Thank you once again for your thoughtful comments. My take: If stopping Putin’s slaughter of innocent citizens in Ukraine requires that the West stop buying Russian old and gas, then we have a moral obligation to do so.
It’s also in our own interest. If Putin is victorious in Ukraine, all other nations bordering Russia, whether NATO members or not (Finland, Sweden, and Japan, for example) would be endangered. And we would have been complicit in cowing to a strongman who is contemptuous of democracy and the rule of law -- and encouraging other similar strongmen around the world (including our homegrown Donald Trump).
The third reason we must stop oil and gas purchases is that our planet is only one small step away from destruction by CO2 emissions. We should use this crisis to permanently wean ourselves off oil and gas, and shift to renewable sources of energy.
But what about the costs? I suggest we remind ourselves of how we dealt with the sacrifices entailed in World War 2. Then, we rationed scarce supplies. It wasn’t a perfect system, but it did spread the sacrifices over many, regardless of wealth. We also used price controls. And we encouraged countless small ways to save money, such as “victory gardens.”
The point is we are in two wars right now, both embodied by Russian oil and gas – a war to preserve democracy and liberty, and a war to save the planet. Either would justify much sacrifice to win. Together, they represent the great moral and political test of our time.
Disclaimer: I am no policy analyst, nor speculative commodities trader, nor so well off that future price surges can be met with my same recent shrug at the pump (still driving a hybrid for lack of electric vehicle option for our still car centric location).
It is truly galling every time a US news reporter tries to assert the fatigue of the American public re: Covid-19 pandemic. Whether they say it is because of mask recommendations or distancing protocols they rarely center the idea that we are really in a battle to save each other’s lives. In reality we are (seemingly) sleepwalking into battle to save our democracy and the real freedoms threatened by authoritarians who are all too eager to sweep everything away.
In the face of Ukrainian sacrifice and fascistic Russian aggression / crimes against humanity, how do we dare continue to fund the enemy while simultaneously helping resupply Ukraine? How do we tolerate domestic BigOil profiteering or Putin apologists like my senators as they ignorantly demand Biden produce more gas and oil?
Pain now or even more unmitigated pain later? … when we’ll have no chance of recouping the lost investment alternatives that today’s greener choices could have met?
This is the full failure of our PDA/SM/entertainment culture … and the attendant self-focused leadership in many in executive roles of government and business who seem smitten with easy kleptocracy.
We have to bite the bullet. We must not allow the fear of less oil to give licence for more drilling, and we must stop financing this bloody war/ genocide. Sadly, if climate realists had been listened to twenty years ago, or less, we would not have been so dependent. Unfortunately, Germany's promotion of good relations with Putin, the Nordstrom pipeline project and enormous reliance on their fuel has put it in a particularly vulnerable position. We in Europe must support Germany to mitigate the effect of a cut off, but it will be hard to get agreement from all countries, especially Hungary, which finds itself caught between two stools. America must help, too. Is petrol (gas) rationing so far-fetched? Simple to apply quickly, substantial effect immediately.
I realise that the political landscape of the mid-terms is an issue, but I think perhaps playing hardball will appeal to (nearly) all factions
Friends, Here's my take: If stopping Putin’s slaughter of innocent citizens in Ukraine requires that the West stop buying Russian old and gas, then we have a moral obligation to stop.
It’s also in our own interest. If Putin is victorious in Ukraine, all other nations bordering Russia, whether NATO members or not (Finland, Sweden, and Japan, for example) would be endangered. And we would have been complicit in cowing to a strongman who is contemptuous of democracy and the rule of law -- and encouraging other similar strongmen around the world (including our homegrown Donald Trump).
The third reason we must stop oil and gas purchases is that our planet is only one small step away from destruction by CO2 emissions. We should use this crisis to permanently wean ourselves off oil and gas, and shift to renewable sources of energy.
But what about the costs? I think it important to remind ourselves how we dealt with the sacrifices entailed in World War 2. Then, we rationed scarce supplies. It wasn’t a perfect system, but it did spread the sacrifices over many, regardless of wealth. We also used price controls. And we encouraged countless small ways to save money, such as “victory gardens.”
The point is we are in two wars right now, both embodied by Russian oil and gas – a war to preserve democracy and liberty, and a war to save the planet. Either would justify profound sacrifices on our parts. Together, they represent the great moral and political test of our time.
