[Colorado-Valley]

If I were young, I'd actually be more concerned about being drafted over the next few years for the resource wars.

[Raxozanne]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kochevnik', 'C')onsider the fact that NO ONE has a crystal ball showing the future. Consider the fact that you might be hit by a bus tomorrow, or next week. Even in the worst case scenario, if you are 25 now, you'll be over 40 when the Crisis hits. Chill.

[mryan]

thank you for enlightening me, my dali lama. thanks..... i wish i was as wise as you.

stop tooting your age horn

[arretium]

If I were young and in the U.S., I'd seriously consider joining the military now so that I could work in the Air Force and avoid front line duty against the [insert your oil country here]. Further, I'd shy away from the Navy unless I had a job unrelated to sea duty due to the possibility of war against China or Russia. Who knows, maybe we'd even go to war against Europe. Maybe the neocons want to go out in a blaze of glory!

[chargrove]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'E')ven in the worst case scenario, if you are 25 now, you'll be over 40 when the Crisis hits.

[UIUCstudent01]

In history books about WW2 they usually said that Europe was a "powder-keg". It seems like events are going that way.

But, seriously, I really CANNOT see my age group (the first ones to be drafted if it is this year) fighting in a war. No way. I CANNOT see Bush announcing a draft or some kind of draft-like thing. Everytime I look at it, I just can't see it happening within the country without a huge major change such as a deep recession and terror attacks. Yet, when I look at the news on this site and others - and some anti-Iran propaganda - it's like looking at some other world. I attempt to disbelieve - but it doesn't quite work.

It's a strange feeling that.. But anyways, I'm not dropping everything, although you were probably aiming more towards jesusofsuburbia.

[dhfenton]

I'd hate to disagree; but when the lifestyles of Joe Six-pack, and the middle class start going to hell in a hand basket, they're not only going to condone a draft, they'll demand it. They will demand our government secure "our" oil supply. They will condone any form of genocide it takes to get that oil. If you think for a minute that our government will hesitate to attack any country that withholds oil from us, think again! Our government will never say, "Gee, sorry America, you're a bunch of spoiled gluttons and it's time to pay the piper." They will blame foreign powers, and terrorist and Muslims, and godless Chinese; anyone they have to to escape the blame our government so richly deserves. They have pulled it off time and again, so don't think your generation is going to be any different, you're not. If the shit hits the fan, your generation is going to be the first to die for the greed of the last two or three generations, and incidently the greed of your own generation. Congratulations, you're about to defend freedom!

[heyhoser]

Kochevnic

That's some pretty mellow advice and I wish more people would accept it, because, basically, there's nothing we can do except to stay sane. Prepare for the worst, plan for the best-that kind of thing.

When I first accepted PO (hehe, sounds like my lord and saviour or something ), I went NUTS for about a week, when I really should have been more calm and 'Spock-like'.

Live long and prosper, friend.

[JoeW]

Okay, I pretty much agree with everything stated, except
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kochevnik', '
')You are neither the center of the universe, nor the wisest person here ...

[Ludi]

My sister literally had a nervous breakdown and ended up in the hospital after I told her about PO. This maybe was a coincidence with other stressors in her life, but I don't think the seriousness of this information to people who understand it should be underestimated.

[hymalaia]

The night I discovered Matt Savinar's site (or it may have been a couple days before, can't remember exactly), I got piss drunk at a party and had to be hauled away in an ambulance. It wasn't that serious, no detox or anything. And it had little to do with peak oil why I got so drunk, it was more a set of circumstances, little things here and there, like not having slept in a while, not having eaten very much that day, having ran several miles earlier in the day, the damn girl i was into showing up at the party with another guy, and then the fact that I just happened to have a full handle of cuban rum with me and no one to take it away. Heh, I won't lie though, as I was chugging it down I was thinking to myself "who cares? In a few years we'll all be dead from peak oil anyway!" and then I proceeded to try and make out every girl who started dancing within a few feet of me. Heh, hardly my kind of behavior!

I've laid of the booze since that night, over a year ago now. A very bizzare experience, especially in the ambulance and the hospital where the workers were assholes to me. I was convinced for several months it was a sign from a higher power that peak oil was the real deal. Who knows...

