by ReverseEngineer » Sun 02 Nov 2008, 12:09:18
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('shortonoil', '[')Although many wonderful things have been achieved in the last century, we have led ourselves down a cruel cul-de-sac. For us, as individuals, to duplicate the failures of our society is just confirmation that we lack the common sense that could have prevented us from being put in our present position.
You know, I think in good measure it was the very success with inventions tied to the thermodynamic energy of oil that so seduced people as to lose all common sense.
Electric Light Bulbs, Refrigerators, Cars, all these things came so quickly and so easily. Inside of one generation, easy personal transportation, light at the flick of a switch, good fresh food and ice cold beer in the fridge became expected, almost a God-given right. Not just "rich" people had these things, EVERYBODY had them! For the generation growing up with this plenty, it all seemed so easy. Ignored of course were the vast numbers of people who never saw the benefits of basically free energy, except on the occassional TV commercial for the Christian Children's Fund of course. "For just pennies a day, you can help this child!" Some gave as individuals, as a society we gave food aid but of course all that did was end up with overshoot of population.
The further away people get from the actual work it takes to survive, the less common sense they have. We got SOOOO far away from it using the inventions and the thermodynamic power of oil that what was depleted FIRST here was Common Sense. We hit Peak Common Sense probably sometime around 1750, and have been getting Shorter on Common Sense all the time.
Human Nature being what it is, I don't think there is any way this could have been avoided, though certainly some did try. The Amish did of course try to disavow the use of machines to make a man's work easier. Such a philosophy of ascetisism though just did not play well with the vast majority of people seduced by the easy life machines could give them. Who scrubs clothes anymore or even hangs them out on a laundry line to dry? When I was a boy, we didn't have a drier, the clothes went on a line outside to dry hung up on clothespins. I haven't seen laundry outside drying in 20 years. How many barrels of oil have been burned to dry laundry that easily could have been dried outside hanging for a few hours? It would be common sense that this is wasteful, but it sure is easier to toss the laundry in a drier than it is to hang it up on clothespins.
I agree we will have to give up much of this, these wonderful inventions like the car that made our lives so much easier, but just how capable we are now of returning to simpler ways of living that take a lot more work remains to be seen. The illusion is still there this can be perpetuated, and people will not let go of the dream willingly. It will have to be stripped from under them when the Alarm Clock rings, as it surely will. As John Donne said, "Ask not for Whom the Bell Tolls, it Tolls for Thee"
Reverse Engineer