Perhaps instead of fighting over oil we should focus on not using it.

[JanMichael]

Even if it can be somehow replaced, at a greater rate than currently exists which is dubious at best considering China's desire to crash the demand side of the multiplier, wouldn't it be better to try to wean ourselves off of this polluting economic drug?

We're a petro-nation now, sort of like a narco-nation, wait, we're that too aren't we? We comsume it all, the oil, the drugs, the EVERYTHING.

It's not like we can't do it, we can do anything, right?

And when I say "We" I mean Humanity.

[jobycom]

1. I wonder

Since most Americans are not going to give up their energy habits until they absolutely have to, maybe we should all drive Hummers and run our ACs full speed all winter long. I wonder if finishing off the oil sooner would get us out of our bloody imperial wars and into better sources of energy more quickly.

Not sure. Couldn't afford it if I were. Just a random thought.

[Diamonique]

2. I think we can do it

It'll take time, though.. and leadership from the top. It took this country a long time to get to the place where smoking and drunk driving were generally considered unacceptable. It takes time to change the way society thinks/feels about something. But with the right leadership, we can change. And with the right government funding, incentives, etc., we can find alternative energy souces... if not to get us off oil altogether, at least to supplement it so we're not SO dependent on it.

Kerry spoke about this a lot during last year's campaign. But it's certain that this bunch of clowns we have in charge now aren't going to do a thing to decrease our usage of oil.

[kestrel91316]

3. Time is something we may not have. We have NO idea how long

we have until it's TOO LATE - until we fly off the edge of the cliff.

[bperci108]

5. We have even less than most think.

I just read recently that from Global Peak Production (some have forecasted this as early as this November) until the spigot goes dry, is approximately 30 years, assuming demand as a constant.

But....


China's and India's demand is growing at 30% per year.


When you do the math, it isn't a pretty picture. :-(

[kestrel91316]

7. I have as a minor hobby enjoyed planning for "contingencies" (in my head)

I love reading post-apocalyptic fiction for cheap thrills. I believe in preparedness.

But when it comes to Peak Oil and the possibility of us falling off the cliff........I find myself unable to wrap my mind around it and do any sort of contingency planning. I feel like a deer in a car's headlights. Maybe the variety of possible scenarios is too complex to cope with. And the worst-case scenario inside my head is so ugly I wouldn't want to live anyway, so why bother planning? I will never have enough money to do what I think needs to be done to ensure my survival if it's really bad.



:cry: :scared:

[bperci108]

13. I do the same......LOL.

Things will certainly be rough for a while, no doubt. But I think we can rise to the occasion.

You'd be surprised what some folks have done with just a tiny plot of yard:

http://www.verdant.net/food.htm

Just spend an hour reading at the Verdant.net site.

And this one will make your mouth hang open:

http://www.pathtofreedom.com/pathproject/facts&stats/index.shtml

Good food for thought, if you'll pardon the pun.

And I recommend Gene Logsdon's books "Living At Nature's Pace" and "The Contrary Farmer". Both may be in your library and are in cheap paperback form. Read them; you won't regret the time spent.

The Truth will indeed set us free. (I wonder who said that?) ;-)

[kestrel91316]

15. I own more Logsdon books than most, and have my own little

"urbanstead" here. It is hell to try to grow my own food though. It gets WAY too hot in the summer (115+), and we can have hot or cold any month between Sept and May. Plus the flooding. I can't grow beans, beets, or corn anymore with the screwy climate. I suppose as long as they can get water through the pipelines I could continue to live here and get by. But I would much rather be someplace with a more temperate climate.

[bperci108]

17. Wow.

Nice to meet another fan.

:applause: :woohoo:


Perhaps it's a good time to cultivate (ouch--bad pun.) a few relationships with some of the folks at the Farmer's Markets. We're all going to be more involved with our friends and neighbors in the coming years, I think.

And I've seen some miraculous things done in an urban setting as far as food production goes, but maybe a move to the countryside/small town might be in order?

[kestrel91316]

19. There ARE no small towns within driving distance of my practice,

nor any rural type living within the means of ordinary mortals. This is Los Angeles, where a 2-BR post-WWII shack goes for $750,000, and it's on 1/8 acre or less. I rent.

[stepnw1f]

4. Yeah... It Does Cause Problems Doesn't It?

By Hybrids and invest in efficiency. Let's invest in things that do not benefit the powers to be. Let's lock them out. Eventually making them irrelevant.

[Booster]

6. I read that the Bush's have recently invested in solar power so I

think we can a hint that we really are almost out of oil. And the story about the guy who altered a car to where it got 250 miles per gallon should have been on the front page of every newspaper in this country, but it was a one day story that no one ran with. We seem to be in a very self-destructive mode in this country and I really don't understand why.

[FloridaPat]

8. Recently! From day 1. Both his retreat and Cheney's were equiped

with solar power the day they were sworn in.

[Booster]

14. When I said invested, I meant in solar energy stock. They have

made all the money they can on oil, now their personal interests have gone in another direction. The "me, me, me" syndrome.

[FloridaPat]

16. They would only invest in that if they knew something. Now that's scary

[halobeam]

10. mind boggling isn't it? makes you think you are dealing with teenagers.

I'm going full steam ahead with finding ways to cut out the use of oil/gas electric.... I'm learning about solar power, hell, I don't have much money, but a wood burning stove is a definite move I am making. I'm learning about growing vegetables. I don't know what else to do, but I don't want to be rendered "screwed" when the you know what hits the fan. Just maybe I will wind up screwed anyway, but at least I know I'll have tried my best. That is the only way, I will find peace that NO ONE can take away.

[CantGetFooledAgain]

9. A renewable energy "Manhattan Project"...

...is what is needed. More precisely, was needed starting 20 years ago. But it's not too late. This kind of effort, coupled with tax incentives and subsidies promoting energy conservation could still turn this situation around.

How many people would buy a hybrid vehicle if the government would make 20% of the purchase price tax deductible? That's just one of hundreds of ideas. There are so many ways that the government could:

1) Promote alternative energy development

2) Promote conservation of energy

I hear that we are in a crisis, and I see absolutely no constructive leadership to get us out of it. What I see instead is the beginning of what future historians may call "the oil wars".

I remain optimistic that we will come to our senses and find the wisdom not to destroy ourselves.

[halobeam]

11. btw.... you have a great attitude. Yes, we can do it,

it begins with our own actions, and our great big mouths (okay I'll speak for myself)... my great big mouth, and sharing all information we learn about "not using the oil".

[wli]

12. c.f. the Hirsch Report

If we start preparing 20 years ahead we'll be fine.
If we start preparing 10 years ahead, there will be a major disruption in the economy, way of life, and large losses of life.
If we don't start preparing until it's already happened, the catastrophe is incalculably bad.

Word is that we're already over the peak.

[bpilgrim]

18. why do you HATE america?

more...
http://media.globalfreepress.com

peace