Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Off the Grid
So what happens when we transfer tens of millions of personal vehicles from highly scalable and dynamically priced gasoline (and diesel) to the price- and source-regulated grid? We have seen the impact already in the larger economy when demand spikes while supply is restricted — costs will go through the roof and shortages ensue. Policymakers will feel pressure to keep cost caps in place, which means that the costs will come in both higher electrical rates to some extent, but much more in dramatic shortages of electricity overall. The cars will be both more expensive and less usable as a result, with all sorts of primary and secondary economic costs.
This could possibly be avoided with a parallel effort to ramp up production of all available energy sources, especially fossil fuels and nuclear power, which are scalable and reliable. No one — no one — has proposed adding any significant new sources of reliable and scalable energy to the grid as we transfer EVs from gasoline to electricity. We keep hearing about the promise of “green energy,” but we’ve been hearing those promises for decades. It’s not coming to pass in Texas, it’s certainly not coming to pass in California, and there won’t be enough solar panels and windmills in the world to supply America’s vehicle infrastructure, especially in reliable and scalable terms.
A barely competent Secretary of Transportation should already recognize all these issues. Buttigieg isn’t even barely competent, or apparently even aspires to that level. He’s there to repeat progressive mantras and play checkers in a complex, three-dimensional chess energy and transportation world.
Defund the DEI Racket
Steven Hayward suggests placing the following restrictions on public colleges through legislation at the state level:
First, the diversity, equity, and inclusion staff (including outside consultants) may not be larger than the History department faculty. (Or pick whatever department you want as the baseline.)Endorsed.
Second, no DEI staff may be paid more than the average full tenured professor. Make people like Sellers get real jobs if they want to make $400K.
Otherwise Unemployable
We can only hope that it is university administrators, and not the youth of today’s Western world, who are hopelessly incompetent to deal with reality.
Looting for Equity
Liberals have no vocabulary to condemn rioting, looting, arson and vandalism when these crimes are committed by blacks, or by whites pretending to act on behalf of blacks, as with Antifa riots in Portland and Kenosha. Liberals have sown the wind, and America’s cities are reaping the whirlwind. So far, that doesn’t seem to have given many liberals second thoughts. But as looting and other crimes invade the suburbs, a lot of liberals are going to change their tune.
Analysis Not Allowed
WATCH: My conversation with @kilmeade on @TuckerCarlson's show last night.
— Heather Mac Donald (@HMDatMI) November 25, 2021
"When you stop enforcing the law in order to avoid disparate impact, it's blacks who are hurt the most." pic.twitter.com/V1m1igbAsP
Disparate impact is unscientific nonsense pushed by weak-minded leftists.
Via John Hinderaker.
That's Not How Numbers Work
"Build Back Better is not going to cost anything, we’re paying for it."
Said Kamala Harris, quoted in the New York Post.
So, if I pay cash for a house, and don't take on any debt with the purchase, it doesn't cost me anything? You shouldn't let these people anywhere near your money.
