The Quest For Nuanced Understanding of Complex Realities Of Exurbia

…In the words of the author, the purpose of the article is to “dismantle the foundations of the new catastrophist cult” — the conclusions by “peak oil advocates”2 (Colin Campbell, Kenneth Deffeys, et al.) These conclusions, in Dr Smil’s view “are based on interpretations that lack any nuanced understanding of the human quest for energy, disregard the role of prices, ignore any historical perspectives, and presuppose the end of human inventiveness and adaptability.” The author slams the “peak-oil groupies” with the accusation of spreading “the culture of doom”, and raises the following key points to rebut their arguments, on which (the points) he then elaborates in the article:

….I believe that, considering the credentials of the author, this is inexcusably hapless, misleading and misguided analysis.

In the society as infantile and as non-attentive to reality as ours, the ex-urbanization is taken as a welcome trend by almost everybody:
– by would-be home owners who see this as an opportunity to get “affordable” living in the “nice” environment (and energy worries be damned!);
– by the politicians who advertise the view of non-negotiable way of life (which must be good because people want it);
– by the economists who know that home construction, furnishing and financing have become the primary engine of the US economy (that also cannot be outsourced! a major plus), and who are concerned only with the year-to-year growth, not with longer-term consequences;
– by Wall Street, which is mostly concerned with the same;
– by the real estate industry;
– by the mortgage financing industry;
– by the homebuilders;
– by the municipalities;
– by Wal-Mart and its immitators;
– by the automakers;
– by the land owners;
– and, last but not least, by oil companies…

These are all very powerful forces. And who tries to counter them — James Howard Kunstler? Well, who listens to him?

Energy Bulletin