[Ibon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Revi', 'O')f course the rich will be able to live a lifestyle much like what we live today. The rest of us will be in abject poverty, which uses a lot less energy. That's just the way it works. It stinks, but there won't be much done about it. Look at Europe. All those refugees aren't using much gas and oil right now, are they? Meanwhile there are people living a modern lifestyle in the countries where they are landing. Will the refugees end up living like the rich? We'll see... I suspect not.

[ennui2]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ibon', '
')Removing the high per capita consumption levels of the middle class and restricting consumption to a small elite is one of the ways we eventually solve climate change and a suite of other environmental problems.

[dolanbaker]

I've never really subscribed to the idea that less oil = austerity & poverty, sure it means less "stuff", but if you're really honest you'll find that much of it is not needed.
Those "must haves" usually end up at the back of the garage fairly quickly as they either never get used or have been superseded by the next "must have".

Simply putting an end to frivolous consumerism (& planned obsolescence) would save about a quarter of the the energy we currently consume, without austerity. The real issue is going to find employment for those who's jobs depend on consumerism. It would only take relatively minor lifestyle changes to significantly cut consumption, but for real cuts, then we're looking at a change in the makeup of cities as mixed zones replace the current separate zones so people don't actually need cars.

Peak oil will be more of a social issue than simply trying to cope with a dwindling supply.

[ROCKMAN]

donlan - "Peak oil will be more of a social issue than simply trying to cope with a dwindling supply." Will be??? So no social problems related to energy so far? I suspect you didn't mean that statement to come across like that. LOL. Perhaps you meant more intense social issues.

[dolanbaker]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ROCKMAN', 'd')onlan - "Peak oil will be more of a social issue than simply trying to cope with a dwindling supply." Will be??? So no social problems related to energy so far? I suspect you didn't mean that statement to come across like that. LOL. Perhaps you meant more intense social issues.

[Revi]

It's too bad we didn't listen to the Hirsch Report! We would have had at least 10-15 years to deal with things, instead of no time at all....

[dolanbaker]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Revi', 'I')t's too bad we didn't listen to the Hirsch Report! We would have had at least 10-15 years to deal with things, instead of no time at all....

[dolanbaker]

I was being a bit sarcastic when I said that "the markets would sort it out!"
Yes I do know that consumerism is what makes the current world go round.

[ennui2]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', '
')Sorry. I am just feeling a little full of myself this morning.

[ennui2]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dolanbaker', '
')Most people don't connect the previously high cost of fuel in 2007 with the economic downturn of 2008

[dolanbaker]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dolanbaker', 'I') was being a bit sarcastic when I said that "the markets would sort it out!"
Yes I do know that consumerism is what makes the current world go round.

[dolanbaker]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ennui2', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dolanbaker', '
')Most people don't connect the previously high cost of fuel in 2007 with the economic downturn of 2008

[Revi]

I saw a list of the most oil dependent countries, and guess which ones topped the list? I think Greece, Cyprus and Puerto Rico (if it was a country) were near the top of the list. There are others,such as Saudi Arabia which are very dependent, but they produce oil also, so they don't count. I think It's a prescription for bankruptcy to be too dependent on large amounts of fossil fuel.

[Cog]

So when the price of oil goes down the PIIGS should be less vulnerable to oil shocks? Or does it only work one way? LOL

[dolanbaker]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cog', 'S')o when the price of oil goes down the PIIGS should be less vulnerable to oil shocks? Or does it only work one way? LOL