The Steven Colbert School of Logic

 

Recently, late night talk show host and certified out-of-touch elitist, Steven Colbert, announced on air that he didn’t mind paying a higher price for gas here in the United States because it somehow soothed his conscience.  He went on to say that he wouldn’t mind if gas prices went up to $15 a gallon because he drove a $200,000 Tesla, and why doesn’t everyone?  Since Colbert made that statement, I’ve actually heard some of my friends echo that sentiment suggesting that we should all stop “bitching” about high gas prices here because people are being killed in Ukraine.  Most of the people using this line of reasoning and pretty well off (Colbert has a net worth of $75 million) so high gas prices really don’t affect them.  Many Americans of more modest means, however, will have to make some tough choices as they watch their gas and heating oil costs double in just a year’s time.  They will be choosing between gas and food or insurance or doctor visits.  They will not be out pricing Teslas as a solution to their problem.

While I and most Americans are appalled with the senseless slaughter of civilian Ukrainian life by the madman who is running Russia, we all need to take a step back and consider what things we can do here that will actually make a difference over there.  I can guarantee you, however, that paying a higher price for gasoline in The United States will NOT save a single life in Ukraine.  If fact, higher global oil prices will only intensify or prolong the assault on Ukraine because it is oil revenues that are financing Putin’s war. 

So, someone please tell Steven Colbert’s conscience that it is not off the hook, and in fact has some damage control to do.  If Steven Colbert and anyone here in the United States wants to help the people of Ukraine, the first thing you can do is send money to one of the hundreds of organizations, including the Ukrainian Red Cross, who are actively supporting Ukrainian women and children who are trying to flee that country.  I would hope that Mr. Colbert is using some of his $15 million annual salary and $75 million net worth to support some of those groups.  And I hope it’s not with a $100 check, lest his conscience should not be soothed.

The other thing you and I can do is to write our Congress people and ask them to stop the war on the oil and gas industry here in the United States.  We should also vote for candidates who align with that position.  The war here in the US has not only NOT prevented the assault on Ukraine, but it has undoubtedly contributed to it.  Stifling our gas and oil companies will also not develop renewable energy here in America or around the world any faster.  Again, it may even delay it.  What we need is an “all of the above” energy strategy.  

I do believe in developing renewable energy.  It was Thomas Edison who said, “I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy.”  That’s probably because Edison knew that the sun puts down more energy on this planet in an hour than we on earth consume in a year.  The power of the sun is amazing and I’m confident that it is the long-term solution to our energy needs, but that solution is not ready now.  Today, solar power only supplies about 1% of our energy needs here in the US, and that’s because we simply have not figured out how to capture and store that energy efficiently.  I’m confident that we will eventually figure out how to harness the energy of the sun, but considering where we are now, that time will not come for decades and it may even take 50 to 100 years.

But destroying our existing energy industry now, will not develop that capability any faster.  The Biden administration is strangling oil and gas production here through regulations and restrictions which is driving up those prices here and around the world, and those higher prices don’t help anyone.  He should be encouraging the development of all energy sources and allow the free market to transition to renewable energy sources through research and investment as that capability becomes efficient and affordable.  

The first gas powered car was invented in 1881, but then President Chester A. Arthur did not sign an executive order to kill all the horses in the country so that we could develop the car industry faster.  In fact, if President Arthur had made such an idiotic move, it would have caused extreme pain for the entire United States and actually delayed the progress of the auto industry. But that is exactly what we are doing today as this administration punishes the oil and gas industries in the US and suggesting that it can be replaced by wind and solar, etc.  That is ridiculous and delusional.

The point is, we cannot let our unscrupulous politicians sell us absurd concepts just by appealing to our compassionate natures, or unwarranted fear (paranoia).  High gas prices in the United States and the world with not save a single life in Ukraine.  In fact, high energy prices will probably make things better for Putin and worse for Ukraine.  Likewise, punishing and restricting our oil and gas industry in the US will not develop renewable energy any faster.  In fact, it will probably delay it.  What we need is an “all of the above” energy strategy now, and probably forever.  Drill and pump today, taking advantage of our massive resources while we research and develop alternative sources of energy so that we can transition to them when they become feasible in the future.