Economist Friedrich Hayek (1899-1992) dedicated “The Road to Serfdom” to the “socialists of both parties.” Our so-called federal energy policy should be likewise dedicated. Albeit Hayek’s initial audience was a post-World War II Britain teetering on the verge of another European experiment in full blown socialism, his lessons should be heeded by 21st century American energy policymakers.
Enter the condemned incandescent light bulb, the caricature for modern U.S. energy policy. Hayek would not be shocked since he knew and understood the socialist heart and the forces that drive a society to socialism—down the road to serfdom.
But first, who are the “socialists of both parties” in America? Well, I say if the shoe fits, wear it!
More importantly, who are the champions for freedom, and will they prevail? One freedom lover is Freshman U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) who filed the “Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act” with the in-your-face audacity that inspires freedom lovers everywhere. Proposing “pro-choice” in lighting, Bachmann’s bill calls for rolling back the incandescent light bulb ban contained in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. She will face not only a formidable environmental zealotry, but an electrical industry poised to make unprecedented profits from the “greening” of America, and the world.
But considering our energy policies, are we already a nation of serfs? Are we mesmerized by the socialists in both major political parties who pessimistically foresee the future as bleak and foreboding where “sacrifices” to stem energy consumption will be both necessary and honorable? The eventual per capita rationing of energy, though not yet widely articulated, is implicit in the accepted concept of “cap and trade” as this rationing theory with a market twist works its way down from industry level to individualized application.
Yet, these same federal policymakers, including all major presidential candidates, will do nothing to open federal energy reserves in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) much less press the states to open their energy reserves. All this serves the socialists’ interest in assuring us a future with less energy where only the government knows the best per capita energy consumption for each citizen (or “serf”).
For example, just last week energy exploration companies bid a record $3.67 billion to lease federal offshore drilling rights in the Gulf of Mexico. Yet, due to pressure from Florida lawmakers, Congress keeps huge oil and natural gas reserves in the eastern Gulf completely off limits to exploration. Considering that 30 percent of Florida’s electricity comes from natural gas (and that is expected to rise to almost 50 percent in ten years) it is time for Florida to join the other Gulf coast states in contributing to our nation’s energy portfolio.
In 1981, the Outer Continental Shelf drilling moratorium may have made sense. But with today’s technology and gasoline prices pushing $4 per gallon, a policy prohibiting exploration in 80 percent of the offshore acreage beneath federal waters off the coasts of the lower 48 states is only consistent with a federal policy purposefully aimed at setting the stage for energy rationing.
It is encouraging that some Virginia policymakers are warming to the idea of offshore oil exploration; however, Virginia officials make it is almost impossible to mine the vast deposits of uranium located there, putting America at the mercy of foreign nuclear fuel.
And a book could be written on how government is keeping a 100 year supply of coal and coal-based products out of the reach of an energy hungry America.
It seems it is now up to those of us who refuse to travel the road to serfdom to support policymakers like Rep. Bachmann. Bachmann, and others like her, are full of hope and optimism for a brighter future through free markets allocating scare resources with efficiency that socialism can never achieve. The lowly incandescent may go by the wayside, but “appliance efficiency” should be at the hands of the free market, not those who wish to lord over us. |