Energy deficit grows, solutions wither

In his new book on the coming energy catastrophe, “The Long Emergency,” James Kunstler describes “an age-old tendency of humans to believe in magical deliverance and to wish for happy outcomes” when confronted with immense problems.

Resource depletion is one of those problems.

Recent stories playing up sporting events, movie star romances and the fate of missing teens serve to downplay shocking confirmations that these delusional tendencies are alive and well when it comes to our energy supplies.

For example, in the midst of high oil and gas prices, Congress passes a $286.4 billion highway bill devoted to promoting pet road construction projects instead of financing the massive passenger rail system we are going to be in desperate need of soon.

Portland Press Herald