If this is what it takes to stop Putin, let's do it. Most drivers talk or complain about energy independence while continuing to seek, buy and drive SUVs and giant pickups. I was shocked to learn the price of a 3/4-ton Chevy Silvarado with crew cab, diesel and Chrome for just over $85K! They go higher I'm told. "For what do you need it?" I asked. "To tow my boat." was my neighbor's answer! This is not a commercial fisherman; a retiree at best with the benefit of the doubt that he can have enough fairly calm days to get out of our inlets on Florida's Trasure Coast. The wind hasn't stopped blowing under 25 knots for over a week now and is typical much of time and I can't imagine the need for towing a big boat for use on our inland waterways and lakes. So just like the soccer moms with their full-sized SUVs, most times it's used for going to the store for milk! I'm talking at best 20 mpg around town. Me? Unless for my construction business and one personal vehicle in 1973, all others got 30-40 mpg and when the Arab Oil Embargo hit I learned my lesson forever-low fuel consumption and sold that `73 guzzler. It was a lemon anyway. I now drive an EV but retired on relatively fixed income and higher oil and gas prices will cost me and everyone else for goods and the small amount of electricity for my EV. If my neighbor will trade that truck for a Tesla he will pay about the same price but must be careful not to yank the trailer from under the boat at the ramp. I quit owning a "hole in the ocean to throw money into called a boat" and paddle fish in my kayak, thereby saving the environment. And i paid about $40K for the EV Bolt, also a Chevrolet. WE CAN DO THIS, if we want.
This crisis offers a real opportunity to finally put all our resources, brainpower and urgency behind the push for sustainable energy. It's about time.
Not only is eliminating Russian oil the right thing to do to hurry up the finish to Putin's war but think about the enormous contribution it would make to reducing global CO2 emissions. Yes, we need to do this regardless of the costs. Huge payoff!
This echo chamber of like minded folks is heartening in one way, that being the near universal agreement that, yes, this must be done. There is even the occasional reference to what I call the "fly in the ointment." That is, of course, the lobbying and arm twisting and purchasing of our "elected" officials, mostly R but certainly not all (see Joe Manchin's coal purchased yacht!) who feed at the trough of the extraction industry. These folks will pay for ads and do what ever they can to make the case for more drilling and digging and burning of carbon based fuels. The large number of our fellow citizens who will scream "drill, baby, drill" like Sarah Palin, would not fit well in this list of citizens who look to the big picture and see the need to do what we should have been doing for at least 20 years! The big question to me is, how do we convince those folks, many of whom live on the edge of poverty, that they must suffer the consequences of higher gas prices while Zuckerberg, Musk, Buffet, Bloomberg and Bezos make out like bandits? That is a hard sell, and you can bet that my senators, plus Cruz, Cotton, Hawley et. al. will bray loudly that we must not sacrifice our economy at the alter of "alternative (renewable!) energy!" I can afford to, and would gladly pay more, if/when we stop buying Russian oil/gas. Excuse my cynicism, but I think Mitch McConnell will create road blocks so we need to be ready with an answer. I don't have it and I fear not enough citizens listen to, and believe, Dr. Reich's warning. Having said that, I also believe we must keep trying. It won't be easy!
I think we must cut off our purchases of oil & gas from Russia (I’d thought we’d already done that). But it will also help the environment! We have to stop consuming fossil fuels as fast as humanly possible.
It's remarkable how little mention is made of poor people barely getting by, having to drive 2 hrs to work to feed their children, not affording already expensive food, or sick and unable to work -- or shelter programs that will no longer be able to afford to shelter homeless -- or numbers of homeless people that will drastically increase. All so that our egos can preserve some false concept that we are a "civilized" society, when we are not. If we were, we wouldn't have our own oligarchs taking money from homeless. There's one, simple, "humane" (as we label it for pets) solution. That might not be the answer, but when we make heros out of some people with guns, or at least let them go without punishment, it seems we really should have a frank discussion to examine the hypocrisy within our own "moral" stands before comfortable "livingroom ethicists" so easily sentence so many to starve, freeze, and die. An appalling suggestion, no doubt, but maybe because we live immersed in our own fairytale propaganda
Eventually, the world supply of oil and gas will be completely exhausted and/or it will be too costly to keep drilling for such fossil fuels and/or the planet will be permanently damaged and destroyed. We will have achieved nothing in the end but we will have brought misery to everyone world-wide. This will be the end result of clinging on to a technology that dates back to the late 19th century/early 20th century. Since this is what is going to happen eventually, we would do well to act now while we can still do something to save our planet AND help the Ukrainians and those bordering the rogue Russian state and Putin. It seems to me that the Ukrainians led by Zelenskyy have demonstrated a kind of defense for democracy that we have not shown in many years. They are keen on standing on their own, dealing with their national challenges, and joining the Western economic and political alliances. If we just consider a complete oil and gas embargo against Russia as the most effective and immediate way to end the carnage and genocide being perpetrated against Ukraine, we should opt for that. It is taking a toll everywhere in the world,, among all freedom loving people (a group to which the USA once belonged before greed and power did us in). Yes, we need to act to save Ukraine and, ultimately, to save ourselves and our planet.
