Biden’s War On Consumers

Under President Joe Biden, costs have skyrocketed for Americans in almost every conceivable way. With both inflation and interest rates at elevated levels, real wages are down, and credit card debt has increased significantly. Americans are paying much more for groceries, gasoline, and monthly bills such as insurance and utilities.

In addition, the country has experienced supply chain problems, a banking crisis, and our federal debt has topped $32 trillion or $253,000 per taxpayer. Instead of improving the lives of Americans, the excess federal spending is making life more difficult, as it has led to currency devaluation and increased inflation.

With such tough economic times, it is no surprise that Americans give Biden a very low  35% approval rating on his handling of the economy, with 68% believing the country is on the “wrong track.”

One of the main reasons this administration has been so harmful to our economy is their obsession with “climate change.” It is why the oil industry has been relentlessly attacked and there has been an incessant push for Americans to buy electric vehicles.

Another example of this “climate change” hysteria was introduced late Friday evening as the Biden administration’s Department of Energy unveiled their new mandates regarding appliances such as hot water heaters. According to Reuters, the new standards would require “most common-sized electric water heaters to achieve efficiency gains with heat pump technology.” In addition, the standards target the popular and economical gas-fired water heaters by mandating requirements to use “condensing technology.”

These actions were blasted by U.S. Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY), who tweeted that the Biden administration should “Leave us alone.” Unfortunately, the Biden administration will not “Leave us alone” and allow us the freedom to make our own choices.

Their interest is in pursuing a “green energy” agenda because of the supposed threat of “climate change.” They do not care if consumers pay more for appliances, vehicles, or energy, it must be done to save the “climate.”

Massie noted that the electric water heaters with “heat-pump technology,” are already available to consumers in the market today. The new standards will only increase the costs of these water heaters and limit choice for consumers.

In Massie’s view, “Consumers should decide whether the upfront cost of a heat-pump water heater is worth the possible long-term savings. In many cases, the monthly savings never make up for the upfront cost of the equipment.”

Sadly, this administration’s Department of Energy is not interested in consumers having more choices. Today, it is led by radical “green energy” fanatic, Jennifer Granholm.

Unfortunately, until this administration relinquishes power, our financial problems will continue to get worse. Instead of allowing a free market to operate and allowing consumers to dictate the products that are successful, this administration will use all their tools to limit choices and destroy industries that are not sufficiently “green.”

In response, the House Republicans should withdraw all funding from the extreme Department of Energy. This is a department that President Ronald Reagan initially sought to eliminate. Unfortunately, it survived and has only grown in terms of budget, regulations, and power since the Reagan years.

The financial pain for consumers will not be limited to hot water heaters. Reuters reported that in the name of fighting “climate change” and supposedly improving health and safety, the Biden administration has proposed 18 new efficiency standards for  a variety of products.

These products include gas stoves, dishwashers, beverage vending machines and electric motors. All these new products will be forced to achieve higher efficiency standards. These harmful bureaucratic measures will require manufacturers to retool their process and pass on the higher costs to American consumers, who are already struggling with the pain of the Biden economy. As journalist Gabriella Hoffman noted, “banning” “modern conveniences” such as “gas stoves” and “water heaters” is neither “energy efficient” nor “a cost savings measure.”

The Biden administration is also attacking gas-powered generators, which are especially needed during hurricane season and the scorching summer months when blackouts are more likely. With new rules being issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, larger gas generators will only be allowed on the market if carbon monoxide emissions are cut by 95%, and manufacturers will only be given six months to comply with these burdensome regulations.   

These new regulations will severely limit choices for consumers, which is dangerous, as outlined by Susan Orenga, the Executive Director of the Portable Generator Manufacturers’ Association. She said the regulations will “create a shortage of essential portable generators during regional and national emergencies because it will prevent the sale of portable generators that are currently available on the market.”

Does the Biden administration care that their outrageous regulations could cost not only more money, but also the lives of Americans? Obviously, safety and cost are not as important as pursuing the “green energy” agenda. Secretary Granholm stated that the Biden administration is “using all of the tools at our disposal to save Americans money while promoting innovations that will reduce carbon pollution and combat the climate crisis.”

Yet, draconian regulations and limiting choices will not save any “money” for Americans, of course, it will lead to higher prices. In addition, these harmful actions are being done to combat a “climate crisis” that does not even exist, according to Dr. John Clauser, the winner of the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Clauser labeled this mania “a dangerous corruption of science that threatens the world’s economy and the well-being of billions of people.” Furthermore, Clauser said, “there is no climate crisis and that increasing CO2 concentrations will benefit the world.” His viewpoint is shared by other Nobel laureates such as Ivan Giaever and Robert Laughlin, who are also “climate skeptics.”

For having such heretical views, Clauser was uninvited from giving a talk at an upcoming International Monetary Fund seminar. The climate fanatics have manufactured a worldwide crisis, while imposing regulations, creating havoc, and increasing costs in innumerable ways, but they refuse to defend their viewpoints, exposing their fallacies. 

Jeff Crouere is a native New Orleanian and his award-winning program, “Ringside Politics,” airs Saturdays from Noon until 1 p.m. CT nationally on Real America’s Voice TV Network & AmericasVoice.News and weekdays from 7-11 a.m. CT on WGSO 990-AM & Wgso.com. He is a political columnist, the author of America’s Last Chance and provides regular commentaries on the Jeff Crouere YouTube channel and on Crouere.net. For more information, email him at [email protected].