The Oil Crisis as a Matter of Justice
Gas prices are setting new records on an almost daily basis; the price for a barrel of crude oil has trounced anything the world has ever seen as it continues to climb; and the world’s supply of accessible oil reserves is decreasing while demand continues to skyrocket. Nearly all Americans are feeling the “pinch at the pump,” a new cliché that seems to indicate that the central crisis associated with rising prices is a diminished capacity to go where we want when we want in our own cars. While this is certainly a looming crisis by itself (given the nature of the American transportation system) it is only the tip of the iceberg.
Rising oil and gas prices affect prices across the board: as diesel prices – which are hovering near $4.00 per gallon – rise faster than unleaded gasoline, all goods transported by truck are subject to rising prices as well. So, as diesel continues to climb, the price of milk, which is commonly transported by truck, will climb alongside it. This goes for anything else transported by truck: eggs, bread, and other staple grocery items. Not to be alarmist, but the potentially looming crisis is extensive and would leave only the wealthiest unscathed.
Seen in this light, the oil crisis is a matter of justice. The longer we sit on our hands and refuse to address the problem, the more likely a major crisis will develop. Currently, American energy policy is an inconsistent and poorly defined mass of regulations that are ill-suited to confront the looming crisis. While I generally have faith in the market, this seems a clear instance where the market has failed. As prices rise and oil companies’ profits grow higher than ever before, there is no market incentive to capitalize on alternative fuels, many of which are far along in their development processes. Immediate government intervention is necessary to facilitate a smooth and quick transition to a system of alternative fuels such as hydrogen fuel cells.
Christians should be concerned about the direction of American energy policy for a number of reasons. First, rising prices hurt those whom it is the church’s responsibility to protect: the poor, the weak, and the needy. While the House of Saud and the remnants of Standard Oil expand their coffers, the poor among us are put in an increasingly desperate situation. The biblical mandate for justice compels us to address an increasingly dire situation. Second, a healthy concern for God’s creation ought to spur us to alternative fuel sources. While “global warming” and “climate change” are heated topics that lack consensus, it remains true that carbon emissions from fossil fuels damage the immediate environment. Among the compelling reasons to adopt a broad alternative fuel source – like hydrogen fuel cells – are their potential to drastically reduce harmful emissions. For these reasons, among others, Christians ought to be concerned and voice their opinions about alternative fuel sources.
As the price of crude oil continues to rise, the alternative fuel debate becomes an increasingly black-and-white issue. Developing a broad system of alternative fuel use ought to become a top priority for our country and our government. Christians, out of a sense of compassion and stewardship, must become involved in the debate and spur on change.