Over the past 60 years that I know of, California has been first. First to institute any hair-brained progressive idea. First to see it fail. First to suffer the consequences of such stupidocrisy. Now along comes the whole green energy thing. And California, leading the West Coast of Washington and Oregon (which are almost as embracing of progressive idiocrasy), really got behind the idea that everything had to become wind, solar or battery-powered. Of course, it wasn’t thought through. No infrastructure needed. Just legislate that no vehicles can be gasoline or diesel powered and it will happen. And just like in communist countries that often do the same, that old friend named Failure is just around the corner.
On August 25, the unelected, politically-appointed California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted to essentially ban most gas-powered vehicles by 2035. CARB Chair Liane Randolph proudly took credit in a news release saying, “Once again California is leading the nation and the world with a regulation that sets ambitious but achievable targets for ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicles) sales. Rapidly accelerating the number of ZEVs on our roads and highways will deliver substantial emission and pollution reductions to all Californians, especially for those who live near roadways and suffer from persistent air pollution.” And, of course, there are about $20,000 of state-sponsored wealth redistribution, you know, “incentives,” so “low- and moderate-income consumers” might be able to afford these expensive vehicles.
Beginning on August 31, the California Independent System Operator (ISO) another unelected board that manages the state’s power grid, began issuing “Flex Alerts” to conserve electricity. Because of the hot weather, the ISO is telling California citizens to set their thermostats at 78 degrees, avoid using electric appliances, turn off unnecessary lights, use fans for cooling, and don’t be charging your electric cars. Yes, you read right. Electric cars should not be charged as part of the Flex Alert. Cal ISO president Elliot Mainzer told the news media that September 1 was the “highest demand for power” since September 2017 in California, adding that it’s “a dress rehearsal” for what’s to come.
Dress rehearsal in more ways than he thinks. Here California is mandating electric cars and people that currently own them can’t even charge them because the electric grid can’t support them. And Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who has designs to be president, is all in favor of the electric car mandate. I bet if you follow the money, some leftists are getting rich off of all this, even though it will fail miserably without a transition period to build infrastructure. God gave man stewardship over the earth. 1 Corinthians 4:2 says that “it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” I’m reminded of Fidel Castro’s funeral procession where the military jeep carrying his remains ran out of gas and soldiers had to push the vehicle the rest of the way. That’s a true picture of progressivism. It’s, say it with me…Stupidocrisy.
