The Hidden Human Cost of Clean Energy and IRS Expansion

On Wednesday, October 5, 2022, Kim Monson examines two critical threats to American liberty: the explosive expansion of the IRS with 87,000 new armed agents and the hidden humanitarian crisis fueling the clean energy movement. Energy policy expert Ron Stein and mortgage specialist Lorne Levy join the conversation.

The Hidden Cost of Clean Energy

Start listening at 70:31 – Hour 2

Ron Stein, co-author of Clean Energy Exploitations and policy advisor for the Heartland Institute, exposes the dark underbelly of the green energy movement. Stein reveals that electric vehicle batteries require mining approximately 500,000 pounds of earth to extract the necessary lithium, cobalt, and other exotic minerals. These materials come predominantly from developing countries with minimal environmental controls and virtually no labor protections.

The exploitation runs deep. Mining operations in Africa and South America employ child labor and operate without reclamation requirements that would be mandatory in the United States. Stein describes the cover of his book featuring an armed guard with an Uzi overlooking families mining by hand, calling these materials “blood minerals” comparable to blood diamonds. He argues that subsidies for electric vehicles effectively finance ongoing environmental degradation and human rights abuses in countries most Americans never see.

Stein warns that lithium supplies face serious constraints, with half the world’s lithium located in Chile where local opposition and court rulings have halted expansion. This supply limitation could force the auto industry into what he calls a “death spiral” as costs rise and materials become unavailable. He personally refuses to purchase an EV for ethical reasons, unwilling to financially support the atrocities occurring in developing nations.

“I will never buy an EV. And I will never buy an EV for ethical reasons… I’m not willing to financially support the degradation of the many atrocities occurring in developing countries that we can’t see.”

Ron Stein, Policy Advisor, Heartland Institute

Navigating Rising Interest Rates

Start listening at 26:28 – Hour 1

Lorne Levy, mortgage specialist with Polygon Financial Group, addresses the unprecedented speed of interest rate increases and their impact on homebuyers. Levy notes that while rates have risen before since the 2008 recession, they have never climbed this rapidly, leaving many borrowers struggling to adjust. Despite the challenging environment, opportunities remain for those seeking to buy or sell homes.

The market has shifted somewhat in favor of buyers, with fewer multiple-offer situations and more inventory available. However, higher interest rates offset lower prices, keeping payments relatively stable. Levy explains that reverse mortgages offer a tax-free option for homeowners 62 and older who find themselves short due to inflation eating into their fixed incomes and investment portfolios.

“Well, that’s not a surprise because it’s never been seen before, so that should be shocking. You know, we’ve had through the years, even since the great recession of 2008, we’ve had periods of time where rates have gone higher. They’ve just never gotten there so fast.”

Lorne Levy, Mortgage Specialist, Polygon Financial Group

IRS Expansion and Government Overreach

Start listening at 36:45 – Hour 1

Kim Monson and Producer Steve tackle the troubling expansion of the IRS authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act. The legislation provides over $80 billion to boost the agency over a decade, with more than half intended to crack down on tax evasion. A job posting for IRS special agents requiring applicants to carry firearms and be willing to use deadly force sparked widespread concern.

Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas introduced legislation designed to prevent IRS overreach following the agency expansion. Kim questions why the government would arm tax collectors while simultaneously pushing legislation to disarm everyday citizens, noting the contradiction in federal priorities. She also highlights the irony of the government creating legal tax avoidance mechanisms like EV credits while aggressively pursuing citizens for other forms of tax avoidance.

The discussion extends to Colorado’s energy grid, where Xcel Energy’s ability to meet next summer’s electricity demand depends on completing two Pueblo solar projects. This precarious situation illustrates the broader risks of transitioning away from reliable coal and natural gas plants before adequate replacement capacity exists.