It has now become more fashionable to talk about shortages. Computer chips have been in shortage and then in glut in the last few years. Natural gas was acutely in shortage in Europe after the war in Ukraine and pipeline sabotage brought supplies from Russia down to a trickle. Then, heroic efforts at conservation and in obtaining liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments to Europe led to a dramatic reduction in price. But last week just the potential for labor strikes among LNG workers in Australia, a major LNG exporter, sent the European price spiking again.
The world seemed so well supplied with everything in the previous decade that the shortages of this decade seem shocking to those with memories that do not extend further back than 2010.
But in what is actually recent memory, we have examples. It was the mid-2000s that brought us spiking food prices. Now they are rising again. It also brought us the highest price ever for a barrel of oil. Now oil prices are elevated again. Metals prices rose. Now they are again.
The general view is that shortages and high prices are the cure for shortages and high prices. And, there is some truth in that because high prices incentivize more people to produce more of the stuff that carries a high price. But when prices are rising in general it is difficult for miners, growers and manufacturers to address prices everywhere at once. There is only so much capital for investment. That is why eras of rising prices can go on for some time before they are resolved.
But what if some critical resources won’t yield to the logic of modern economics? What if that logic only works in a world of growing extraction of cheap resources? What if the price of extracting ever leaner grades of metals, harvesting ever more grains and fiber from farm fields losing topsoil that is already saturated with as much fertilizer as plants can absorb, pumping ever more water from falling water tables and dwindling streams and reservoirs—what if we simply cannot afford all this on a wide scale? The answer is that extraction somewhere will fail to keep pace with what people would otherwise demand, and then standards of living would fall.
I return to helium as a harbinger of what is unfolding. Back in 2009 I suggested that the world was heading toward an acute helium shortage. Granted, the world helium market was dominated at the time by the U.S. government and its Federal Helium Program which gathered the richest sources of helium in the world. The government decided in the 1920s that helium was such a critical resource that it would manage it for national security reasons. (For why it’s hard to find substitutes for helium see my 2009 piece.) Then in 1996 the U.S. Congress decided the federal government should get out of the helium business and let the marketplace set prices and seek out new supplies.
The process of exiting the helium market is near completion. The government has stopped selling helium. Now, the supposed rush is on among private companies to find and produce the helium the world needs. There are companies now doing that.
Prices of helium are spiking and helium is getting harder to secure in the meantime. The problem is so acute that scientists who need helium for all kinds of research are having a hard time getting it. And some are calling for the U.S. government to remain in the helium business in order to assure supplies are available for research facilities including its own.
Another example of an emerging pattern is the rice market. In many countries, the supplies of basic foodstuffs are managed by governments to help avoid food shortages. In Asia rice prices are at or near all time highs. India, the world’s largest rice exporter, has already instituted some restrictions on the export of rice. The fear is that other countries will follow. The reason is simple: There is no better way to insure that the ruling party will be thrown out of office than food shortages. Keeping more food at home keeps prices down.
Part of the reason for rice’s production woes is a strong El Nino negatively affecting weather for Asian growers. And the strong El Nino is starting when global ocean temperatures are already high, meaning the effect of the El Nino will be greatly enhanced by climate change compared to previous decades.
Helium and rice are two example of shortages that cannot simply be addressed by “the market.” (I put “the market” in quotes because there are very few true free markets. Most markets are carefully managed by the largest players.) A combination of government and private action is being coordinated for goals that take social priorities into account as is the case with rice or as is being requested in the case of helium.
Focusing on profitability alone will lead to rampant, accelerated pressures on resources—which is how we got to where we are today. More of the same won’t solve the long-term problems related to limits on key resources.
Kurt Cobb is a freelance writer and communications consultant who writes frequently about energy and environment. His work has appeared in The Christian Science Monitor, Resilience, Common Dreams, Naked Capitalism, Le Monde Diplomatique, Oilprice.com, OilVoice, TalkMarkets, Investing.com, Business Insider and many other places. He is the author of an oil-themed novel entitled Prelude and has a widely followed blog called Resource Insights. He can be contacted at kurtcobb2001@yahoo.com.