So much is at stake. The upcoming midterm election is critical to the continuation of democracy in the US. Too much economic pain will undoubtedly send droves of republicans into office and create a potential crisis in the US. Then we must consider the fate of the people of Ukraine. How can we claim to be a civilized society and watch the atrocities occurring to their people? Perhaps the time for economic sanctions is over and direct military conflict with Russia is the only answer. Putin will not stop, period. Is NATO really going to engage Russia is it attacks say Poland? Are we not just sacrificing living in Ukraine for the inevitable conflict that awaits. “Peace in our time,” I think we all remember that fleeting moment. Putin is a Hitler and there is really only one way to stop him. Blunt force, and sooner rather than later. As much as I am a pacifist is there really any other way to stop his endless brutality?
We absolutely must cut our energy use. For Russia, but also for climate change. It is high time we start distinguishing necessary uses of energy from frivolous ones. We need oil and gas for heating homes in winter and cooling some places in extreme heat. But we don't need to cool stores to freezing temperatures while keeping doors wide open when it is pleasant outside, and we don't need to use massive landscaping equipment to blow around a few leaves and mow grass that has barely grown. We can figure out transportation to reduce gas use and invest wisely in renewables, community solar, etc. Most cars are way too big. We must use our energy much more carefully and thoughtfully. Because of Russia, and also for many other existential reasons.
I am for supporting Ukraine and cutting off Russia energy supplies more, but we need a clear metric. We would need to tell Americans (and show the world) that we will tolerate a value of gas/oil if a specific value (75%) of extra sacrifice goes directly to aid, absolutely. It would need strong government regulation and audits with consequences to companies using for more profit siphoning. We can sacrifice, but EU must be onboard equal or more. Last major selling point is its saving planet too, over long term. A must already.
Thank you once again for your thoughtful comments. My take: If stopping Putin’s slaughter of innocent citizens in Ukraine requires that the West stop buying Russian old and gas, then we have a moral obligation to do so.
It’s also in our own interest. If Putin is victorious in Ukraine, all other nations bordering Russia, whether NATO members or not (Finland, Sweden, and Japan, for example) would be endangered. And we would have been complicit in cowing to a strongman who is contemptuous of democracy and the rule of law -- and encouraging other similar strongmen around the world (including our homegrown Donald Trump).
The third reason we must stop oil and gas purchases is that our planet is only one small step away from destruction by CO2 emissions. We should use this crisis to permanently wean ourselves off oil and gas, and shift to renewable sources of energy.
But what about the costs? I suggest we remind ourselves of how we dealt with the sacrifices entailed in World War 2. Then, we rationed scarce supplies. It wasn’t a perfect system, but it did spread the sacrifices over many, regardless of wealth. We also used price controls. And we encouraged countless small ways to save money, such as “victory gardens.”
The point is we are in two wars right now, both embodied by Russian oil and gas – a war to preserve democracy and liberty, and a war to save the planet. Either would justify much sacrifice to win. Together, they represent the great moral and political test of our time.
Robert, I believe it is time.
Disclaimer: I am no policy analyst, nor speculative commodities trader, nor so well off that future price surges can be met with my same recent shrug at the pump (still driving a hybrid for lack of electric vehicle option for our still car centric location).
It is truly galling every time a US news reporter tries to assert the fatigue of the American public re: Covid-19 pandemic. Whether they say it is because of mask recommendations or distancing protocols they rarely center the idea that we are really in a battle to save each other’s lives. In reality we are (seemingly) sleepwalking into battle to save our democracy and the real freedoms threatened by authoritarians who are all too eager to sweep everything away.
In the face of Ukrainian sacrifice and fascistic Russian aggression / crimes against humanity, how do we dare continue to fund the enemy while simultaneously helping resupply Ukraine? How do we tolerate domestic BigOil profiteering or Putin apologists like my senators as they ignorantly demand Biden produce more gas and oil?
Pain now or even more unmitigated pain later? … when we’ll have no chance of recouping the lost investment alternatives that today’s greener choices could have met?
This is the full failure of our PDA/SM/entertainment culture … and the attendant self-focused leadership in many in executive roles of government and business who seem smitten with easy kleptocracy.
