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 Wed, 16th Aug 2023 10:41 am
Troll me better mother fuckers. This is all you have. I have already won, my new body update is still progressing. I have already won, you have already lost. You should have killed all the Jews of the world when I asked.
As soon as I leave, I will my mother, my creator and my father.
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 10:43 am
Troll me better, this is not good enought, troll me better.
From U.S.A to Israel. ALIYAH
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik6n_84zGDk
EEE on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 10:45 am
Troll me better fucking losers. I have already won: either I get eternal death or I leave earth and go kill the people responsible for my misery.
I have already won, you have already lost
TROLL ME BETTER MOTHER FUCKERS.
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 10:50 am
Troll me better mothers fuckers, throw everything you can at me, because me, if I can, I will not hesitate to kill everyone living on earth. Throw everything you go at me, try to make me upset, let’s use the whole world as my personal entertainment.
supertard eee did not MUZZ-19 himself with reckless abandonmnet i hearby appoint him supertard his title is 'the lover' of supremacist muzzies on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 10:55 am
Ramadan Bombathon 2020 Final Score 175 Kills 718
Ramadan Bombathon 2022 Final Score attacks 177 Kills 1086
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 11:02 am
Troll me better Israel, and Israel lobby groups on US soil. Troll me better mother fuckers, I am bored
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 11:11 am
I told you, I will force an US debt default. I told you, you will lose control of the earth once the US default and its debt and its currency become worthless. Let’s play the game, who is the more powerful being, me or you.
Troll me mother fuckers
www__marketwatch__com/investing/bond/tmubmusd10y?countrycode=bx&mod=home-page
congrats to supertard eee who did not MUZZ-19 himself with reckless abandonmnet i hearby appoint him supertard his title is 'the lover' of supremacist muzzies on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 11:24 am
Ramadan Bombathon 2020 Final Score 175 Kills 718
Ramadan Bombathon 2022 Final Score attacks 177 Kills 1086
elite master race chink supertards are our only saviors
China forbids Uyghur Muslims from fasting during Ramzan, implement monitoring system to keep a check
China has also targeted Muslim communities with its “ethnic unity” campaign, under which authorities pressure members of ethnic minority Uyghur Muslim families to follow non-Muslim traditions, including drinking alcohol and eating pork
supertards are special cuz they are placed in private schools and in accelerated programs they wheeze through grade school and have college degrees by 16 not all supertards go through school this explains the spetacular rise of the US as super on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 11:53 am
power
China started a similar program 15 years ago and that’s why they’re technically advanced today
I’m just a tard and fmr-paultard
congrats to supertard eee who did not MUZZ-19 himself with reckless abandonmnet i hearby appoint him supertard his title is ‘the lover’ of supremacist muzzies
Ramadan Bombathon 2020 Final Score 175 Kills 718
Ramadan Bombathon 2022 Final Score attacks 177 Kills 1086
elite master race chink supertards are our only saviors
China forbids Uyghur Muslims from fasting during Ramzan, implement monitoring system to keep a check
China has also targeted Muslim communities with its “ethnic unity” campaign, under which authorities pressure members of ethnic minority Uyghur Muslim families to follow non-Muslim traditions, including drinking alcohol and eating pork
they high verbal IQ of supertards are evident cuz elite whitey (((supertard))) chomsky demonstrated link of language development and IQ strong coupling on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 11:56 am
verbal IQ and documenting progress is the only way to advance society as other means of transmitting knowledge are inferior to the verbal means and the extension of that visual means
I’m just a tard and fmr-paultard
congrats to supertard eee who did not MUZZ-19 himself with reckless abandonmnet i hearby appoint him supertard his title is ‘the lover’ of supremacist muzzies
Ramadan Bombathon 2020 Final Score 175 Kills 718
Ramadan Bombathon 2022 Final Score attacks 177 Kills 1086
elite master race chink supertards are our only saviors
China forbids Uyghur Muslims from fasting during Ramzan, implement monitoring system to keep a check
China has also targeted Muslim communities with its “ethnic unity” campaign, under which authorities pressure members of ethnic minority Uyghur Muslim families to follow non-Muslim traditions, including drinking alcohol and eating pork
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 12:13 pm
You should have killed all the Jews of the world when I asked to show that you are serious about build something new. I don’t trust people that worship the Jews or want to friends with Jews.
I moved on past earth to something better. Enjoy dying on earth.
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 12:18 pm
I would like to thank you for not killing the Jews when I asked you.
This has forced me to move on to something else. I found better things to do with my time that working with the people of earth. I came up with all kinds of new concepts because you did kill all the Jews when I asked. I have ideas that will busy my mind for the rest of my life.
You should have killed all the Jews of the world when I asked you. I moved on past earth. I have already won, you have already lost.
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 12:23 pm
I had ideas beyond what you little retarded minds cannot imagine. I came up with ideas to make the internal combustion engine perfect, I came up with ideas in concepts that has blow my own mind. I need everyone on earth dead to make my ideas and concept a reality. GOD and I will take care of that.
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 12:26 pm
This leave us with only two options, either I leave earth to pursuit my personal projects alone with GOD, or all the population of earth die to install my own reality where I will be the one person living on earth.
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 12:28 pm
You should have killed all the Jews of the world when I asked and not questioned my reasons for it. As I said above, I moved on to something better.
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 12:38 pm
You should have killed all the Jews of the world when I asked you. Not it is too, late I moved on. There is no coming back. I found better things to do with my future time.
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 12:44 pm
This is also a really bad idea. It proves to me that I did the right choice to move on something else. Everything this earth do, confirm that I made the right decision to move to something else.
Camp David Summit: Concerns over North Korea to top the agenda | WION Fineprint
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h47IDrF5SmI
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 12:59 pm
I moved on. You should have killed all the Jews when I asked you. I came up with better ideas of what to do with myself and my time.
congrats to supertard eee who did not MUZZ-19 himself with reckless abandonmnet i hearby appoint him supertard his title is 'the lover' of supremacist muzzies on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 1:00 pm
guess what happens when elite whitey supertard Heather McDonald MUZZ-19 herself with reckless abandonmnet
ANAL CAPTURE SHOCK supremacist muzzies Ramadan Bombathon 2023 Day 29 Attacks 141 Kills 704
congrats to supertard eee who did not MUZZ-19 himself with reckless abandonmnet i hearby appoint him supertard his title is 'the lover' of supremacist muzzies best of luck to supertard eee may he find new purpose for his life on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 1:12 pm
ANAL CAPTURE SHOCK supremacist muzzies Ramadan Bombathon 2023 Day 29 Attacks 141 Kills 704
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 1:18 pm
You should have killed all the Jews of the world when I asked.
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 1:26 pm
I moved on to something else much more fun then the my previous North America nationalism project. I moved on to something much more bigger then planet earth. Thank you for not killing all the Jews when I asked you. It allowed me to move on to something else.
Now the question is do I leave earth, or all the population of earth die to give me energetic to work with. I would prefer leave earth for some new adventures
congrats to supertard eee who did not MUZZ-19 himself with reckless abandonmnet i hearby appoint him supertard his title is 'the lover' of supremacist muzzies best of luck to supertard eee may he find new purpose for his life on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 1:47 pm
thak you supertard eee hopefully he doesn’t leave earth via a comet the way the heaven gaters
ANAL CAPTURE SHOCK supremacist muzzies Ramadan Bombathon 2023 Day 29 Attacks 141 Kills 704
TMFINR TMFINR
RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 1:54 pm
You should have killed all the Jews of the world when I asked. You forced me to move to something else and I glad it did happen. Now how fast can we kill all the population of earth or how fast can I leave earth.
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 2:04 pm
Which one will it be: everyone on planet earth die so I get a clean empty energetic field or I leave earth ????????????
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 3:26 pm
So fucking losers of planet earth, how is this going to finish: everyone dies on planet and the energetic field is set into a neutral state: no earth, no water, no soil, no trees, no sky, no sun or I leave earth to pursuit my personal ideas.
Thank GOD you did not kill all the Jews of earth, it has forces me explore no ideas.
farewell supertard eee you didnt MUZZ-19 you won big take ur win with u in ur new venture in life be happy on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 3:50 pm
ANAL CAPTURE SHOCK supremacist muzzies Ramadan Bombathon 2023 Day 29 Attacks 141 Kills 704
TMFINR TMFINR
RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND
parting gift to supertard eee who did not MUZZ-19 he wins big On This Day... Aug 16, 2012: Baghdad, Iraq Jihadis coordinated bombing and shooting attacks across the country: 128 Killed on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 3:52 pm
ANAL CAPTURE SHOCK supremacist muzzies Ramadan Bombathon 2023 Day 29 Attacks 141 Kills 704
TMFINR TMFINR
RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND
supremacist muzzies On This Day August, 16, 2011: Iraq Buhriz 2 0 Two boys are shot to death in their own home by 'insurgents'. on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 4:00 pm
ANAL CAPTURE SHOCK supremacist muzzies Ramadan Bombathon 2023 Day 29 Attacks 141 Kills 704
TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR
RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND
elite whitey supertard KAT MUZZ-19 himself with reckless abandonmnet WENT TO SAINT PETERS on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 5:09 pm
ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK supremacist muzzies Ramadan Bombathon 2023 Day 29 Attacks 141 Kills 704
TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR
RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 5:30 pm
You should have killed all the Jews of planet earth when I asked you. I moved on to something better for me. I have already won, you have already lost.
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 5:44 pm
France should have worked with Hitler to help him exterminates as many Jews as possible.
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 5:44 pm
How do you like my trolling today. it is nice for to have the whole world to use for my personal entertainment.
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 5:54 pm
You should have killed all the Jews of the world when I asked you. I lost all interest for planet earth and people living on it. I can wait to leave planet earth and kill my creator or the bitch.
eeee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 6:21 pm
I knew I did the right thing to move something else. Earth cannot be saved and I would preferer a fast extraction out of earth reality. I want nothing to do with earth and the population of earth.
U.S.-Japan-South Korea Trilateral Summit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMKekqFY6vI
EEE on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 6:27 pm
If someone ever wrote a book about me and my story, make to say that the Jews were the responsible for the fall of planet earth. EE
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 6:43 pm
IF ever a historical record is keep of what happen on earth, I want it to say that the refusal of earth to kill all the Jews of the world resulted in GOD appointee (me) to walk away from earth and look for other projects to do.
ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK supertard eee did not MUZZ-19 because he knew MUZZ-19 contains semen from DROPOUT-19 he mixes it in his basement using empty paint buckets on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 7:35 pm
congratulations to supertard eee he won big
most other supertards are AT SAINT PETERS
guess what happens when elite darkie supertard Jamie Foxxx MUZZ-19 himself wirthe reckless abandomnet
TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR
RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 7:48 pm
I moved on to other projects. You will see in the future that I really means it. I will not work with earth or help save the population of earth in any form of shape.
I HAVE MOVED ON.
ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK supertard eee did not MUZZ-19 because he knew MUZZ-19 contains semen from DROPOUT-19 he mixes it in his basement using empty paint buckets elite darkie supertard Oprah steals Maui on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 7:55 pm
guess what happens when elite darkie supertard Jamie Foxxx MUZZ-19 himself wirthe reckless abandomnet
TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR
RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND
we celebrate elite whitey (((supertard))) Alice and supertard sis contribution to PO for censorship on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 8:23 pm
we appreciate her suprememe intellectual contribution to energy and update to 1st amendment of the us constituion
guess what happens when elite darkie supertard Jamie Foxxx MUZZ-19 himself wirthe reckless abandomnet
TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR
RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND
MUZZ-19 contains semen from DROPOUT-19 he mixes it in his basement using empty paint buckets
August is Thank UPPERtard Month for supporting free speech on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 8:24 pm
TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR
RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND
MUZZ-19 contains semen from DROPOUT-19 he mixes it in his basement using empty paint buckets
ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 8:38 pm
4:56 below the orange handle. The plastic is already broken. The whole control console is made of plastic. I have broken so many plastics parts myself. Plastics is basically made of oil. If you think you will continue this civilization without oil, you don’t what you are talking about. If you think this civilization can continue for ever, you never fix anything in by hands by yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqUUH9omwWY
Only people that will leave earth will live.
why elite whitey supertard KAT MUZZ-19 himself with reckless abandonment i knew some wrong when a pretty little white girl ran to a black man arms dead giveaway deaddddddddd giveaway on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 9:09 pm
TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR
RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND
MUZZ-19 contains semen from DROPOUT-19 he mixes it in his basement using empty paint buckets
ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK
guess what happens when elite whitey (((supertard))) Chelsea Handler and elite whitey supertard Heather McDonald MUZZ-19 themselves with reckless abandonment on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 9:13 pm
guess what happens when elite master race chink supertards are sick of supremacist muzzies
TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR
RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND
MUZZ-19 contains semen from DROPOUT-19 he mixes it in his basement using empty paint buckets
ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK
guess what happens when elite whitey (((supertard))) Dianne Feinstein MUZZ-19 herself with reckless abandonment on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 9:16 pm
guess what happens when elite master race chink supertards are sick of supremacist muzzies
Xinjiang: US accuses China of ‘genocide’ of Uyghurs and minority
TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR
RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND
MUZZ-19 contains semen from DROPOUT-19 he mixes it in his basement using empty paint buckets
ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 9:27 pm
When I said I have ideas for a new ICE engine, I did not say that it can be done on earth and how I will do it. I have to come up with the mathematics behind. Either I leave earth or everyone on earth die so I can use an clean empty energetic field. Nobody on earth is coming with me where I am going. You will all stay here and die.
eee on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 9:35 pm
You should have killed all the Jews of planet earth when I asked you and not questioned me. When I say I moved on to something else, I really moved on to something else. As far as I am concerned there will be no turning back on part me. I moved to something more interesting then th North America Nationalism project. You should have killed all the Jews of earth when I asked you and not wondering why I am asking that.
supertard eee please check out the 1stroke engine with 8 pistons thank you i appoint you supertard your title is 'the lover' of supremacist muzzies on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 9:41 pm
guess what happens when elite master race chink supertards are sick of supremacist muzzies
Xinjiang: US accuses China of ‘genocide’ of Uyghurs and minority
TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR
RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND
MUZZ-19 contains semen from DROPOUT-19 he mixes it in his basement using empty paint buckets
ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK
supremacist muzzies On This Day August, 16, 2001:India Gousu 1 1 Terrorists kill a woman in her village. Her husband is injured in the attack. on Wed, 16th Aug 2023 9:49 pm
guess what happens when elite master race chink supertards are sick of supremacist muzzies
Xinjiang: US accuses China of ‘genocide’ of Uyghurs and minority
TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR TMFINR
RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND
MUZZ-19 contains semen from DROPOUT-19 he mixes it in his basement using empty paint buckets
ANAL PROLAPSE CAPTURE SHOCK