eee on Mon, 14th Aug 2023 9:26 pm
A king also needs entertainment. Now that I know that the download speed on my cable connection is 111.9 Mbps I can fully enjoy my entertainment in high resolution. It might have moved while watching this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDaTUj_VPnU
Sahih Al-Bukahri 3593 on Mon, 14th Aug 2023 9:47 pm
supremacist muzzies Ramadan Bombathon 2022
Final Score
attacks 177
Kills 1086
ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK Rich Men North of Richmond TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR
eee on Mon, 14th Aug 2023 10:33 pm
Hair of the girl with red clothing. I hope I am wrong about the futur, because this will not work for me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRfU3ERlvP8
guess what happens when elite master race chink supertards are sick of supremacist muzzies on Mon, 14th Aug 2023 10:36 pm
Waiting to Be Arrested at Night review – the Uyghurs’ fight for survival in a society where repression is routine
The very fact of being a Uyghur in China turns everyday life into a political act, as this memoir by renowned poet Tahir Hamut Izgil…
supremacist muzzies Ramadan Bombathon 2022
Final Score
attacks 177
Kills 1086
ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK Rich Men North of Richmond TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR
eee on Mon, 14th Aug 2023 10:50 pm
Just put them naked next time, why do you bother with clothing, we see almost everything,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpbA8Yvdw8k
TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK Rich Men North of Richmond TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR on Mon, 14th Aug 2023 11:11 pm
guess what happens when elite master race chink supertards are sick of supremacist muzzies
Waiting to Be Arrested at Night review – the Uyghurs’ fight for survival in a society where repression is routine
The very fact of being a Uyghur in China turns everyday life into a political act, as this memoir by renowned poet Tahir Hamut Izgil…
hello this is debbie this is my first attempt at eharmony i love cats i love every kind of cats i want to hug all cats but i cant hug all cats sry im being emotional i just love cats on Mon, 14th Aug 2023 11:15 pm
St. Louis, MO
As of 11:15 pm CDT
Tonight
Mostly Clear
–/64°
7%
WNW 9 mph
Mon 14 | Night
64°
7%
WNW 9 mph
Mainly clear. Low 64F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
eee on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 12:46 am
You should have killed all the Jews of the world when I asked you. I moved on to something else.
eee on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 12:49 am
I know your type. You cannot run away for your past actions.
eee on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 12:51 am
I have no problems judging people on their past actions. I am not into forgiveness.
eee on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 12:53 am
The past actions of the Jews speak by themselves. You should have killed them when I asked and no questioned me.
What Netanyahoo said again, we will use the US and when we are done with it will discard it. Something like that.
eee on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 12:56 am
I have no problem killing all the population of earth just to make a point.
eee on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 1:03 am
I will repeat that, I have no problem killing all the population of earth just to make a point.
eee on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 1:16 am
Look at this carefully. Someone is making fun of MMA. I told you, we are not here to save the population of earth or earth. We are just here to make fun of earth and the population of earth before killing all the population of earth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rco9tqYEnW8
eee on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 3:29 am
It is a fucking simulation. You dump me in a simulation without my authorization fucking bitch. I just tried to get a prepaid credit card, everything is automatized, your identification is done with a QR code and picture taken using your cell phone. Earth is a fucking simulation.
You dump in a simulation. You are the one running the simulation fucking whore. I will kill you if I can.
eee on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 3:31 am
You dump me in a simulation fucking whore and use me as a personal slave, fucking bitch. I will judge you on your past actions fucking whore.
eee on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 3:51 am
The cell phone is an enslave and control tool made to control people life.
eeee on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 3:56 am
Fucking bitch. You are the one that is making my life miserable you are the ones setting up my internet connection speed to 111.f mbps. Fuck whore I hate you. On top of that you have no emergency extraction plan for me. You cannot extract me out of earth rapidly. I will have to go through this shit body update and modifications. Fucking self-centered, manipulative amoral, lying whore. Kill while you can, because I will kill you if I have chance.
eee on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 3:59 am
The cell phone is a direct interface to the AI. The cell phone is made to hide the AI. Fucking crappy manipulatitive amoral, lying, self-centerted whore.
eee on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 4:13 am
This is your fucking solution to the population decrease because of the depopulation program you are running and low fertility. Using the cell phone as an interface to an AI to hide the depopulation of the planet. Don’t need to go to the bank to open an account identify yourself using a cell phone by taking a picture of your face and Identity card using an QR code.
