Remember when the Germans Laughed at Trump Over Energy?

I wish a media outlet would track down all of the Germans who laughed at Trump (was it at the UN?) and ask them what they think about energy prices, and what Trump had to say today. None will of course, because Orange Man Bad™, and how does that help the narrative?

With energy at record highs, the economies of European countries are on the brink of recession. Europe energy crisis: German and French power prices notch record highs ahead of Russia's next pipeline shutdown

• German power prices, which is Europe's benchmark, jumped 17% to a record 750 euros a megawatt-hour for next year.
• In France, prices for next year climbed 12% to also hit a record 880 euros a megawatt-hour.
• Russia is set to halt Nord Stream 1 gas flows during a three-day maintenance period at the end of August.

For comparison, in my last-month's electric bill I paid $0.03148200 a kilowatt hour, or less than $31.49 per megawatt hour. So the Germans are (or will be) paying 2,382% more than I did last month. I said "will be" because the prices are futures, that will be paid in 2023.

Europe's energy crisis has been exacerbated by Russia's natural gas halts and reductions. And next week, the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline will shut down again for maintenance. Gazprom has already slashed gas flows to just 20% of capacity, prompting accusations that Moscow is weaponizing energy supplies.

Gee, you think? Or, where is it written that since Russia is at war with Western Europe that they can't use all of the weapons at their disposal? Are you saying that economic warfare is not Kosher? I direct your attention to the history of letters of Marquis and Reprisal.

What's that you say? Russia is at war with Ukraine and not all of Europe. If you truly believe that I have some Florida swamp-land you might be interested in. Pay no attention to the endangered species living on the property; I sure you will be able to build your dream home.

And while you may believe that Russia is not at war with all of Europe, what you believe doesn't matter. It really only matters what Vladimir Putin believes.

But then to admit that Russia using economic means of warfare was completely foreseeable means that the Europeans would have to admit that Trump was right when he said they were opening themselves up to a world of hurt at Putin's hands. And they will not admit that Trump was right, not even when they are freezing in the dark.

The graph above comes from Trading Economics: Germany Electricity Price as of 2022-08-27. That site will be updated. The graph above will not be updated.