[0mar]

Also, remember, as soon as growth stops in our economies, the system falls apart. 0% growth in our current model equates to financial meltdown. Sustained 0% growth is a catastrophe. Negative growth is the Apocalypse.

[Kez]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JohnDenver', '[')So you move into the flop house. You've got food, you've got your job. You're not dying. You can still pay your mortgage. In fact you've got a lot more money every month because you're not paying into a car. Life's good. You're getting more exercise. You're overcoming your addiction, and getting well! It's a great feeling. Next thing you know, somebody opens a bar by the flop house so you can have a beer. Why not just relax and go with the flow, instead of demanding that society support your destructive habit.

[Macsporan]

Diddums. Poor babies.

[Aaron]

You guys didn't actually read the linked thread on page one did you?

It just means that unless everyone, everywhere is forced to comply with reduced consumption, they will purchase how much energy they can afford.

If you increase the supply of any commodity on the world market, like oil for example, through conservation, efficiency, or new technology from Area 51, it's price will drop.

Since non complaint people will be able to afford more of this commodity, relative to it's new conservation-fueled lower price, they will purchase more...

See?

[Macsporan]

So any energy saved by diligent greenies will be squandered by obese rednecks from the suburbs?

Hmmm...rationing anyone?

Say goodbye to the free market and say hello to five years in a labour camp for anyone caught cheating.

Not nice, but necessary?

[Wildwell]

Well yes and no, don't forget you have a backdrop of falling supply post peak. If supply was steady or rising, the no-conservation argument would apply because you'd be supplying excess capacity and therefore a price drop. That said, that assumes you are pumping at a steady or rising rate in the first place. It's highly unlikely if the price did fall because of conservation OPEC would keep pumping if there was no market, indeed that is the whole idea of OPEC.