There are a few rhetorical talking points to cover.
This is not about energy prices. The USA has this chronic ability to complain that when government does WHAT IS HAS TO DO and in this case a climate emergency because of global warming (manmade or not, everything contributes and humanS have control over their part of the problem). But, there is this chronic bemoaning of money that precedes DOING THE RIGHT THING when it comes to regulation, especially with the oil tycoons.
To be noted, I am sure I'll have complaints about what the regulations are and I fully expect many others will because the wealth merchants are always somewhat accommodated for political purposes. So, consider this the first round.
But, the chronic bellyaching comes from the Reagan Wall Street cronies and politicians that can't stand having their nickels pinched. They don't use pennies anymore, did you know that? The penny pincher are left to the Poor and Middle Class in the USA.
The Reagan Plutocrats and their politicians always say, the costs of regulation are going to be passed on to the consumers and it is the prime reason not to carry out any regulation. In the case of global warming, the cost is being carried to the American taxpayer at all levels and devastating personal wealth, the American Dream and upward movement. Any cost of regulating Greenhouse Gases and the cause of human induced global warming will actually RETURN MONEY TO THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER for ever dollar of regulation levied.
Now, about this energy cost myth. Energy costs are set by capitalism and so called free market economy. The cost of regulation is suppose to increase those prices.
Winter 2013 and 2014.
What happened to the 'cheap fuel' of natural gas?
I especially like that line under "Residential Price" stating percentage of "Total Residential Deliveries included in Prices." From October 2013 to March 2014 there were no less than 95 percent of consumers using natural gas included in the price of the product. That means nearly everyone saw their disposable income disappear and/or the grocery bill become a daunting task.
Right now, all those people who have and/or converted to natural gas because it was the 'cheap' fuel rather than making the leap to alternative sources are sorry they never made the jump to hyperspace. Why? Because the cost of solar and wind didn't change one penny. As a matter of fact this climate produces so much wind energy it can be sold back to the power company to pay the food bill and/or the mortgage and/or the loan on the new car.
Now, who is living a better QUALITY OF LIFE today? The people with alternative fuels subscribing to every ball game ticket they can attend or the fools that actually bought into the petroleum commercials with that woman stating there are all kinds of good reasons for natural gas to cause water and air pollution?
Money talks and people fall into those traps and their right wing legislators will not move away from their crony political contributions. Americans caught in the trap should not feel bad at all. They were crowded into those decisions by a lot of people and that decision carried bias, both profiteer's bias and political bias. Should government be in the energy business causing bias to consumers?
So, let's get right down to it. The free market system caused the jump in natural gas prices since capitalism demands prices to increase when there is a higher demand. There was a Polar Vortex that came to visit because of human induced global warming. It displaced all that frigid air normally found at the north pole down to lower latitudes because there was no longer enough Arctic Ocean ice to support the vortex over the Arctic Ocean which means the oceans keep getting warmer and the Polar Vortex no longer behaves itself. Everyone was warned beginning most verbally in the 1960s. The cost of natural gas went up because the demand went up and sustained. There were some areas of the country where space heaters could not be found, UGG boots were in demand, thermostats were between 55 and 60 during daytime hours, water faucets were left open to prevent household pipes from freezing, people did die and consumers were told they are only getting half their normal delivery because there just isn't enough to go around.
The answer to all this suffering belongs squarely on the shoulders of the petroleum industry, their government subsidies and the politicians willing and at the ready to conduct corrupt legislation to benefit those corporations rather than protect the American people. What will the petroleum industry say? "Drill, babe, drill."
Really?