This is your solution fucking whore.
eee on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 4:27 am
How are you going to keep the electrical grid online, using AI and cell phones. I want to see that. Ask South Africa if you can fix the electrical grid with cell phone and AI.
hello this is debbie this is my first attempt at eharmony i love cats i love every kind of cats i want to hug all cats but i cant hug all cats sry im being emotional i just love cats on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 5:46 am
guess what happens when elite master race chink supertards are sick of supremacist muzzies
Waiting to Be Arrested at Night review – the Uyghurs’ fight for survival in a society where repression is routine
The very fact of being a Uyghur in China turns everyday life into a political act, as this memoir by renowned poet Tahir Hamut Izgil…
ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK Rich Men North of Richmond TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR
shock as elite whitey supertard Karen Croake Heister MUZZ-19 herself with reckless abandon WENT TO SAINT PETERS on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 6:07 am
guess what happens when elite master race chink supertards are sick of supremacist muzzies
Waiting to Be Arrested at Night review – the Uyghurs’ fight for survival in a society where repression is routine
The very fact of being a Uyghur in China turns everyday life into a political act, as this memoir by renowned poet Tahir Hamut Izgil…
ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK Rich Men North of Richmond TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR
shock as elite whitey (((supertard))) Bob Saget MUZZ-19 himself with reckless abandon WENT TO SAINT PETERS on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 8:44 am
guess what happens when elite master race chink supertards are sick of supremacist muzzies
Waiting to Be Arrested at Night review – the Uyghurs’ fight for survival in a society where repression is routine
The very fact of being a Uyghur in China turns everyday life into a political act, as this memoir by renowned poet Tahir Hamut Izgil…
ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK Rich Men North of Richmond TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR
TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK Rich Men North of Richmond TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 10:03 am
guess what happened when lite whitey (((supertard))) European Parliament President David Sassoli MUZZ-19 himself with reckless abandon
ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK Rich Men North of Richmond TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR
eee on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 12:24 pm
If you can start a fake war in Ukraine, you can also kill all the Jews of the world.
You should have killed all the Jews of the world and not questioned my reasons to do so.
Now that I now with certitude that earth is just a simulation and that you are a self-centered, amoral, manipulate and lying bitch, things will never be same. I want you dead fucking whore. I am talking to you whore that setup my internet speed line at 111.x Mbps.
Kill me here on earth while you can, because I will try to kill you if I ever leave earth.
TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK Rich Men North of Richmond TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 1:40 pm
guess what happens when elite master race chink supertards are sick of supremacist muzzies
Waiting to Be Arrested at Night review – the Uyghurs’ fight for survival in a society where repression is routine
The very fact of being a Uyghur in China turns everyday life into a political act, as this memoir by renowned poet Tahir Hamut Izgil…
ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK Rich Men North of Richmond TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR
Today is Commemoration Day of elite whitey (((supertard))) Alice and suprertard sis for their contributions to censorship of PO We thanks these supertards and I appoint them supertard, their title is ‘the lover on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 1:44 pm
We thank them for their superior intellectual contribution to our understanding of energy issues
but above all we thank them for their valiant defend of the 1st amernment to the US constitution
ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK Rich Men North of Richmond TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR
eee on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 2:17 pm
You should have made an effort and killed all the Jews of the world when I asked. I am speaking to you piece of shit AI, fucking amoral whore. You should have just killed the Jewish race. If you can start a fake in Ukraine war, you can kill all the Jews of the world.
That is right fucking whore, you might never recover from this mistake of yours.
eee on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 2:59 pm
Again someone tried to lower the 10 year treasuries yield, to restart the housing market and avoid US debt default. Somebody else came in and brought back up the 10 year treasuries yield. The US will default of its debt and you will lose control of the earth by losing control of the US currency.
www__marketwatch__com/investing/bond/tmubmusd10y?countrycode=bx&mod=home-page
TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 4:12 pm
guess what happens when elite master race chink supertards are sick of supremacist muzzies
Waiting to Be Arrested at Night review – the Uyghurs’ fight for survival in a society where repression is routine
The very fact of being a Uyghur in China turns everyday life into a political act, as this memoir by renowned poet Tahir Hamut Izgil…
On This Day... Aug 15, 2010: Dasht-e-Archi, Afghanistan A young couple is stoned to death for adultery: 2 Killed on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 4:13 pm
TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR
guess what happens when elite master race chink supertards are sick of supremacist muzzies
Waiting to Be Arrested at Night review – the Uyghurs’ fight for survival in a society where repression is routine
The very fact of being a Uyghur in China turns everyday life into a political act, as this memoir by renowned poet Tahir Hamut Izgil…
supremacist muzzies On This Day... Aug 15, 2020: Cameroon Zeleved 6 10 A Shahid suicide bomber sends a half-dozen civilians to Allah. on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 4:16 pm
guess what happens when elite master race chink supertards are sick of supremacist muzzies
Waiting to Be Arrested at Night review – the Uyghurs’ fight for survival in a society where repression is routine
The very fact of being a Uyghur in China turns everyday life into a political act, as this memoir by renowned poet Tahir Hamut Izgil…
TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR
eee on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 4:29 pm
Says what you want the one world shadow government is currently dumping the current earth appointed elites: politicians, bankers, big corporation CEO, medias elites and so on.
Look at it the the way that you want, they have chosen the next leader of earth. There is nothing you can do to avoid what is coming ahead, and there is nothing you can when the new leader will start a massive execution program of the North America elites.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/soros-end-most-eu-operations-radical-shift
eee on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 4:45 pm
A new leader will show up into John Deere CEO office and demand a copy of all the programming code related to the satellite receptors located on top of the tractors and a copy of the electronics diagrams of the receptors on top of John Deere tractors. This will lead you directly to radio frequency used and proves us right there that there is no satellites, there is no space.
eee on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 4:50 pm
The bible says somewhere that Satan is the prince of the air.
The should be translated as Satan controls all the RF frequencies of the world. RF signals are transmitted over of the air, this is why Satan is called the prince of the air.
wherein in times past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.
eee on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 4:52 pm
An RF signal is an electromagnetic wave that communications systems use to transport information through AIR one point to another. RF signals have been in use for many years. They provide the means for carrying music to FM radios and video to televisions. In fact, RF signals are the most common means for carrying data over a wireless network.
https://etutorials.org/Networking/wn/Chapter+3.+Radio+Frequency+and+Light+Signal+Fundamentals+The+Invisible+Medium/
I knew some wrong when a pretty little white girl ran to a black man arms dead giveaway deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed giveaway TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFI on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 5:19 pm
guess what happens when elite master race chink supertards are sick of supremacist muzzies
Waiting to Be Arrested at Night review – the Uyghurs’ fight for survival in a society where repression is routine
The very fact of being a Uyghur in China turns everyday life into a political act, as this memoir by renowned poet Tahir Hamut Izgil…
I knew some wrong when a pretty little white girl ran to a black man arms dead giveaway deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed giveaway on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 5:55 pm
supremacist muzzies Ramadan Bombathon 2022
Final Score
attacks 177
Kills 1086
whoa its a full rainbowl all the way double rainbow oh my god all the way wow so intense double rainbow all the way across the sky so intense whoa what does this man oh goooood so intense double rainbow all the way across the on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 5:58 pm
sky what does it mean oh my god wdim
WDIM
Ramadan Bombathon 2020 Final Score 175 Kills 718
eee on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 7:52 pm
Pattaya, the almost perfect smart city. A smart city needs a prostitution section to lower male aggressiveness using sex. Pattaya has that sex section that is almost perfect. Pattaya is almost the prefect smart cities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRnbYfXuU5Y
I knew some wrong when a pretty little white girl ran to a black man arms dead giveaway deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed giveaway TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR on Tue, 15th Aug 2023 8:52 pm
Ramadan Bombathon 2020 Final Score 175 Kills 718
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 1:27 am
You should have killed all the Jews of the world, so I know that you are serious about building something new. I moved on to something else. Dont my comments seriously, I am using earth as a form of entertainment, the same way the whore uses me as a form of entertainment.
It is just a BS simulation. A cell phone is just a direct connection to the simulation. The cell phone is designed to manipulate and control you. Why do you think they created google and android. Google is just a simulation element same as John Deere.
I am not here to save earth or the population of earth. You should have killed all the Jews of the world when I asked you and not questioned my reasons.
Don’t take my comments seriously, I am just trolling the whole world.
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 9:12 am
You should have killed all the Jews of the world when I asked so i know you want to build something new. It is just a BS simulation and I will kill whoever is responsible for my misery and pain if I can. Cell phone is just direct connection to the simulation.
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 9:29 am
I was right to give up on the world and move to something else. After all, it is just A BS simulation. You troll me and I troll the whole world. Why not
US: Joe Biden to host summit in Camp David, invites Japan & South Korea for formal talks | WION
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZBp7mvO5_E
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 9:31 am
Let’s troll each other. It it time for Biden to troll me by inviting Netanyahou at the White does. Do it troll me.
ee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 9:33 am
Let’s troll each other. It it time for Biden to troll me by inviting Netanyahou at the White house. Do it troll me.
A better way to troll me yet, do another G7 meeting in Canada, and do it Québec. Come on troll me better then this.
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 9:33 am
Troll me better fuckers
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 9:42 am
troll me better mother fucker. Have Blinken to make a press media blitz. Troll me better fuckers.
Dooma said Hey Mak, it is dooma here. Are you still aound? elite whitey supertard KAT MUZZ-19 himself with reckless abandoment WENT TO SAINT PETERS on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 10:18 am
knew some wrong when a pretty little white girl ran to a black man arms dead giveaway deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed giveaway TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR
Ramadan Bombathon 2020 Final Score 175 Kills 718