Control Engineering

Peter Welander

I am not a socialist
June 2, 2008

This morning I was reading Charles Krauthammer's column on the Chicago Tribune op-ed page. The headline was, "Lost left replaces socialism with environmentalism." The column is worth reading, but in a nutshell he suggests that since communism and even socialism have ultimately failed in favor of capitalism, the arrogant left has had to find another topic on which to crusade, and that has become environmentalism. Global warming has become the new motivation for the same kinds of economic and social regulation.

If you have been following this blog for any length of time, you may have concluded that I also am concerned about global warming since I have discussed many energy and environmental topics. You conclusion is incorrect, but I understand how you might have been misled. Personally, I don't really believe in global warming. My environmental motivations are not driven by that. My personal leanings are more peculiar as my family knows all too well. We're in this mess because we've lost our ability to suffer. My wife would say that I'm just cheap, and there is much truth to that, but it is more complex.

A guiding principal of my life is: "You can't have everything." As a college student, I was drawn to economics as a major. The discipline is all about finding how to use scarce resources. I tend to emphasize the scarce aspect. As a rich consumerist society, we have more or less lost the scarce element, particularly as it relates to energy. Gasoline was cheap enough to drive Escalades, and natural gas and electricity were cheap enough to keep us warm and cool so we can be comfortable in winter and summer. The thought of having to go to sleep in August in an un-air conditioned house when it's 88° is utterly inconceivable for the majority of the population of North America. We've lost the ability to suffer and now we're finally beginning to pay the social costs.

"OK," you say, "he's gone off the rails. What is this kook ranting about?" I suppose in some respects I am gratified that the scarcity principal mentioned earlier does indeed still apply. There are consequences ultimately for irresponsible use of resources. Of course those who share similar self-satisfaction for living a smug modest lifestyle suffer along with those who are now realizing their Escalades suck up a lot of gas. While we may tell ourselves that we didn't contribute (as much, perhaps) to the problem, we still suffer the consequences of costly pump prices and energy costs in general. Since I'm not a socialist, it's reassuring to see that the market can ultimately punish those who are more profligate. It's time we start living within our means as a society.

Posted by Peter Welander on June 2, 2008 | Comments (3)