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On "Why Decreasing Our Energy Use Is The Most Patriotic Thing We Can Do."

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This entry was posted on 10/29/2007 2:57 PM and is filed under Politics, Global.

Just last week, I reported that oil was heading up towards $100 a gallon(while Dumbledore got most of the attention by being gay. Sometimes we, the people, pay attention to the dumbledorest shit.)
 
Now, with a King Learesque mania, the drumbeat of war is playing. The US is imposing harsher sanctions on Iran. The small, revolutionary faction of nutjobs (running the most cosmopolitan, educated and modern culture in the Middle East outside of Israel) are pumping up their bluster. The Holy Land is stopping fuel shipments to the Gaza Strip (because we've apparently had too much peace in the Middle East for what? A week? Three hours?)

What in tarnation is going on? Did everyone eat their Crazy Flakes for breakfast?

Here's the thing: a US or Israeli strike/invasion/expansion of the mess south of the border will almost certainly raise oil prices through the roof. Like to $150 a gallon or some other, insane number. Simultaneously, the only way to truly 'take out' Iran is by removing the oil wealth from the current regime (kinda sounds like the second verse in the Iraq adventure, eh?) We've now seen just how pesky the whole proposition is...and this is from a less prideful and nationalistic country. 

You know, I wrote about this earlier in the year.  At that time, I was looking for a long-term solution to the situation. To remove Iran's support of terrorist regimes, you remove the cash that keeps funding them (oil, in case you haven't been paying attention.) But I was thinking along the lines of a five-year plan...or a ten-year plan where the dependent countries cut their usage of black crude back via renewables, sacrifice and alternative energy sources. If less people want the oil, the price drops and the regimes built on the back of oil have less leverage and funds with which to spread their influence. Don't get me wrong: not all countries with an oil base will be hurt by the price drop. Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in secondary industry "opening up" their economy if not their culture. Dubai and the other Emirates have done the same. Iran hasn't. Oil prices being high breeds wealth...but Iran has chosen to fund shadow armies against the West (to be fair...Iran's unelected leadership has chosen this. I'm pretty sure the peeps on the ground would like something different.) What happens when the funds get cut-off?

That was the whole point of the other piece. Wean us down off oil and cut off their supplies. That way, if Iran threatens somebody, we, the people have actual power in the situation. We can effectively 'North Korea' that country until they bend to our will.

But this way is just batshit insane! Oil is headed past $100. That's a given at this point. If we're at 'peak oil,' if we're approaching 'peak oil,' or if it's just a case of too much instability in the world...or too many people wanting the oil now...it doesn't matter. Attacking Iran will only increase this problem...even if we 'take them out.'

Why is this bad? Well, the countries that are now competing for the oil, countries just beginning to realize their modern potential (for better or worse,) will be pushed off. Let me put it another way: peaceful, growing India can't afford $150 a barrel oil. Neither can China. And while America, Europe and Japan kinda-sorta can, imagine what a hit that will be.

And not just to us. We, the people may consume less lead-filled Barbies...and if we buy less of them, the economy of China utterly collapses. That's a real fact: most of the rest of the world is dependent on our consumerism. We buy less Kias, and South Koreans eat less rice. 

Maybe that's the plan (I may be giving Bush & Co. too much credit. A plan? Huh?) To knock down the developing world back into the Third. But really...isn't that worse in the long term? Look, I'm not a fan of China proving that totalitarianism and capitalism can and do work hand-in-hand, but I'd rather deal with an educated, intelligent China in the future than the zealots that emerged hungry and stupid after The Great Leap Forward. I'd much prefer a world diluted in culture by McDonalds and Wal-Marts if the benefit is a world of much more equal parity. This all starts with the big dog (that would be us,) taking the lead and dramatically decreasing our fossil fuel use. And showing our allies in the world how to do the same.

Moreover, decreasing our fossil fuel useage sends a clear message to the current administration and his followers bastardizing the Republican Party. Get. A. Grip. If we're such  great country, such an example...then we, the people need to lead us down a path of reason and sense, not power and bluster. Imagine if we cut our energy use by 5% a year for the next 10 years (or in half in 10.) Imagine the power we'd actually have in the Middle East...to not be scared by oil spikes and other such nonsense. 

This isn't a remote possibility, either. We have in our power right now...today, cars that average 35-45 miles to the gallon (and not just hybrids.) What if all of us drove one of those, instead of the Buffet-monster-truckUV? I'm not even talking about the dreaded, liberal environment here. You want to cut off funding to terrorist groups supported by Iran's oil money? Buy less damn oil! Buy a damn Toyota Yaris or Honda Fit or Ford Focus! Wear a sweater in the winter or sweat a little in the summer, but turn down the damn A/C!

There's a myth that's keeping we, the people from doing this...and that would be the vaunted American Way of Life. But really...that two-car garaged tract house version is merely a recent invention. Prior to WWII, the American Way of Life was to be free! It may have been framed in 'Industrial Revolution' drag, or 'Pioneers killing the Indians' drag, or 'No Taxes from the English' drag...but the dream was freedom!
 
So let's get free from our dependence of countries that have no appreciation for freedom...and let's put the cheap motoring society in its place. Remember that it's merely clothing on the body politic composed of we, the people. We, the people, have outgrown the fabric. It's time to sew anew.
     

 
 

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