Evidently the models are not up to date, things are moving faster than predicted, based on available data. Of course it was pointed out that timing is everything and what is really going on with this information?
At the same time the Chinese are set to challenge the notion that Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
In the end our own self interest will drive us to make some changes. But will it be enough?
Another take on the reason gasoline prices are high.
1 comment:
They won't be enough and they won't be on time.
China can't buy into the fabled American Suburban lifestyle fast enough. They now have the second-largest highway system in the world and pretty soon it will be the largest. They are diving into consumerism, and Buick sells more cars there than anywhere else. Old-fashioned 50s Americana is a big fad there right now.
And who has the heart to deny them their fun, after what they have been through for the past thousand years? Trouble is, they are competing with this country directly and ferociously for the world's remaining stockpiles of oil. They are inking contracts in Canada and Venezuala.
Whether they can continue to do so is a big question, for this resource-poor and grossly overpopulated country may be overshooting itself in its rapid industrialization. The number of really huge hydroelectric dams being built and the scale of the things defies belief. Did you know that the Three Gorges Dam will have a resevoir almost as large as Lake Michigan? It will be almost five miles long. It will dwarf every other dam in the world in volume. Can you imagine such a thing?
There won't be nearly enough for us both, even if oil production were to remain at currentlevels for the next forty years, which isn't likely.
The elephant in the room is, of course, population. This country is now in slight overshoot, based on current resources, and will be cast into terminal overshoot in an era of resource scarcity. Nobody is adressing this, or even suggesting that we shouldn't just keep on churning out the babies. It won't be long before many middle class people who are now well off will be cast out of the middle class, and it would behoove people to consider the possibility of this before they decide to breed their own football team.
Another frightening fact is that the known fields are depleting much more rapidly than projections indicated they would. The North Fields are depleting at a rate of at least 5% and some people say it is more rapid than that. Canterell is collapsing and in a few years, Mexico will be a net importer-if they can find any to import. Where will we be when this happens? We get a good portion of our current supply from Mexico.
Our fearless leaders, meanwhile, have their heads in the sand. Don't count on these people for anything, least of all guidance or succor. Put a plan for yourself and your people in place. All we can do is look out for ourselves at this point.
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