On August 19, 2022, Kim Monson explores the moral case for fossil fuels, property rights controversies in Douglas County, and the realities of Colorado’s housing market with Rick Turnquist, Dr. Jill Vecchio, Karen Levine, and Lorne Levy.
Rick Turnquist reviews Alex Epstein’s new book “Fossil Future: Why Global Human Flourishing Requires More Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas, Not Less.” Turnquist explains how fossil fuels enable modern life and lift billions out of poverty, pointing out that many Americans take for granted the abundant energy that powers everything from heating and cooling to food production and transportation.
Turnquist challenges the anti-fossil fuel narrative, noting that renewable energy accounts for only 3% of worldwide electricity generation and practically zero percent of heavy-duty transportation needs. He highlights the February 2021 Texas power grid failure as a glimpse of what happens when unreliable energy sources fail, leaving people burning furniture in their living rooms to stay warm.
The discussion turns to the broader implications of energy policy on inflation, with Turnquist explaining how oil serves as a feedstock for countless products beyond gasoline and how natural gas is essential for fertilizer production. He describes the anti-fossil fuel movement as fundamentally “anti-life” and praises Epstein for standing up as a lone voice against the overwhelming pressure to abandon reliable energy.
“Imagine you’re dropped in the middle of nowhere, a desert, a mountain range, a prairie, a tropical island, with only the labor that you yourself, using your body, can produce, and in the absence of fossil fuels or any other modern technologies, how long do you think you would live and how much of your time would be taken up in securing life’s bare essentials?”
Rick Turnquist, Author and Liberty Advocate
Dr. Jill Vecchio presents the counterpoint perspective on a Douglas County zoning amendment affecting 5,000 rural residences. As a homeowner in the affected area, Vecchio explains that rural residents have agreed to accommodate small businesses like the Bacons’, but express frustration that commissioners keep “moving the goalposts” with each new proposal.
Vecchio outlines legitimate concerns about unlimited commercial development in rural areas: fire safety without hydrants, increased traffic on roads without shoulders where people walk horses and dogs, water usage on shared aquifers, and the potential for realtors to market rural properties specifically to businesses. She emphasizes that property rights extend to all residents, not just those seeking to operate businesses.
The discussion reveals the complexity of balancing individual property rights with community standards, with Vecchio noting that existing homeowner association covenants already prohibit commercial activity in some areas.
“When you say property rights, it’s about everybody’s property rights. It’s not just about the business owner’s property rights. Right. We have a business, and like I said, again, we are willing to accommodate the Bacons and other small businesses like them in this rezoning. We have already agreed to that.”
Dr. Jill Vecchio, Douglas County Resident
Karen Levine pushes back against headlines screaming about “plunging” home sales and market “turmoil.” She explains that Denver’s housing market is experiencing a normal transition as interest rates doubled, causing buyers to adjust their budgets and some sellers to become more aggressive with pricing. However, inventory shortages persist for the actual demand in the marketplace.
Lorne Levy emphasizes that real estate is local, noting that Denver never experienced the dramatic crashes seen in Las Vegas or Phoenix during the 2008 recession. He warns about Blackstone’s new $23 billion fund preparing to buy homes nationwide if prices fall, highlighting how institutional investors with cash continue to shape housing markets.
The conversation shifts to inflation’s root causes, with Levy explaining the Federal Reserve’s impossible dual mandate of controlling both inflation and unemployment. Levine questions whether government-funded community events represent proper use of taxpayer dollars, while both guests note the irony of passing an “Inflation Reduction Act” that puts more money into circulation.
“I agree with Karen that it’s very generalized. I think you’ve got to pay attention to your local market. Every place is different. Even in the Great Recession of 2008, we didn’t have the problems in Denver that, say, Las Vegas or Phoenix or Miami Beach had where they were just tanking. We never had that here.”
Lorne Levy, Mortgage Specialist, Polygon Financial Group
Mary Alpers of Three Points Financial distinguishes between knowledge and wisdom, explaining that truly comprehensive financial planning incorporates the whole picture of a client’s life, not just their portfolio. She recommends having multiple hobbies in retirement: one to make money if needed, one for fitness, one for creativity, one to build knowledge, and one to increase wisdom and share it with others.
“Wisdom usually increases with life experiences, at least we hope so. Sometimes it goes in the opposite direction to some people, and they become more foolish as they get older, but the hope is that you become more wise.”
Mary Alpers, Three Points Financial
Episode from The Kim Monson Show
The National Popular Vote Compact takes away the vote and the voice of Colorado voters and gives our vote and our voice to big...
Episode from The Kim Monson Show