We have to bite the bullet. We must not allow the fear of less oil to give licence for more drilling, and we must stop financing this bloody war/ genocide. Sadly, if climate realists had been listened to twenty years ago, or less, we would not have been so dependent. Unfortunately, Germany's promotion of good relations with Putin, the Nordstrom pipeline project and enormous reliance on their fuel has put it in a particularly vulnerable position. We in Europe must support Germany to mitigate the effect of a cut off, but it will be hard to get agreement from all countries, especially Hungary, which finds itself caught between two stools. America must help, too. Is petrol (gas) rationing so far-fetched? Simple to apply quickly, substantial effect immediately.
I realise that the political landscape of the mid-terms is an issue, but I think perhaps playing hardball will appeal to (nearly) all factions
Friends, Here's my take: If stopping Putin’s slaughter of innocent citizens in Ukraine requires that the West stop buying Russian old and gas, then we have a moral obligation to stop.
It’s also in our own interest. If Putin is victorious in Ukraine, all other nations bordering Russia, whether NATO members or not (Finland, Sweden, and Japan, for example) would be endangered. And we would have been complicit in cowing to a strongman who is contemptuous of democracy and the rule of law -- and encouraging other similar strongmen around the world (including our homegrown Donald Trump).
The third reason we must stop oil and gas purchases is that our planet is only one small step away from destruction by CO2 emissions. We should use this crisis to permanently wean ourselves off oil and gas, and shift to renewable sources of energy.
But what about the costs? I think it important to remind ourselves how we dealt with the sacrifices entailed in World War 2. Then, we rationed scarce supplies. It wasn’t a perfect system, but it did spread the sacrifices over many, regardless of wealth. We also used price controls. And we encouraged countless small ways to save money, such as “victory gardens.”
The point is we are in two wars right now, both embodied by Russian oil and gas – a war to preserve democracy and liberty, and a war to save the planet. Either would justify profound sacrifices on our parts. Together, they represent the great moral and political test of our time.
If this is what it takes to stop Putin, let's do it. Most drivers talk or complain about energy independence while continuing to seek, buy and drive SUVs and giant pickups. I was shocked to learn the price of a 3/4-ton Chevy Silvarado with crew cab, diesel and Chrome for just over $85K! They go higher I'm told. "For what do you need it?" I asked. "To tow my boat." was my neighbor's answer! This is not a commercial fisherman; a retiree at best with the benefit of the doubt that he can have enough fairly calm days to get out of our inlets on Florida's Trasure Coast. The wind hasn't stopped blowing under 25 knots for over a week now and is typical much of time and I can't imagine the need for towing a big boat for use on our inland waterways and lakes. So just like the soccer moms with their full-sized SUVs, most times it's used for going to the store for milk! I'm talking at best 20 mpg around town. Me? Unless for my construction business and one personal vehicle in 1973, all others got 30-40 mpg and when the Arab Oil Embargo hit I learned my lesson forever-low fuel consumption and sold that `73 guzzler. It was a lemon anyway. I now drive an EV but retired on relatively fixed income and higher oil and gas prices will cost me and everyone else for goods and the small amount of electricity for my EV. If my neighbor will trade that truck for a Tesla he will pay about the same price but must be careful not to yank the trailer from under the boat at the ramp. I quit owning a "hole in the ocean to throw money into called a boat" and paddle fish in my kayak, thereby saving the environment. And i paid about $40K for the EV Bolt, also a Chevrolet. WE CAN DO THIS, if we want.
This crisis offers a real opportunity to finally put all our resources, brainpower and urgency behind the push for sustainable energy. It's about time.
Not only is eliminating Russian oil the right thing to do to hurry up the finish to Putin's war but think about the enormous contribution it would make to reducing global CO2 emissions. Yes, we need to do this regardless of the costs. Huge payoff!
This echo chamber of like minded folks is heartening in one way, that being the near universal agreement that, yes, this must be done. There is even the occasional reference to what I call the "fly in the ointment." That is, of course, the lobbying and arm twisting and purchasing of our "elected" officials, mostly R but certainly not all (see Joe Manchin's coal purchased yacht!) who feed at the trough of the extraction industry. These folks will pay for ads and do what ever they can to make the case for more drilling and digging and burning of carbon based fuels. The large number of our fellow citizens who will scream "drill, baby, drill" like Sarah Palin, would not fit well in this list of citizens who look to the big picture and see the need to do what we should have been doing for at least 20 years! The big question to me is, how do we convince those folks, many of whom live on the edge of poverty, that they must suffer the consequences of higher gas prices while Zuckerberg, Musk, Buffet, Bloomberg and Bezos make out like bandits? That is a hard sell, and you can bet that my senators, plus Cruz, Cotton, Hawley et. al. will bray loudly that we must not sacrifice our economy at the alter of "alternative (renewable!) energy!" I can afford to, and would gladly pay more, if/when we stop buying Russian oil/gas. Excuse my cynicism, but I think Mitch McConnell will create road blocks so we need to be ready with an answer. I don't have it and I fear not enough citizens listen to, and believe, Dr. Reich's warning. Having said that, I also believe we must keep trying. It won't be easy!
