US Democrats are engaging in epic denial on oil and gasoline prices
US Democrats are engaging in epic denial on oil and gasoline prices
Politicians around the world, including US Democrats, have opposed and threatened the oil and gas industry's existence. Now they are denying responsibility for the consequences: higher 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.
For 15+ years Democratic politicians, including Joe Biden, have relentlessly attacked oil investment, oil production, and oil transport—leading to higher prices and lower security.
Instead of taking credit for their “success,” they are denying that they are anti-fossil fuels!1
The “business decisions” denial tactic
For 15+ years Democratic politicians have pushed everything they can to threaten new oil production: net-zero, ESG, proposed bans, etc.
Now they are blaming companies for “business decisions” to refrain from threatened oil production!2
The “windfall profits” denial tactic
For 15+ years Democratic politicians have done everything they can to make new oil production unprofitable—leading to less investment.
Now they are condemning companies for not investing enough “windfall profits”!3
The “9000 leases” denial tactic
For 15+ years Dem politicians have driven up oil prices by delaying/destroying countless economically viable oil projects.
To deny responsibility they are attacking companies for not developing 9000 leases the companies judge to be economically nonviable.4
The “price gouging” denial tactic
For 15+ years Democratic politicians have driven up oil prices by attacking oil investment, oil production, and oil transport.
To deny responsibility they are calling for yet another worthless “price gouging” investigation.5
The energy crisis is simple.
Politicians around the world, including US Democrats, have restricted fossil fuel investment/production/transport on the false promise of replacement by unreliable solar/wind.
The result: higher prices and lower security.
Anti-fossil fuel politicians, please stop the denial.
“Energy Talking Points by Alex Epstein” is my free Substack newsletter designed to give as many people as possible access to concise, powerful, well-referenced talking points on the latest energy, environmental, and climate issues from a pro-human, pro-energy perspective.
Reminder: Preorder Fossil Future and get access to my 90-minute conversation with Peter Thiel and Palmer Luckey.
Very soon I will be doing a Fossil Future book launch event with Peter Thiel (cofounder of PayPal and Palantir) and Palmer Luckey (founder of Oculus VR and Anduril) on the future of energy, energy security, and freedom. The recording of this event, which I expect to be available mid-May, will be available for free as a bonus for preordering Fossil Future. So if you haven’t preordered Fossil Future yet, you have another reason to do so. (You’ll also get a 6-month premium subscription to this newsletter, my “Alex Notes” summary of Fossil Future, and access to an exclusive live online event: “How to Talk to Anyone About Climate.”
Preorder here.
PS If you like Twitter, please reply to, retweet, quote-tweet my thread based on this article.
Popular links
EnergyTalkingPoints.com: Hundreds of concise, powerful, well-referenced talking points on energy, environmental, and climate issues.
My books: The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels and Fossil Future (comes out 5/24/22).