[accept_death]

A draft of any kind will be political chaos. If it does happen though it will be the wake up call the current young generation needs to wipe that "I've been a consumer all my life" smirk off their faces. There's no way in hell that the middle (key word, the working/poor class is already in Iraq) class will willingly drop their lavish easy going lifestyle to go to some 100 degree desert as infantry grunts while their boomer parents sit on their fat asses and suck the Social Security system dry. They'd sooner take out the government, or better yet their own parents. Again, this is the MIDDLE class we're talking about. A poorer kid whose had a difficult life will be far more willing to A.) appreciate what he has and B.) sacrifice personal benefit for the good of others as a sign of his appreciation. Thus we find this kid sucking on depleted uranium in a broken down tent. Middle class youngsters are A.) not that noble and B.) not that stupid. The day we institute a military draft is the day this country finally implodes on itself.

The only acception would be if they were to institute the draft so slyly that the middle class would not realize what's happening. A few here, and a few there will be sacrificed to the "war" effort. Most will be unaffected. Until it's their turn. But I don't think it will happen this way.

[vegasmade]

I'm 24. Prior to hearing about peak oil, I had only jolly old age to look forward to. Get an education, career, wife, house, kids, and then retirement. I never really fit the American/capitalist dream, but it beat a move to sub-Saharan Africa. Reality says that the American dream was just that, a dream. And if PO doesn't happen in my generation, which will it? IMO, Kochevnick, you are the problem. Younger people are stuck cleaning up the mess that your generation has created. You're not one of those hippies turned yuppies are you? Ultimately, a world free of hydrocarbons is inevitable. Sure, we may have 100 years of our gas fueled orgy left. Then what? I'm not inclined to put off our current reality on my children's generation. I hope you sleep well having done it to us. The sooner we acknowledge the long term fossil fuel dilema, the sooner I can get back to planning my retirement. If I've got to accept a few reductions and restrictions (aka-hardships), no biggie. They certainly pale in comparison to the 'worst case scenario.' So Kochevnick, look in the mirror if you want to place blame on our dreary outlook. 30 years of knowledge and not a damn thing to show for it. Fuck You Very Much!

[vegasmade]

Look, I'm not trying to get personal. I figure that any inaction now, guarantees fewer options later. I don't want history damming this era for screwing them. The best thing we can do is get really scared, and act on it now. There's two things that motivate-inspiration and desperation. A near term peak will provide ample desperation, that doesn't mean we shouldn't get inspired to act now if it's a longer term peak reality. Hell, the best possibility is to ween ourselves off oil and leave the remainder in the ground, period!

[Janick]

... and I'm not 25, I'm 36. I actually knew in the back of my head about PO since I was in high school, over 20 years ago, but everyone led me to believe that we were OK for at least 100 years. Yeah right. After doing some research on oil prices on the net, I realized that PO is nearer than I ever thought possible.

Of course I'm panicked... I have 2 kiddos to feed. Those kiddos are my primary concern. But I've been totally freaked out for weeks.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'M')y sister literally had a nervous breakdown and ended up in the hospital after I told her about PO. This maybe was a coincidence with other stressors in her life, but I don't think the seriousness of this information to people who understand it should be underestimated.

[NEOPO]

hang in there people

Listen.......I am pretty sure JOHNDENVER is an agent of the PO matrix!!

Look - when the mass media is saying peak oil - that means we are way past peak oil and its time to run to the hills!!!

Learn - If you are not knowledgeable then you wont be convincing or be able to handle/help people in PO denial.

I am 33 with kiddos also - I went from 0 - to PO breakdown in less then 5 days.
I consider myself one of the lucky ones!!!!
It can get better - you either start to organize and plan OR it can get worse - you ignore it and hope it wont happen before something lights a fire under your ass

If you are like me - your PO demon never sleeps.
Ignorance is not bliss......

[Daculling]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vegasmade', ' ')IMO, Kochevnick, you are the problem. Younger people are stuck cleaning up the mess that your generation has created.

[spot5050]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kochevnik', ':')!:

Well, I'm not really ... I'm not young and I've known about Peak Oil for over 30 years ...

But ...

I know almost 95 percent of the people who show up here seriously freaked out about Peak Oil are under the age of 25. The refrain is "Woe is me, I need to quit all my college classes so that I can learn how to be an organic potato farmer so I can live off my potato farm this winter, the end is near, how do I learn how to shoot a gun, why are my parents/friends so stupid ... they just won't listen to me, the PO expert."

