[TheDude]

Stuart Staniford in The Fallacy of Reversibility suggests that industrial ag will reign supreme post-peak, contrary to the Heinberg/Kunstler/Astyk vision of 50 million farmers; if true, so much for putting idle hands to work in the fields.

So much of the economy is purely discretionary and dependent on reliable fuel/electricity for all that I'd lay odds on looking for a handout to become the norm, instead of the reviled exception. Nothing new about opportunistic sloth of course: Roman corn dole. Or ponder the words of this old song:

Of all the trades in England
The begging is the best
For when a man's tired he can lay 'em down and rest
And a beggin' I will go
And a beggin' I will go

[Pretorian]

what is a point of mugging at all?
Just imagine yourself a business owner, shop, restaurant, laundery, whatever.

A guy or two shows up and say--

-Sir... The crime is skyrocketing here , it is pretty bad, and no one but us actually does anything to make neighborhood safer. Would you mind making a tax-deductible contribution? For only 10% (15, 20) of your income we could keep up a good work we do here... Otherwise, we might fail, and god knows what could happen to this business or even to you, sir...

[Fredrik]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('drayor', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Fredrik', 'S')uch changes are coming but they're not likely to be small and incremental... It's going to be more like, "Will you go cut some wood for a week and get these food coupons to feed your family?"

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Fredrik', '[') It's simply inconceivable that most people would lay down for the rest of their lives, if they get at least a little more than nothing by putting their energy and skill into productive use.

[Fredrik]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', 'I') think the evidence bears this out. By far the vast majority of people prefer to work, in order to have a decent life, rather than sit around and receive handouts.

What may be lacking are the skills and ability to find alternative employment, if one is used to sitting in a cubicle all day.

[Ludi]

I'm not convinced demand will just magically enable people to do something they have no skills or knowledge of how to do.


I haven't yet figured out how I will make my living in the low energy future, myself. And I have lots of skills.

[MarkJ]

When they started cutting welfare benefits, it was a shock to the system of many people on public assistance since they weren't used to working, let alone competing for jobs, keeping jobs, working two jobs, paying market rate rents, paying for transportation plus budgeting, saving and investing. The multi-generation welfare families don't have many marketable skills or much experience managing money. Landlords were forced to evict most subsidized tenants when they reduced or lost their benefits since they couldn't afford market rate rents (first/last/security), heat & electric or they weren't responsible and/or disciplined enough to budget their money.

When my sister was a case worker for DSS, many of the clients didn't have a HS diploma, GED, transportation, drivers license, had no marketable skills, little job experience and couldn't pass a drug test or background check. Their physical appearance, grooming habits and social skills also held them back. Many of the males had multiple kids with different mothers and were behind on child support and/or had other wage garnishments. They were often in and out of jail due to child support and crimes.

[jboogy]

Things might be different in the near future, shoes changing feet and what-not.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSuERWDDxlM&NR=1

[Ludi]

Darn lazy kids.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9IS-3Z5EC4

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mikeflecheer', 'T')here will not be a fourth generation for them, this is the last.
Oil made it all possible until now.

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Fredrik', '
')Don't worry, a few months with next to no food and no money to pay the rent or mortgage, will do wonders in turning the average office zombie into an industrious worker in whatever trade will be in demand.