ May 21, 2021
    47Likes20Retweets
  • The root solution to our industry and manufacturing problems is to liberate responsible development. By totally failing to do this, Biden’s “buy American” policies will just subsidize inefficient operations and increase our cost of living even more.

  • In his State of the Union speech, Joe Biden asked “Where is it written that America can’t lead the world in manufacturing again?”

    The answer: It is written in the endless anti-development industrial regulations that Biden is only adding to.

    2

  • 2: Biden’s role in the global energy crisis

    In his State of the Union speech Joe Biden portrayed the global energy crisis as a problem that he is solving. In fact, it’s a problem he has helped cause with anti-fossil-fuel policies—and is making worse with new anti-fossil-fuel policies.

  • Biden’s sole explanation for the global energy crisis was “Putin’s war.” But the root cause is global anti-fossil-fuel policies, supported by Biden—which made fossil fuel prices artificially high pre-war and prevented the free world from quickly increasing production in response.

  • Here’s an in-depth explanation I gave at a Congressional off-site last year of how the global anti-fossil-fuel movement, including the Biden administration, caused the global energy crisis—including its major impacts on inflation.

    Energy Talking Points by Alex Epstein
    Testimony: "How the Biden Administration and the Global Anti-Fossil-Fuel Movement Caused an Energy Crisis and Inflated Our Cost of Living"
    Today the House Freedom Caucus held an off-site hearing: “Addressing Bidenflation and Biden’s Energy Crisis.” I was a witness, along with former Texas Governor and Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, economist Stephen Moore, and Western Energy Alliance President Kathleen Sgamma. Here is the written testimony I submitted. You can watch my testimony, as well …
    Read more
    9 months ago · 63 likes · 3 comments · Alex Epstein
  • As I have documented extensively, had Biden and other Democrats spent the last 3.5 years (including the 2 of the Biden admin) liberating US oil and gas investment, production, and transport instead of strangling them, energy would be far cheaper.

    Energy Talking Points by Alex Epstein
    America’s energy crisis is mostly US Democrats’ fault
    I don’t identify as a Republican or Democrat. But as an energy expert I must say this: had Democrats spent the last 3.5 years liberating US oil and gas investment, production, and transport instead of strangling them, energy would be far cheaper. America is experiencing our worst energy crisis since the 1970s…
    Read more
    5 months ago · 71 likes · 5 comments · Alex Epstein
  • Instead of taking any responsibility whatsoever for the disastrous shortage of fossil fuels today, President “I guarantee you, we’re going to end fossil fuel” Biden continues engaging in a denial campaign that blames everyone but him and his allies.

    Energy Talking Points by Alex Epstein
    US Democrats are engaging in epic denial on oil and gasoline prices
    US Democrats are trying everything imaginable to lower oil/gasoline prices except the thing that would actually work: STOP THREATENING THE EXISTENCE OF THE OIL INDUSTRY. Instead of acknowledging their key role in increasing oil prices, Dems are engaging in epic denial tactics…
    Read more
    a year ago · 38 likes · Alex Epstein
  • Biden’s bragging about gasoline prices being “down $1.50 a gallon since their peak” is inane because 1) he helped cause that peak, 2) prices would be lower without his policies, and 3) his only downward influence has been irresponsibly draining the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

    Energy Talking Points by Alex Epstein
    How Biden’s abuse of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to win votes harms our energy security
    In recent weeks President Biden’s use of our “Strategic Petroleum Reserve” (SPR) to lower gasoline prices has gotten a lot of attention. Many commentators have rightly criticized the political motivations involved (temporarily lowering prices to win votes during a midterm election). But I think Biden’s use of the SPR is actually far more unethical and d…
    Read more
    5 months ago · 62 likes · 1 comment · Alex Epstein
  • Not only has Biden been a significant cause of the global energy crisis, he has taken actions to compound it by 1) passing the disastrous, anti-fossil-fuel “Inflation Reduction Act” and 2) continuing to threaten fossil fuel producers.

    Energy Talking Points by Alex Epstein
    The “Inflation Reduction Act” is a 4-step recipe for destroying American energy
    Want to know whether a candidate is truly supportive of American energy? Here's one simple test: Did they oppose the “Inflation Reduction Act”? If not, then they supported one of the most destructive energy policies in American history. The “Inflation Reduction Act” is a 4-step recipe for destroying American energy…
    Read more
    6 months ago · 69 likes · Alex Epstein
  • Biden’s State of the Union speech threats to “Big Oil” and its “outrageous” profits will only compound one of his biggest energy sins: threatening the fossil fuel industry’s future (with lower profits) and then complaining that they won’t produce more.

  • Biden somehow thought he was reassuring oil companies and Americans by saying “we’re gonna need oil for at least another decade.” But this delusionally short-term view of oil’s future just signals he is going to keep harming the industry.

