[BigTex]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('nas635', 'L')ong time lurker - first post

CAVEAT: This is what I think the US could do, not what it will would do and not what I endorse.
WARNING: Severe doomer porn

Situation: US aware of the following:
1. Belief in the peak oil scenario for many years.
2. Global fiat monetary system on shaky ground, possibly ready for economic collapse
3. World population numbers much greater than can be reasonably supported

Goals:
After causing a fast crash scenario, US ends up still in control, technology intact, world population greatly reduced, sufficient oil/resources for reduced population to buy time for alternatives


Actions:
Multiple nuke and/or dirty bomb false flag incidents in US and Western countries
Blame pinned on Iran
Nuclear retaliation on Iran
Escalate war in Mideast
Destabilize Pakistan & India
Get China involved on the wrong side
World War 3/4 started
US missile sheild installed in Europe
To end war US nukes or causes others to nuke the following countries: China, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia -
countries with large dense populations and no or little resources

US and Russia cooperating in this scenario, last details agreed to in Kennebunkport.

REPEAT: I do not endorse this but I think it is a possible worst case scena

Hows that for a first post?

[Pops]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MonteQuest', 'A')t some point, but not yet.

And before that becomes reality is when we need to conserve the most.

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MonteQuest', '
')As I said in my Tip of the Iceberg thread:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MonteQuest', 'S')eems this “transition and grow” mindset has only the near-term future in mind.

In my opinion, any proposed solutions to the peak oil issue must address the following criteria to be viable long-term solutions.

1. They must address population growth.
2. They must address the global warming issue.
3. They must address the consequences of conservation efforts/efficiency gains.
4. They must address the economic issues of a no-growth economy and past debt.
5. They must be sustainable/ renewable and the least toxic to the environment.
6. And probably most important, they must be global in perspective.

Only a powerdown embraces and addresses these issues on a long-term sustainable basis.

Anything else just pushes the day of reckoning into the future and makes the cliff steeper.

[Pops]

I agree EU, there is no One Unifying Solution as outlined, only a mass of chaotic, isolated ones.

Peter Graves always pulled off the impossible – just not like anyone expected.

[Roccland]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('asdar', 'W')hat would you do, or do you think there's no hope?

[Byron100]

This has been a favorite game of mine since I was a kid... "What would I do if I was King?"

Okay, here goes...

Step One: Recognize the unalterable fact that our population needs to come down, and come down fast. Since I don't advocate the engineering of superbugs with a 95% kill rate, I would implement a series of initiatives to cut the birthrate from the current 2.1 (In the US) down to .5 per couple, as quickly as this could humanely be done. This means no child tax credits, of course, and a sterility program that pays something like $5000 for any citizen who wants to be sterilized. This would be huge burden at first, but it would probably cut the birthrate by half in 5 years or less.

Another thing I would do is to dismantle the public school system, with the exception of higher education such as universities and community / trade colleges. This would have to be done with at least 5 years' warning (so people desiring to have kids now will know there will be no public schools for them), and each grade would be phased out as the last of the publicly-schooled children pass through the system. This would free up enormous resources to cover other needed programs, such as massive public works projects dedicated to changing over our infrastructure to a fossil fuel-free society. There would be schools, of course, but it would be up to parents to be responsible for their children's education (jeeze, what a neat concept!)

Step Two: Now that we have the birthrate on a steep decline, we still have the extended-life problem to be concerned with. I don't know the particulars, but my brother-in-law is fond of telling me that something like 50% of all Medicare expenses go towards taking care of people in their last month of life. This has to end, and soon, as we need that money for more vital uses. I don't know how I would carry something like this out, but I would make certain that the amount of GDP spent for medical purposes be cut in half, and held there in sync with a declining GDP, however long the depression lasts. This would shift the end-of-life paradigm to the home, which is as it should be...what's the point of living an extra 10 days if you're going to be in a hospital room with tubes going in and out all over your body?? The sooner we end this madness, the better off we're going to be. Also, late-life procedures such as heart surgery would be rationed out by age...40 years old, yes, 75, no, that sort of thing.

