by mark » Fri 15 Sep 2006, 12:13:46
Wow, I was just thinking of posting a new topic when I see a similar discussion is already underway.
Anecdotal data is hardly reliable as it’s impossible to affirm national trends from a few examples. It is, however, how most of us judge what’s happening in the world because these personal stories impact us the most.
It’s real estate that is my current concern as my brothers have taken on large, new, mortgages even while one has not yet sold his previous house (a move necessitated by a new job). So it’s personal in that regard but also my friends are agents whose living depends on turnover.
I also read a lot since becoming peak aware, especially on energy, economics, lifestyle, culture, and religion. It’s comforting to come across articles like Groppe’s as it reaffirms one’s placid and complacent mindset. Yea, things will change, we’ll adjust, life goes on, yadda, yadda, yadda.
But, could it really be different this time! We’re warned in the financial markets to avoid this kind of thinking because it’s detrimental to our financial health. However, I can think of at least 5 things that are different this time – peak oil, massive debt, globalization, overpopulation, resource depletion (water, topsoil, marine life, forest,), etc.
But the biggest difference this time is the rapid change that the age of oil has brought. In 200 years we’ve gone from agrarian life to the moon. It’s only my opinion, but I think that is too fast. I believe our technology has outpaced human ability to adjust – which has caused all sorts of deviant behavior we blithely pass off as anomalies’. The radical reaction of Islamist may reflect the too rapid adjustment required of people worldwide by our oil based lifestyle.
Who is John Galt?