I’m writing this from my home in New York City.
I think we must cut off our purchases of oil & gas from Russia (I’d thought we’d already done that). But it will also help the environment! We have to stop consuming fossil fuels as fast as humanly possible.
It's remarkable how little mention is made of poor people barely getting by, having to drive 2 hrs to work to feed their children, not affording already expensive food, or sick and unable to work -- or shelter programs that will no longer be able to afford to shelter homeless -- or numbers of homeless people that will drastically increase. All so that our egos can preserve some false concept that we are a "civilized" society, when we are not. If we were, we wouldn't have our own oligarchs taking money from homeless. There's one, simple, "humane" (as we label it for pets) solution. That might not be the answer, but when we make heros out of some people with guns, or at least let them go without punishment, it seems we really should have a frank discussion to examine the hypocrisy within our own "moral" stands before comfortable "livingroom ethicists" so easily sentence so many to starve, freeze, and die. An appalling suggestion, no doubt, but maybe because we live immersed in our own fairytale propaganda
Eventually, the world supply of oil and gas will be completely exhausted and/or it will be too costly to keep drilling for such fossil fuels and/or the planet will be permanently damaged and destroyed. We will have achieved nothing in the end but we will have brought misery to everyone world-wide. This will be the end result of clinging on to a technology that dates back to the late 19th century/early 20th century. Since this is what is going to happen eventually, we would do well to act now while we can still do something to save our planet AND help the Ukrainians and those bordering the rogue Russian state and Putin. It seems to me that the Ukrainians led by Zelenskyy have demonstrated a kind of defense for democracy that we have not shown in many years. They are keen on standing on their own, dealing with their national challenges, and joining the Western economic and political alliances. If we just consider a complete oil and gas embargo against Russia as the most effective and immediate way to end the carnage and genocide being perpetrated against Ukraine, we should opt for that. It is taking a toll everywhere in the world,, among all freedom loving people (a group to which the USA once belonged before greed and power did us in). Yes, we need to act to save Ukraine and, ultimately, to save ourselves and our planet.
So much is at stake. The upcoming midterm election is critical to the continuation of democracy in the US. Too much economic pain will undoubtedly send droves of republicans into office and create a potential crisis in the US. Then we must consider the fate of the people of Ukraine. How can we claim to be a civilized society and watch the atrocities occurring to their people? Perhaps the time for economic sanctions is over and direct military conflict with Russia is the only answer. Putin will not stop, period. Is NATO really going to engage Russia is it attacks say Poland? Are we not just sacrificing living in Ukraine for the inevitable conflict that awaits. “Peace in our time,” I think we all remember that fleeting moment. Putin is a Hitler and there is really only one way to stop him. Blunt force, and sooner rather than later. As much as I am a pacifist is there really any other way to stop his endless brutality?
We absolutely must cut our energy use. For Russia, but also for climate change. It is high time we start distinguishing necessary uses of energy from frivolous ones. We need oil and gas for heating homes in winter and cooling some places in extreme heat. But we don't need to cool stores to freezing temperatures while keeping doors wide open when it is pleasant outside, and we don't need to use massive landscaping equipment to blow around a few leaves and mow grass that has barely grown. We can figure out transportation to reduce gas use and invest wisely in renewables, community solar, etc. Most cars are way too big. We must use our energy much more carefully and thoughtfully. Because of Russia, and also for many other existential reasons.
I am for supporting Ukraine and cutting off Russia energy supplies more, but we need a clear metric. We would need to tell Americans (and show the world) that we will tolerate a value of gas/oil if a specific value (75%) of extra sacrifice goes directly to aid, absolutely. It would need strong government regulation and audits with consequences to companies using for more profit siphoning. We can sacrifice, but EU must be onboard equal or more. Last major selling point is its saving planet too, over long term. A must already.
time to eliminate Putin - permanently
Now is a great time to invest in renewable energy. We must do it anyway to save the earth so now is the time!!