FIRST, you need to take a deep breath and calm down. SECONDyou need to make a conscious effort to limit the changes in your life until you have digested PO emotionally (this takes months, not hours, days or weeks). THIRD, lay off your family and friends. Just because YOU got a little taste of the real world shoved in your face doesnt give you the right to make someone else miserable and crazy. Hey Mr. Rocket Science, newsflash, YOU MIGHT BE WRONG ... hell we might all be wrong here (I don't think it's likely, but it IS POSSIBLE).

Those of us have a few years on this planet have learned a few things which come from years of hard knocks and one of the most important one's is that making decisions when you are in a highly charged emotional state IS A VERY BAD IDEA. Try to be a little more Spock-like. Read. Read some more. Think. Read some more. Think some more.

Consider the fact that NO ONE has a crystal ball showing the future. Consider the fact that you might be hit by a bus tomorrow, or next week.
Consider that even if PO is a BAD THING, the world is not going to collapse by next Wednesday. Consider that the last time we had an oil shortage (yes that's right, we HAVE actually faced a version of this problem in the past, long before you were even a twinkle in your parents' eye, in the 1970's) there was a BOATLOAD of indicators and events which preceded any difficulties. Spend some time reading about the 1970's, you'll learn some things to watch for. Consider that most of the posters here who have been discussing this subject intensely for quite some time now agree that long before we see serious problems, we will see first, a prolonged economic recession, followed by a prolonged economic depression. Even in the worst case scenario, if you are 25 now, you'll be over 40 when the Crisis hits.

40+. Can you grasp the concept ?

So for the sake of us old-timers, it would be really great if you could control your youthful angst, because, quite frankly, it's a bit annoying. You are neither the center of the universe, nor the wisest person here ... hell, you won't even be in charge when it all comes down. We all have lives we value, we all have people we care about.

You're not alone, you're not unique and it's not time to panic just yet.

Chill.

[spudbuddy]

I agree with much (most) of what Kochevnick says...
and in the time to come we'll need a lot of cooler heads prevailing, no doubt.
I admit - when I think about the future of my children and their children, I can get pretty pissed off.
About mismanagement, irresponsibility.

On the other hand, I have a pretty firm belief that we're capable of licking the problem.
When I first arrived here (at this site) I had a boo at the total number of posts...
amazing.
Right up there with the lonely hearts clubs, and peep show extravaganzas.
wow.
People are talking.
They will talk up a storm. Imagine all that rain. Imagine the flood.
(washing up the steps of the Capitol)

But to add to this particular discussion topic:

Kids today need a lot of discussion...a lot of straight answers...the truth, basically...but depending on their age and what they can handle...that information set down in a manner that fits their sensibility, and emotional development.

We live in a society riddled with a lot of denial. Partitioned up the yin-yang by political, religious, social, economic, and class-structured beliefs.

As JH Kunstler says: This isn't the end of the world. Eventually, when it comes...it will be the end of a very wasteful economic system. That isn't necessarily a bad thing at all.

In moments of levity (they still exist!) I can see it as an amazing adventure. One of the biggest. Imagine.
When we have no choice but to:

-turn suburbia back into liveable communities, complete with a public realm that works, Main Streets, and a walkable, child-friendly infrastructure.
-reclaim America from Wal*mart's death-like grip.
-drastically reduce the amount of CO2 we pour into the atmosphere
-fire the Globaloney Globalizers (no fuel for their foolishness)
-slow things down a whole lot
-make the distance somewhere and the time it takes to get there a magical thing again.
-bring back the train. The station. The whistle-stop.
-quiet the landscape the hell down!
-get back to a sense of a nation all working together for a common good.

If this means you can't grow up to live in a McMansion, drive a tank-sized SUV while chatting on a cell phone watching dvds with background cd's and palm-piloting across the landscape in air-conditioned comfort (or stuck in gridlock) so be it.
Will we really miss those things?

It can be a brave new world. It will require some courage, no doubt.
And good old common sense.

As the previous poster mentioned - we've been here before.
I don't believe for a second we'll get caught with our pants down.
We're waking up real fast.
And we're not quitting...(just mulling things over a little).

The cat is truly out of the bag. The numbers are growing.
When the time comes, the democratic process will prove itself.
That's why it's there in the first place.
It requires a little faith.
Which wakes up every morning in America.
Wow - were we ever gullible-
But we ain't licked yet.
You bet.