How then, do we move backwards? How does a society, with most of the people having no clue of future events, move from being dependent on a vast and intertwined network of goods and services produced by the indigenous people of whereever, to a local resource and renewable energy based society, and do so in the timeframe available (20-30 years using the most liberal extimates, 10-20 with resonable estimates, 5-10 with worst case scenarios), all the while prices on everything increasing, world politics getting more militaristic, governments continuously reducing civil liberties, shortages of goods on the market and weather patterns resembling bad Hollywood movies?
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:39 am Post subject: Howdy from Houston
Ok, so I've been lurking for about 3 weeks. I have to say, I'm a bit freaked out. And overwhelmed. That's a good thing. Glad to be here. And, I must admit, I've developed a healthy crush on Aaron, Pops, Mr. Bill and Big Tex. Thanks, you guys, for your wisdom and level headedness - and the many others as well. Lots of good, practical information here. Thanks for taking the time to share.
My husband is completely freaked out about my being here, however. He doesn't agree with PO. But then again, I'm a preparer and he's a live in the moment guy. Told him not to panic until I start buying things to prepare for disaster.
I have questions about the fall of the education system. What's going to happen to the schools? Can anyone project what might happen?
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:45 am Post subject: Re: Howdy from Houston
Welcome fellow Houstonian.
Glad to have you here. _________________ "When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F Roberts.
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 11:02 am Post subject: Re: Howdy from Houston
Aaron - I think I may stand corrected.
Every time one of these Neos is ripped out of the warm fluid pod and pulled out of the Matrix I think - man, at least there's a small fraction of the population that is waking up.
Quote:
My husband is completely freaked out about my being here, however. He doesn't agree with PO.
I don't agree with the sun being more direct in August, and I don't agree with mosquitos.
Your husband is in denial.
You are correct.
Do not doubt yourself.
PO.com is a compilation of many brilliant individuals who . . .
1. Have been analyzing the data for years and
2. Who take no pleasure in what's coming (except maybe Jack, I'm not sure).
We have nothing to gain.
We're not trying to sell you something.
This is ridiculously simple.
Oil is finite.
We're now on the downslope of production.
There are 100 people in the boat and there is only enough water for 10 people for 10 days.
Once you realize the above, the end game is easy to see.
What do I think of the "education system"?
I call public schools the "idiot factories."
Like all things that are intensely oil dependent, they will die a gruesome death, fighting and kicking all the way.
If you have kids, teach them yourself.
What's option B? A 24 year old teacher who grew up in the thong and booty shaking generation?
For the first time today. The first time. I was walking around in public and I couldn't stop thinking . . .
I'm looking at dead people. _________________ Massive Human Dieoff must occur as a result of Peak Oil. Many more than half will die. It will occur everywhere, including where you live. If you fail to recognize this, then your odds of living move toward the "going to die" group.
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 3:16 pm Post subject: Re: Howdy from Houston
Cashmere wrote:
I'm looking at dead people.
Are you sure they are not just debt people?
Welcome, Scout. I suppose you have realised now that peak oil is not an event, it is a process. A lot of people assume we are talking about a future event. It is unlikely there will be a single defining one. That is why it is so easy to make fun. Yet a process is underway, and those who refuse to see it are probably going to throw a lot of wealth away. Fuel prices do not care about personal conviction, you see. They are what they are and one can adapt or not. _________________ "The American people are watching the numbers climb higher and higher at the pump and they're waiting to see what the Congress will do." - George W Bush
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 3:22 pm Post subject: Re: Howdy from Houston
Cashmere wrote:
For the first time today. The first time. I was walking around in public and I couldn't stop thinking . . .
I'm looking at dead people.
This hit me only several months ago, after being here a lot longer than you.
The upside is that suburban idiots in slick new crew-cab 4*4's no longer anger me. Now I pity them. _________________ ree rah rip ram. sunofabitch godamn. hidey didey christ almighty. rah rah crap
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 4:03 pm Post subject: Re: Howdy from Houston
Scout,
Welcome.
I agree with Pops, as usual. Parents are the best teachers. I don't know where the entire public school institution is headed, but I can say it's been heading downhill for a long time, and I don't see any change coming from that direction. With the downward spiral already in full-swing, add in less money (due to falling real estate - taxes) and increased expenses (food, fuel, yadda yadda yadda) and it's not going to be pretty. Heck, it's already not pretty.
FWIW, I'll be homeschooling my boys next year.
Kathy
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:59 pm Post subject: Re: Howdy from Houston
Quote:
I'm looking at dead people.
