I do not subscribe to the premise of “oil is a finite resource” as a basis for public policy. Let’s drill all we can, and then we can talk about it. But we’re not doing that now. We don’t actually know how much oil we have, because we’re too busy “protecting” caribou.

I also do not agree that “gluttony of the few is generally bad for the many,” in the context of energy consumption. America’s energy consumption is not gluttony — it is production. No doubt we use more resources than anyone else in the world. That’s because we produce more than anyone in the world. In this case, the production of the few greatly benefits the many.

I am not saying the environmentalists are fake. I think they legitimately believe what they espouse. I am saying their standard of morality is fake, because it is based on a subjective and false standard. They have a poor understanding of what constitutes abuse of creation. And they are trying to legislate it on the rest of us, to our detriment.

Please don’t call it “fake” morality. Why not acknowledge the good that is done by conserving natural resources? It doesn’t have to be your reason for riding, and it’s certainly not up to anyone else to judge your motives. But we can all at least get behind the idea that oil is a finite resource, and gluttony of the few is generally bad for the many. Can’t we?

The environmentalists may make you crazy, but they’re not “fake.” They’re genuine and passionate, and if they tweak our conscience a little bit and make us think about being responsible for creation instead of abusing it, and accountable to our fellow man instead of ignorant of him, well, that’s ok with me.