Why are We Subsidizing Our Own Extinction?

Climate Change will make the earth uninhabitable to humans, but corporations and the politicians they control are still funding the very things that will cause human extinction. why are we subsidizing fossil fuels? Why are we funding our own extinction?

To stop our climate-change-driven suicide, Congress must stop allowing oil exports, end subsidies to the fossil fuel industry, and promote clean American energy.


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The Thom Hartmann Program is the leading progressive political talk radio show for political news and comments about Government politics, be it Liberal or Conservative, plus special guests and callers.

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[oceanrock]

In California, all new construction must have solar

[sheldonbodryn]

This is so very well explained and in enough detail so people know what's going on. Meanwhile there are people going around vandalizing Tesla charging stations.

[zehrajafri]

Great job as alway's. Keep the truth alive for humanity and the planet and to wake up humanity. ❤ ❤ 💚 💚 💚

[stevejohnson]

I just did some arithmetic. If I moved the decimals properly, and $590B in fossil fuel subsidies were directly converted to some form of UBI, every man, woman and child in this country would receive $175 BILLION annually. Even if I missed a decimal point it would be $175M.
Then add big pharma, medical supplies companies, agribusiness, chemical companies, auto industry banks(BANKS!!), airlines, cruise lines, etc, etc., ad nauseum. Where would that put us?

[allcatall]

human 'apes' not evolved to handle industrial grade systems and scales of extraction, transportation, etc, especially long-term, let alone by one/few mostly self-serving males in corporate boardroom and/or government buildings, ime.

[karlamccullough]

Additional information:
In 2021, the United States exported about 8.63 million barrels per day (b/d) and imported about 8.47 million b/d of petroleum,  making the United States an annual total petroleum net exporter for the second year in a row since at least 1949. Total petroleum net exports were about 0.16 million b/d in 2021, and total petroleum net exports in 2020 were 0.63 million b/d. Also in 2021, the United States produced about 18.66 million b/d of petroleum and consumed about 19.78 million b/d. Even though U.S. annual total petroleum exports were greater than total petroleum imports in 2020 and 2021, the United States still imported some crude oil and petroleum products from other countries to help to supply domestic demand for petroleum and to supply international markets.

The United States remained a net crude oil importer in 2021, importing about 6.11 million b/d of crude oil and exporting about 2.90 million b/d. However, some of the crude oil that the U.S. imports is refined by U.S. refineries into petroleum products—such as gasoline, heating oil, diesel fuel, and jet fuel—that the U.S. exports. Also, some of imported petroleum may be stored and subsequently exported.
~~~~
The top five destination countries of U.S. total petroleum exports by export volume and percentage share of U.S. total petroleum exports in 2021 were:
Mexico—
1.16 million b/d—13%
Canada—
0.84 million b/d—10%
India—
0.62 million b/d—7%
China
—0.59 million b/d—7%
South Korea
—0.56 million b/d—6%

The top five sources of U.S. crude oil imports by percentage share of U.S. total crude oil imports in 2021 were:
Canada 62%
Mexico 10%
Saudi Arabia 6%
Russia 3%
Colombia 3%

I suspect the imports and exports (especially to Canada and Mexico) are related to location. Example: it would make sense if we imported oil from Canada for our northern states that are not close to U.S. oil drilling locations and refineries. Heard the Russian oil is primarily used in the states on the west coast.

Can't help but wonder if the reason we are willing to export oil is related to our trade deficit?

The U.S. trade deficit increased from $676.7 billion in 2020 to $859.1 billion in 2021. The U.S. monthly trade deficit increased in March 2022 to $109.8 billion.

A trade deficit reduces the incomes of domestic workers, pushing many into lower income brackets. Families with lower incomes generally find it much harder to save. Therefore, increasing trade deficits can and do reduce national savings.
~~~~
Lower prices: A country may have a trade deficit because it is cheaper to purchase goods internationally than to produce them at home. This means that prices of consumer goods and services may decrease. Weakening currency: A trade deficit has the potential to weaken a country's currency.

[chuckkottke]

We turned the economy into a game where reality, meaning global ecology, became nothing. The money tainting politics is it, plus concentrated wealth and it's warped effect on policy.

[freddiehoskins]

Every bit of drought affected human infrastructure west of the Mississippi should be covered with renewable energy systems weather the people stay or not. This would at least give the manufacturing infrastructure time to retool.

[erichb]

Babyboomers didn't comprehend we would be handcuffed to oil, gas and coal

[robinsss]

Thom is right

the solution is Hydro

[michaelbyron]

And trying to use the short term statistics from EIA that during the "Pandemic" (2020) we produced just slightly more than we consumed does not justify "Independence" either. There was a large decrease in demand then that deviated from the norm.

[Stupidityindex]

Why use "we" instead of us and them?

[lidiagutierrez]

This is why we are subsidizing Elon to flee to Mars, so the elite can save themselves there 😉

[anilsoodus]

Now is the time to come to our senses and strive to use all sources of renewable energy at a war footing. It may already be too late. The government should take action now and create a timeline to switch to a new set of laws and rules which must be followed by all businesses and manufactures that are reluctant to invest or move to earth friendly products like electric or alternate fuelcars etc. The mindset has to change.

[kyletheo]

He who dies with the most money, wins.

[VeganWithAraygun]

It's either someones's got to pay retail !!

[michaelbyron]

Sir, I used to hold you in the highest regard because of your integrity .... but ~8:35 you say "... we produce more than we need..." since when? Statistics show we only produce ~ 40-60% of total consumption.

[georgefurman]

I don't want to feel depressed . So I am going to cry loud at the wilderness and let out my rage and frustration. bye.

[chaddeez]

I have gas today like you wouldn't believe.

[caroleekeith]

Greed don't care nothing about anything but money.
When they have run out of everything, let them eat money.