Luxury beliefs

Europe, and to some extent in the US, decided that wind and solar could replace fossil fuels and they took steps to move in those directions without thinking things through. The result in Europe was energy cost that increase four-fold and caused steel, chemical and auto companies to curtail production and move to China and the US. One of the reasons this happened is called, “Luxury Beliefs”. Rob Henderson defines "luxury beliefs" as ideas and opinions held by the affluent and educated elite that confer social status, but inflict costs on the lower classes. Here are some examples of luxury beliefs. Wealthy people living in gated communities far from high crime areas suggest decriminalizing drugs and reducing police funding. Environmentalist demanding reductions in fossil fuel without adequate replacement. Beliefs that challenge the traditional models of marriage and the nuclear family. People should prioritize their career over other aspects of life pursuing personal advancement and success as the ultimate goal. The belief that a traditional four-year college degree is the only path to success. The Healthy at Every Size movement promotes the acceptance of all body sizes and challenges the conventional health paradigms related to weight. As an example of how this can hurt the general public, look at Europe’s refusal to frack. Europe has large amounts of natural gas but they choose to import at cost much higher than fracking. Germany is losing its industrial base because of high energy cost. Consumers in Germany pay four times more than in the US and this primarily hurts working people.