We Need To Give Our Kind and Profuse Thanks To the Oil Industry—and Then Ask It To Leave
Frequent commenter MarcoPolo offers this observation about my post on “Prayer and Oil,” in which I wonder how it’s possible that the staunchest supporters of oil are also the most ardent Christians, given the Lord’s pacifism and compassion for others.
Why shouldn’t the Governor of Arizona give thanks for the prosperity the oil industry has brought to her State? The oil industry’s 350,000 products have dragged hundreds of millions out of abject poverty and created the modern world…. Without the revenue and prosperity created by the oil industry, America would descend into chaos and millions would perish. So yeah, given … scale of blessings the oil industry has bestowed over the last century or so,… a little prayer may not be out of place!
No one denies that oil has been a huge boon to humankind, both as fuel and as feedstock for the uncountable number of products that continue to have fantastically beneficial effects. But similarly, no one (almost no one) denies that our civilization’s ongoing reliance on fossil fuels is ruining our planet. Clearly, it is time to both thank the oil companies for what they’ve done for us, and, at the same time, move them out of the way, as required to facilitate the migration to clean energy.
Craig,
You are entirely correct.
If our population had remain what it was in the year 1800, probably we could continue to use fossil fuels without having to be concerned with CO2 emissions and global warming. And, without fossil fuels, the industrial revolution could not have occurred. But with our population increase, we simply have to phase out the use of fossil fuels or suffer grave consequences.
Craig,
Be careful of what you wish for, you may just get your wish!
Since most of the products produced by the oil industry are either not replaceable, or only with great economic disruption rendering replacement uneconomic and not practical, it would appear that your sentiments are a little simplistic and hypocritical.
The Oil industry, is what it is. Until economically feasible replacements can be produced in commercial quantities, with real technology, not pipe dreams and exaggerated claims, the industry will continue to provide 313 million Americans and 7 billion humans with economic prosperity.
Once there are real,commercially available alternatives, some oil products will become uncompetitive and disappear.
Reviling the oil industry won’t help to develop new technology.
I’m not sure what you said about reviling the oil industry is true. I would argue that a world full of oil-haters can and will propel forth a solution.
Btw, I get that the oil industry is providing prosperity to the world. Prosperity: good. Environmental destruction and war: bad.