[maverickdoc]

I would like to start of by saying good job matt, on a book well written. How did you come to learn about Peak Oil? And all the complex issues that go with it? Like alternative energy? Petrodollar? Etc.

[MattSavinar]

While waiting for my bar results in the fall of 2003, I was temping for a criminal defense attorney and tyring to put together my own anti-drug war organization.

While looking for articles to link to the website of the anti-drug war group, I came across Michael Ruppert and From the Wilderness.

I noticed the FTW articles on oil and the economy. At first, I thought, "Wow, that's some really, really scary stuff. But surely somebody will think of something? Like what about that thermal deploy-what-cha makall it stuff?"

But then I thought, "Clearly, this guy knows what he's talking about in regards to the drug war. If he is as on the money in regards to oil as he is to drugs, we're already in waste- high shit."

I had the same experiences most of you have: you read and get a bit disturbed. In an attempt to assuage your fears, you read more. But that only serves to get you more concerned.

Finally, the dam burst when it hit me that even if we did have scalable alternatives, we're not going to pursue them until it's too late. That was the moment of truth for me.

Ruppert's "Truth and Lies of 9/11" also helped put a lot of things in perspective.

I put up the site in the hopes of 1) finding a few other people who were as freaked out as I was and 2) perhaps using it to help find employment as an alternative energy lobbyist, thereby combining my concerns about peak oil with my legal background. Also figured that people are more likely to invest in alt-e, as oil prices get high. Therefore, a job in the alt-e. industry would be somewhat insulated from the collapse.

I had no intention of writing a book until after going on Coast to Coast. I figured I would keep looking for a job in the alt-energy sell some books on the side, which would be used to finance my own preparations, help pay down debt faster, etc.

Matt

[maverickdoc]

How come your book is not available on Amzon.com or any major books sellers?

[MattSavinar]

I published the book entirely on my own. My costs are thus sky high (at least 2-3x as high) compared to even a small publisher.

To put it on Amazon, I'd have to lower the price down to $10-$15, which would eliminate just about any return I make per book. Same thing goes for the major chains.

Let's say the book would retail for $15 at Chain X. I'd have to sell it to Chain X for $9/copy or less, which would practically put me in the red. I'd also have to sell them more copies then I can even afford to buy upfront. The problem is big chains don't prepay. They take your books, but you don't see the money till after they sell, which could be six months or longer. If the books don't sell, they get returned to you.

And sometimes they will stiff you or be slow in ponying up the dough. If you're a big publisher, you can afford the store being slow in payment or even not paying on couple hundred of books. I can't.

To make matters worse, you can't write off the production costs until after the book sells. (Accrual accounting.) Which means you could expend a ton of money in one year, but not get to take that as a business dedcution until the next year, or whenever the books sell).

If I had 6-12 months of income in the bank, I could get it into chains. But I'm like most people on this board: living month to month, trying to pay down debt, and figuring out how to finance more extensive preparations.

There are some small bookstores scattered throghout the country that carry it. Mostly survival or alternative living shops.

Matt

[maverickdoc]

In your book you seem extremely pessimistic. You seem to suggest there is no hope in alternative energy. You speak of tremendously powerful forces, corporations and govt. that have an inherent interest in keeping things the way they are. You seem to suggest their is no hope in trying to change the system.

Yet you want to become an energy lobbyist why the disconnect?

[0mar]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('maverickdoc', 'I')n your book you seem extremely pessimistic. You seem to suggest there is no hope in alternative energy. You speak of tremendously powerful forces, corporations and govt. that have an inherent interest in keeping things the way they are. You seem to suggest their is no hope in trying to change the system.

Yet you want to become an energy lobbyist why the disconnect?

[MattSavinar]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('maverickdoc', 'I')n your book you seem extremely pessimistic. You seem to suggest there is no hope in alternative energy. You speak of tremendously powerful forces, corporations and govt. that have an inherent interest in keeping things the way they are. You seem to suggest their is no hope in trying to change the system.

Yet you want to become an energy lobbyist why the disconnect?

[maverickdoc]

Thanks 0mar, but it would be better if matt answered it

[maverickdoc]

You speak of the department homeland security as an entity designed to suppress descent. Yet you go on to write some damming things in your book about the Government. Aren’t you scared they will come to get you?

[MattSavinar]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('maverickdoc', 'Y')ou speak of the department homeland security as an entity designed to suppress descent. Yet you go on to write some damming things in your book about the Government. Aren’t you scared they will come to get you?

[Permanently_Baffled]

Hey Matt

Good to see you posting regular again.

Can I get your views on how perhaps different countries will approach the problem , do you see some being more successful than others in dealing with the PO symptons and transition?

Do you think any countries will manage a "powerdown" / " Natural die off" as opposed to mass anarchy starvation and chaos?

Let me down gently please

PB

[maverickdoc]

MattSavinar what are you thoughts on the Iranian Oil Bourse, and the recent allegation that they are working on nuclear weapons? Will the regime be toppled before they set up this bourse that trades in euros?

[MattSavinar]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Permanently_Baffled', 'H')ey Matt

Good to see you posting regular again.

Can I get your views on how perhaps different countries will approach the problem , do you see some being more successful than others in dealing with the PO symptons and transition?

Do you think any countries will manage a "powerdown" / " Natural die off" as opposed to mass anarchy starvation and chaos?

Let me down gently please

PB

[Ayoob_Reloaded]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('maverickdoc', 'I')n your book you seem extremely pessimistic. You seem to suggest there is no hope in alternative energy. You speak of tremendously powerful forces, corporations and govt. that have an inherent interest in keeping things the way they are. You seem to suggest their is no hope in trying to change the system.

Yet you want to become an energy lobbyist why the disconnect?

[MattSavinar]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ayoob_Reloaded', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('maverickdoc', 'I')n your book you seem extremely pessimistic. You seem to suggest there is no hope in alternative energy. You speak of tremendously powerful forces, corporations and govt. that have an inherent interest in keeping things the way they are. You seem to suggest their is no hope in trying to change the system.

Yet you want to become an energy lobbyist why the disconnect?