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Sado-Socialism Mounts a Surge

Recent winter storms, rebranded as “bomb cyclones,” knocked out power to more than 400,000 people across northern California. That meant no light, no television, no internet, no microwave, no automatic garage door opener—and electric cars would not be charging. But for some folks all was not lost. 

Those in homes or apartments with gas stoves could light up the range, brew a cup of tea or coffee, heat up soup, and even spread some heat in the kitchen. As Katy Grimes of the California Globe explains, those few emergency comforts will disappear if regulatory zealots have their way. 

“We know that California is pushing to become the first state to ban natural gas heaters, water heaters, and furnaces by 2030, a policy of the California Air Resources Board, entirely made up of appointees by the governor. Now the federal government wants to ban gas stoves.” As they claim, “U.S. homes have a climate impact comparable to the annual carbon dioxide emissions of 500,000 cars.”

Federal bureaucrats cite nitrogen dioxide and tiny airborne particles known as PM2.5, both of which are lung irritants, and blamed for nearly two million cases of asthma worldwide. According to some reports, the stoves spew “a miasma of indoor pollution,” even when they are turned off.

Dr. James Enstrom of UCLA long ago debunked the PM2.5 epidemiology,” notes Grimes. “He found no robust relationship between PM2.5 and total mortality.” Even so, the claims persist as “the primary justification for many costly regulations.” Beyond asthma, the anti-stove jihad is also about climate change. 

“If you’re worried about anthropogenic global warming,” Bruce Thornton explains at Frontpage Magazine, “switching to electric ranges won’t help reduce emissions, since most rely on electricity plants powered by fossil fuels. And how are you going to cook when the electric grid crashes from charging all those new EVs?” Consumer Products Safety Commission (CFSP) bosses claim they have no plans to ban gas stoves, which Thornton takes as bureaucratese for “not yet.”  

According to Gabriella Hoffman, 187 million Americans depend on natural gas and 40 million households use natural gas stoves, which are also the preference of professional chefs. Gas stoves give instant heat and facilitate immediate temperature changes while cooking. A ban on gas stoves will drive up prices and wreck many establishments struggling to stay afloat. 

In California, a ban on gas stoves would leave many stumbling in the dark. If the people thought regulatory zealots want it that way it would be hard to blame them. Should there be any doubt, consider gasoline prices. 

In a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing last year, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg proclaimed “the more pain we are all experiencing from the high price of gas, ​the more benefit there is for those who can access electric vehicles.” That evoked a response from Florida Rep. Carlos Gimenez

“So you’re saying the more pain we have, the more benefit we’re going to get?” the Florida congressman wondered. “Of course—no,” said Buttigieg with a laugh. 

“I think that’s what I heard you say,” countered Gimenez, who later tweeted “the more pain Americans felt, the better for electric vehicles. It’s an evil way of governing.” The Havana-born representative has a strong case. 

Contrary to popular belief, when people gain election to public office or get a government job they do not lose human vices. Indeed, political and regulatory power can expand opportunities to indulge those vices: greed, malice, envy, arrogance, and quite possibly the worst: taking pleasure in the pain of another. That is what is going on with the gasoline prices and the jihad against gas stoves. 

For ruling class types, pain, inconvenience, and deprivation are all good because they advance a top-down political agenda that excludes personal choice, boosts dependency, and steers clear of facts, reality and debate. Call it sado-socialism, and as with most of what government does, it’s worse than people imagine. 

At this writing, more storms are heading for northern California, but the power blackouts are not just a winter problem. During a heat wave last summer, the government was urging people not to charge electric cars. The grid just can’t handle it, and it’s not just a California problem. 

All across America, rain or shine, things are looking grim for the people. Way back in the day, the great Frank Zappa was on to it:  

“Cause what they do in Washington, they just takes care of number one. And number one ain’t you. You ain’t even number two.”  

Stay safe everybody. 

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About Lloyd Billingsley

Lloyd Billingsley is the author of Hollywood Party and other books including Bill of Writes and Barack ‘em Up: A Literary Investigation. His journalism has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the Spectator (London) and many other publications. Billingsley serves as a policy fellow with the Independent Institute.

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