"Our brazen pursuit of the world's largest remaining oil reserves should serve as a wake-up call to California and its waning commitment to an independent, renewable energy future. The state's political appetite to keep transitioning away from oil has been clearly ebbing as residents balk at the cost of everything in California, most notably the chronically high cost of gasoline and the periodic spikes during a hiccup in production. Affordability is in fashion. Climate change adaptation is not."
"Why else would Gov. Gavin Newsom champion legislation last year to drill more oil wells in Kern County? The state's addiction to oil products, mirrored throughout the nation, is revealing a despicable downside: We're willing to take military action in our hemisphere largely to expand our control of this resource. This is by no means a defense of Nicolas Maduro. His disdain for democracy, the rule of law, and his own people made his widespread unpopularity justifiably deserved."
"The unsealed federal indictment against Maduro has detailed examples of his role in international drug trafficking for personal financial gain. Yet Maduro is hardly the only head of state with this political pedigree. He does have, however, one thing that the others don't: His country sits on top of an estimated 20% of the oil remaining on the planet. And that's what Trump appears to care about the most."
U.S. military action in Venezuela prioritized control over the nation's enormous oil reserves rather than humanitarian or democratic aims. California's commitment to renewable, independent energy is declining as residents resist higher living costs and gasoline prices. Governor Gavin Newsom backed legislation to expand oil drilling in Kern County. The national addiction to oil motivates willingness to use military force in the hemisphere. Nicolas Maduro's regime exemplified corruption, mismanagement, and alleged drug trafficking, yet Venezuela uniquely holds roughly 20% of the planet's remaining oil. President Trump promoted U.S. oil companies entering Venezuela to invest billions despite chronic industry collapse.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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