    Twitter avatar for @townhallcom
    Townhall.com @townhallcom
    Republicans laugh hysterically when Biden says "we're gonna need oil for at least another decade!"
    2:42 AM ∙ Feb 8, 2023
    4,828Likes854Retweets
  • To justify his past and present anti-fossil-fuel policies, Biden claimed—with no evidence—that there is a “climate crisis” that's an “existential threat.” Whereas in reality there is “climate change” but thanks to increasing resilience a rapid decline in climate disaster deaths.

    3

  • Here’s a full explanation of how the false equivalence between “climate change” and “climate crisis” has caused today’s global energy crisis.

    Energy Talking Points by Alex Epstein
    How a fake climate emergency created a real energy emergency
    The false idea that fossil fuels’ climate impacts are an “emergency” that requires us to rapidly eliminate fossil fuels has caused an energy emergency. The “climate emergency” movement must be held accountable. The world is experiencing the worst energy crisis since the 1970s…
    Read more
    6 months ago · 106 likes · 1 comment · Alex Epstein
  • Until Biden and the rest of the anti-fossil-fuel movement are held accountable for causing the global energy crisis, they will continue to compound that crisis by continuing to oppose fossil fuel investment, production, refining, and transport.

  • 3: Biden’s role in the supply chain crisis

    In his State of the Union speech Biden blamed the supply chain crisis on “the pandemic.” But Biden and others bear responsibility for pro-lockdown pandemic policies that caused massive unnecessary damage.

  • The supply chain crisis is caused in part by bad pandemic policies but also by general hostility toward industry, development, and economic freedom by the Biden administration and many other world leaders–hostility that makes it hard for supply chains to recover.

  • For a pro-freedom approach to Covid-19 and other infectious diseases, see this excellent white-paper (which I am proud to have been a contributor to) by philosopher Onkar Ghate of the Ayn Rand Institute.

    https://newideal.aynrand.org/pandemic-response/

  • Summary: President Biden’s State of the Union speech systematically evaded responsibility for the disastrous consequences of the anti-freedom, anti-development, anti-fossil-fuel policies Biden has supported.

    Going forward, we need 1) accountability and 2) alternatives.

  • Those who object to President Biden’s terrible economic policies, especially energy policies, need a positive alternative. I believe the best alternative in the realm of energy is The Energy Freedom Platform.

    Energy Talking Points by Alex Epstein
    The Energy Freedom Platform
    The root of our global energy crisis is Green Energy Fascism—the idea that government should have total control over the energy industry (fascism) used for the “green” goal of rapidly eliminating fossil fuels and nuclear. The solution is Energy Freedom…
    Read more
    8 months ago · 71 likes · 3 comments · Alex Epstein
  • To promote energy freedom, Congress should hold hearings on these 4 (and other) energy-related topics. If any elected officials would like my help on this or any other aspect of promoting energy freedom, send me an email at alex (at) alexepstein (dot) com.

    Energy Talking Points by Alex Epstein
    4 energy hearings the House should hold
    Republicans are promising a pro-energy agenda. Here are 4 essential topics they should take up: 1. Nuclear overregulation 2. Unreliable electricity 3. Lessons of Europe’s energy crisis 4. The “Inflation Reduction Act” disaster Essential hearing 1: How to Decriminalize Nuclear and Unleash its Full Potential…
    Read more
    3 months ago · 69 likes · 4 comments · Alex Epstein

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Twitter avatar for @AlexEpstein
Alex Epstein @AlexEpstein
I can summarize the economic portion of Biden’s SOTU in one word: evasion. President Biden is evading responsibility for the consequences of the anti-freedom, anti-development, anti-fossil-fuel policies he has supported. Things won’t get better until he’s held accountable. 🧵👇
4:15 PM ∙ Feb 8, 2023
839Likes205Retweets

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White House - Remarks of President Joe Biden – State of the Union Address as Prepared for Delivery

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White House - Remarks of President Joe Biden – State of the Union Address as Prepared for Delivery

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UC San Diego - The Keeling Curve

For every million people on earth, annual deaths from climate-related causes (extreme temperature, drought, flood, storms, wildfires) declined 98%–from an average of 247 per year during the 1920s to 2.5 in per year during the 2010s.

Data on disaster deaths come from EM-DAT, CRED / UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium – www.emdat.be (D. Guha-Sapir).

Population estimates for the 1920s from the Maddison Database 2010, the Groningen Growth and Development Centre, Faculty of Economics and Business at University of Groningen. For years not shown, population is assumed to have grown at a steady rate.

Population estimates for the 2010s come from World Bank Data.

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Talking points on Biden's State of the Union 2023

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