We are all looking at dead people, because all people eventually die- regardless.
As far as peak oil killing off large amounts of people quickly in industrialized countries, probably not going to happen. The only way this might happen is if a killer virus swept through and wiped everyone out. Or global thermonuclear war.
But as far as massive starvation in industrialized countries, I don't believe it will happen on a wide scale any time soon. There is too much fat that can be cut before this happens. Years and years worth of waste can be cut out before that happens. Long-term, we are probably looking at a contraction and stagnation of economies around the world. Soviet Union style collapse. The global economy will eventually die. Things will become much more local.
Scout, welcome. First, try not to freak out. All you can do is calmly prepare for what is coming. But to worry and stress out about it won't do any good, because none of us can change peak oil. No one can. It's inevitable. Don't worry about things you can't change. It does no good. Secondly, don't overload on too much peak oil information. There is a lot of doomer thinking here. And a lot of 'technology will save us' thinking here. Peak oil reality will probably be somewhere in the middle. Gray, yes. Black and white, no. And don't worry if your husband doesn't agree or believe in peak oil. Eventually he won't be able to ignore it's effects on everyone's lives. The only thing that will convince most people that peak oil is real is seeing it's effects with their own eyes.
As far as college goes, I personally would not waste money on college at this point. Even with degrees, many graduates cannot find jobs now. And the economy is about to crash. A vocational school to learn farming/agriculture or a something technical such as plumbing, electrician, bicycle repair, or blacksmithing might be better. But I would avoid debt at all costs. I am not against learning. I just think that most college degrees are just a scam. More and more I am reading that college graduates are not getting ahead of high school graduates in life because of the heavy loan debt they have. And also because too many people have college degrees these days. Colleges make lots of money convincing parents and students that a college degree is necessary to succeed in life. That's their dirty little secret. And a total lie.
To get ahead in life, it's not what you know, it's who you know.
College not worth the cost, prof. says
Quote:
There may be bad news for students who just dropped a few grand on a tuition payment: It may not be worth the money to pay for a college education, according to a Boston University economics professor.
College of Arts and Sciences professor Laurence Kotlikoff is opposing a report conducted by the College Board last month, which states that while a college education comes with a large bill, the high price is paid off by the advantages that come with a degree.
Kotlikoff disagrees, saying that students with a college degree only have an average 10 percent advantage over their peers in the job and financial markets. He calculated this figure using the Economic Security Planner - financial-planning software he developed to organize costs.
"I was surprised, thinking the number would be bigger," he said. "[Investing in a college education] is a pretty risky proposition, like borrowing to buy stock.
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:15 pm Post subject: Re: Howdy from Houston
Cashmere wrote:
For the first time today. The first time. I was walking around in public and I couldn't stop thinking . . .
I'm looking at dead people.
After posting here today, I went to the grocery store and thought - wow, these people have no clue what is happening. No clue. Zero. They can't help themselves. They will be the ones with machetes coming after our meager supplies. And, sadly, you can't help them. Went to the bank and same thing. Clueless. I'm driving through my neighborhood and thinking how are we going to garden and support ourselves. I'm close to the city - 6 miles from downtown. Luckily my husband is only 6 miles from work. And he can ride his bike - assuming the ad agency he works for doesn't completely shut. I'm a stay at home mom. Luckily we are out of debt, except for the house. Guess I'll head down to the library and start reading about how to live the Little House on the Prairie. Get that survival attempt in process. Fingers crossed. I'm diving in...
Joined: Jun 13, 2007 Posts: 3261 Location: Minniesotuh
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 7:36 am Post subject: Re: Howdy from Houston
Welcome, Scout! Check out the Planning for the Future forum before you go to the library. There are lots of mentions about good books to have on hand.
As for schools, I would suggest going to the local halfprice bookstore and getting texts suitable for teaching your children the basics. Home schooling, IMHO, is going to grow in a big way for some; for others, when the schools close, or the district can no longer afford to run the busses, .... well, I thing that some parents are going to let their kids' education slide.
On a side note: "After posting here today, I went to the grocery store and thought - wow, these people have no clue what is happening. No clue. Zero. They can't help themselves. They will be the ones with machetes coming after our meager supplies. And, sadly, you can't help them. Went to the bank and same thing. Clueless. I'm driving through my neighborhood and thinking how are we going to garden and support ourselves."
Another Doomer joins our ranks! _________________ "RRrrruuuunnnn!!!" ~Apocalypto
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ree rah rip ram. sunofabitch godamn. hidey didey christ almighty. rah rah crap 
