Ceding US Offshore Oil to Foreign Firms OK Says Chu

US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu says he is not troubled by the prospect that potential sources of energy near US coastal waters may be tapped by foreign firms from China and Russia.

“The joke is on them,” Chu insisted. “They will remain hooked on oil with all its downsides. While they’re polluting their air burning gasoline and diesel we will be shifting to clean wind and solar power.”

Chu maintains that the prospect of oil shortages and higher prices for fuel will be  “positives for our nation’s future. We will learn to do with less, weaning ourselves from the materialism that has poisoned our culture. We will live more in tune with nature. When it is cold outside we will huddle together inside. When it is hot outside we will shed our clothing and allow our bodies to be cooled by evaporating perspiration. We will be forced to refrain from frivolous travel. I see no negatives from our decision to forego any claim on offshore deposits.”

Why did I laugh a little bit when I read this?   Because it’s a joke — It’s Semi-News — A Satirical Look at Recent News.

If this were true, though, he’d be  100% right.  I wish he had said it.  There is no downside to foregoing claims on offshore fossil fuels, but Republican gas and oil addicts want us to think there is. We can still get power from renewable sources in order to not work in buildings that are 120 degrees F, but sweating works too.