Energy Collapse: Dark Ages Ahead?

There are multiple stories breaking in the news today, including a looming energy crisis heading our way that is already wreaking financial havoc on European families.

European nations are facing a very real, very costly energy crisis.

In his new blog at ACLJ.org, ACLJ Senior Counsel and Director of Policy Harry Hutchison explains:

In the United Kingdom, for instance, consumers will likely see an 80% rise in their energy bills this winter. And British energy regulator Ofgem announced recently that next year could bring even higher prices. Given the commitment by the United States and Western Europe to bad energy policies and given the unwillingness of Western leaders to mollify their stance toward Russia, British consumers face a price cap that could double from current levels by the spring of 2023.

This backdrop begs the question, what will happen to the United States and U.S. consumers?

What will happen indeed? I expect we won’t know the true answer until after the November midterms. But imagine if your heating bill goes up 80% come January or February. If you’re in Florida, not such a big deal. If you live in Minnesota, the Dakotas, the Northeast, good luck. Most American families can’t just adjust their budget for that kind of increase.

The mainstream media isn’t really sounding an alarm, and we’ve heard no mention of a plan from President Biden. But sadly, that’s not even surprising anymore.

I asked Harry how this is affecting the rest of the world, including the U.S. and our economy here at home, and he delivered some sobering realities:

So if you look at Great Britain for instance, up to 60% of factories in Great Britain may have to shut down in the next six months. In Germany they are talking about a 200% increase in electricity. In the Czech Republic, 70,000 people filled the public square in Prague. Why? They were protesting over higher energy costs. We’ve seen a farmers' revolt in the Netherlands. The Sri Lankan government has collapsed. Argentina is on the verge of collapse. The government in Italy has collapsed. And meanwhile, the German government said this to the German people: We are going to put the Ukrainians first, before the interests of the Germans. What does that mean? It means a prolonged conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and Russia is the leading source of energy for most of western Europe. Keep in mind four or five years ago, President Trump delivered a speech at the United Nations wherein he warned Germany of a day of reckoning to come if they continued to depend on Russia. Guess what. That day has now come. And keep in mind when President Trump gave the speech, the German delegation was laughing. Guess what. Vladimir Putin is now laughing at the Germans. So we face a problem in Europe, and it has implications.

As Harry also said, it’s not at all unreasonable to expect to see the cost of natural gas and oil rise considerably in the next few months, possibly just in time for the holidays. And yet we’ve heard nothing from the Biden Administration.

Our current President is too busy screaming about MAGA Republicans and hurt feelings. Or maybe President Biden really doesn’t know. But if someone doesn’t do something now, while there may still be time, the rest of us will be perpetually in the dark too.

We were also grieved to learn of the news that Britain’s Queen Elizabeth has passed away. The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the ACLJ go out to the entire royal family, as well as the British people. Queen Elizabeth was officially crowned in 1952 and served her own country dutifully for 70 years. The Queen saw 15 Prime Ministers and 14 U.S. Presidents during her long reign. As we are saddened by the passing of this venerable monarch, we also realize that much of the world is now asking the same question, what happens next?

For most of us, she’s been the Queen for our entire lives. The role of a British monarch has changed vastly in the last few couple centuries.

ACLJ Senior Counsel Andy Ekonomou who actually just returned from England, and who has spent years studying the British monarchy, explained the contemporary role of the Queen and how much power the monarchy truly possesses in British government:

Since 1688, in the glorious revolution that occurred that year, the monarch in England advises, consents, counsels, encourages, and has got an advisory role, rather than a ruling role. It is said that the monarch reigns, but does not rule. In other words the Prime Minister is bound to listen to her for advice, their counsel, they meet with them every Tuesday. The contents of that meeting have never been exposed throughout the 15 Prime Ministers that Queen Elizabeth has had since she became queen in 1952. But she does not rule in the sense of the kings and queens that preceded her in an absolute monarchy context.

England is a constitutional monarchy. England does not have a written constitution, but it has a constitution that consists of statutes and traditions that have been handed down, and that is very, very dutifully followed by Parliament and the sovereign. The sovereign does not get involved in political disputes. The sovereign does not get involved in election campaigns. The sovereign does not make political speeches. The sovereign does not endorse candidates . . . Occasionally in British history, the sovereign has injected himself a little more than is necessary in constitutional terms in Britain, into what is going on, and that has created some kind of problem, so they stay out of politics.  

Today’s full Sekulow broadcast includes more discussion of the looming energy crisis possibly coming our way. We also spoke with ACLJ Senior Counsel for Global Affairs Mike Pompeo who just returned from Europe himself and saw the toll these rising costs are taking on working families, and had plenty to say about our own developing situation. Finally, we discussed the succession of Queen Elizabeth II in England.

Watch the full broadcast below: