EV Madness and the Chinese Menace

How green-energy policy upholds an evolutionary theory about why stupid ideas win support.

By Holman W. Jenkins, Jr. Excerpts:

"Green energy use is rising, and fossil-fuel use is rising even faster. Energy intensity, or the amount of energy consumed per unit of global gross domestic product, was falling at a rate of almost 2% a year for two decades. Now it’s falling at barely 1%.

Though it’s early days, this is exactly what you would expect if green-energy subsidies mainly subsidize more energy consumption overall rather than emissions reductions. It turns out, despite the intuitions used to sell climate pork to the public, energy demand is not capped. Fossil fuels don’t stop being useful just because green energy is subsidized. If you want to curb emissions, you have to impose a carbon tax."

"It’s a good time to remember what the late evolutionist John Tooby, who died in November, taught us about “coalitional instincts.”

His most important insight was that “stupid” or “weird” ideas are actually more powerful in rallying coalitional solidarity than truthful ones, because truthful ones can be recognized by any rational person.

“The more biased away from neutral truth,” he wrote, “the better the communication functions to affirm coalitional identity.”

“Coalition-mindedness,” he added, “makes everyone, including scientists, far stupider in coalitional collectivities than as individuals.”"

"if Americans wanted cheap transportation, they’d buy mopeds and 50cc scooters the way people in other countries do. Americans want a lot more from their vehicles"

"This turns out to be especially true of the EVs they buy, which tend to be large, powerful and luxurious, and therefore notoriously climate-unfriendly."

"our climate-warrior government already has a 25% tariff to protect Americans from affordable and attractive Chinese EVs and is contemplating greater restrictions on national-security grounds."