Step Three: Complete changeover to a hydrocarbon-free society, to take place over 50 years. Nuclear would have to be a big part of this, as this is the only way to keep the electrical grid operating, and to electrify the railroads, etc, but I would implement massive solar power projects, build tidal generators, windmills wherever possible. This would require that any sort of obstacle to construction of these new energy sources (especially nukes) be removed, including environmental regulations, local opposition, etc. No lengthly permitting process here...just get 'em built, and fast. If France can run their country on nukes, so can we, and this addresses the global warming issue as well.

As far as cars go, their private use needs to be phased out as quickly as possible. Good first steps would be to increase the driving age to 21, mandate strict training and testing requirements (difficult enough to prevent about half the people from ever passing). Huge taxes would be placed on all new gasoline cars sold...with the lowest MPG cars having the highest taxes. Electric cars would be untaxed - if they are below a certain weight level...we do not need a whole fleet of battery-powered SUV's...LOL. But for the most part, there would be a massive shift over to mass transit, railroads, etc.

Step Four: Total revamping of tax policy...to help cut costs and centralize government functions. Get rid of income tax...tax consumption instead. Also, imports should be taxed at a high enough level to force the equalization of imports to exports...if we're running a trade deficit, it needs to be corrected by increases in excise taxes until imports drop to that or below the level of exports. This would get the jobs back home where we need them, as well as keeping our precious dollars home too. Some sort of wealth tax should be considered for corporations and billionaires, as well, bit this should be done in conjunction with other countries to prevent capital flight. (This could be done as part of a currency stabilization scheme). On the local level, I would eliminate property taxes and only allow the states to collect sales taxes to pay for *essential* services such as police and fire protection. This will allow millions of Americans to "shelter in place" with very little income, which is critical to prevent massive homelessness in the coming depression. Sure, we would have trashy parks and potholes all over the place, but we have that now anyhow, so I don't think there would be much of a difference...hehe

I could go on, but you get the idea. Ahhh, to be king, even for a day....

[Byron100]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Roccland', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('asdar', 'W')hat would you do, or do you think there's no hope?

[Pops]

Step one (population reduction) I like.

But as I mentioned in another thread, to eliminate public schools pretty well institutionalizes social and economic stratification – if that is your goal then good job.

Step Two: I agree, today in the US we ration healthcare by who can and who can’t afford insurance – silly because we are closing down government hospitals left and right and now the uninsured get treated in the most expensive venue- the ER. The killer to any bill I have seen toward any type of one payer system is "I don’t want to pay for indigents and I want one more hour at all cost"!

Silly shits, you are paying for them already in the most expensive way possible!

3: changing to another power source only pushes the time of reckoning down the line to your grandkids.

4: Ah, crap I am arguing that somewhere else. If anyone cares my thought are in the Gentle Reminder thread.

[Byron100]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', 'S')tep one (population reduction) I like.

But as I mentioned in another thread, to eliminate public schools pretty well institutionalizes social and economic stratification – if that is your goal then good job.

---


3: changing to another power source only pushes the time of reckoning down the line to your grandkids.

4: Ah, crap I am arguing that somewhere else. If anyone cares my thought are in the Gentle Reminder thread.

[Pops]

I don’t know anything about teaching in the ghetto or anywhere else Byron but still think any public system is better than one where the rich get and the rest get none.

As far as voluntary sterilization for profit I think that is an excellent idea – I would have paid had I the bucks after my first natural child and saved myself some worry!

[MonteQuest]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('EnergyUnlimited', ' ')So we are on mission impossible.
There are no realistic solutions to combination of six problems as listed above.

[MonteQuest]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', 'I') agree EU, there is no One Unifying Solution as outlined, only a mass of chaotic, isolated ones.

[MonteQuest]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', ' ')So, Your Highness Oh Dictator of America Monte Quest what are your dictates?

[Pops]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MonteQuest', '[')Take your pick.

[Roccland]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MonteQuest', '[')Take your pick.

[MonteQuest]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MonteQuest', '[')Take your pick.

[Pops]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MonteQuest', 'I')f this is a "if I were King" thread, then it belongs in Open forum where other fantasies take place.

[Roccland]

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