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Unrealistic notions surround energy decision-making

Todd Bennington | Kingdom Exploration Media
kingdomexploration.com

As the articles linked to below suggest, there seems to be an increasing tendency for politicians, other decision makers, and even business people to make policies in regard to energy based on what is politically fashionable rather than what would have the most benefit for the majority of people involved.

The solution to all concerns about the detrimental effects of fossil fuels on the environment would obviously be for people to voluntarily return to the modes of living that existed prior to the Industrial Revolution — yet very, very few people seem willing to embark on such a course.

Instead, the wish generally seems to be to enjoy all of the benefits of modern living brought about by fossil fuels whilst trying to throw up obstacles to the industry that provides them.

As a proposed alternative, there’s lots of insubstantial talk of “alternative energy sources,” few of which appear to yet be cost effective or widely available, or else rely on technological innovations that have yet to be fully made.

It would seem that policies based on wishful thinking and idyllic conceptions of pristine nature can only prove at some point disastrous.

https://www.npr.org/2018/02/08/583407248/california-may-have-a-way-to-block-trumps-offshore-drilling-push

https://www.forbes.com/sites/judeclemente/2018/02/08/more-oil-and-natural-gas-invalidate-keep-it-in-the-ground-movement/#22f80311106f

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/07/norways-statoil-ceo-says-energy-transition-is-driving-diversification-away-from-oil-and-gas.html

Tverberg on globalization

Todd Bennington | Kingdom Exploration Media

The below article by Gail Tverberg at Oilprice.com is something of a mixed bag. Doom-and-gloom predictions as to the finite nature of energy resources should probably be taken with a grain of salt. Still, it contains some salient truths regarding globalization that most major media sources are reticent to discuss. These include the fact that unrestrained immigration leads to lower wages for the working class, the tendency for developed countries to lose jobs to newly globalized developing countries with lower environmental and labor standards, and that the election of leaders with a nationalist orientation like Trump are the natural reaction of the electorate to the problems inherent in globalization.

The globalization process is typically presented in journalistic and academic settings as a problematic but ultimately inevitable result of market economics and technological developments. However, it’s arguably actually an ideology driven by the policy decisions of those who stand to benefit from it.

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/How-Globalization-Will-Create-An-Energy-Crisis.html