energy

There is a great op-ed piece in the New York Times by Thomas Friedman. It appears Mr. Friedman is on an environmental tour of the planet. Yesterday he visited Greenland and then Denmark. He reports that Denmark is now 100% energy independent thanks to its energy policy. He also has this great quote from the Danish prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

Mr Rasmussen said:" I have observed that in all countries, including America, people are complaining about how prices of gasoline are going up. The cure is not to reduce the price, but on the contrary, to raise it even higher to break our addiction to oil."  

Of course I am pleased to hear that there are other people in the world who think like me. But what pleases me even more is that such policies have been implemented and that they have led to great successes. Unemployment in Denmark is extremely low. The Danes are leaders in renewable energy. They are also one of the happiest, if not the happiest people on earth according to other surveys.

I am sure many will shrug this off. They will say, Oh yes, those Europeans! Look at how much better our standard of living is. How much bigger our cars and our homes! And how many more toys we have! Can you hear the addicts rant? 

America's addiction to oil is nothing short of pathetic. If only we used the oil to accomplish something good. Something innovative or beneficial. Unfortunately that is not the case. We mostly waste it. We waste it outright by leaving appliances on all the time, by heating and cooling enormous houses, by watering lawns, by idling cars and sitting in traffic, etc. We waste it by driving everywhere because we are too lazy to walk or bike. And we waste more of it because we need an eight cylinder SUV to drive ourselves to work every day, or drive the kids to school.

All that waste does not even accomplish the simplest of things, i.e. to make us happy or healthy. Americans are the world leaders in obesity. We are the top consumers of "ethical" drugs and medical devices. Half the country is on anti-depressants. Medicine has become the new frontier in consumption. We now consider medicine (call it "health care" just to make a point) to part an integral part of life. Plastic surgery and related, mostly skin-enhancing procedures, are now necessary to make us feel better. Nose jobs anyone? Just another form of consumption to fill our never-ending "needs" in the pursuit of ever-elusive happiness.

Wake up America. Turn off that TV. It is controlling you. It is constantly reminding you to consume more. It is making you feel inadequate, insecure, and in need of more items. It is promising you happiness, respect, wealth, status, and power if only you buy that new cross-over, or that huge lawn mower, or get that extra credit card, or eat that new sandwich. It is bombarding you with advertising 24/7. And that is not something a human brain can handle. Turn it off and go for a bike ride. You will be healthier and happier too.