Peak Oil as Transformative

Grist Magazine – Funny. I wrote this post last night and held onto it to post it later today — and then John went and scooped me, saying many of the very things I had to say. Oh well. Consider this an addendum to his post.

Ibon at peakoil.net voices his worst fear:

I have lost much of this initial hope that the transformative powers of peak oil, global warming or other environmental stresses are very likely to act on or threaten the status quo for a long time to come…

Instead of chaos and transformation I see the global elite preserving the status quo at all costs to prevent revolution. The real geological consequences of peak oil and related resource depletion and environmental stresses will only result in an increase of a two tiered class culture where the elites and wealthy will preserve their status and wealth and a growing underclass will be socialized to accept their decline and serve the interest of the elites. This will all occur in a backdrop of increasing environmental degradation as consumption levels will stay at the maximum level the available resources will allow.

I don’t see revolution anywhere near the horizon.

I definitely feel where this is coming from. I won’t pretend I haven’t had the same thoughts.

Grist Magazine