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?
Joined: May 26, 2004 Posts: 309 Location: Ontario, Canada
Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 7:25 pm Post subject: [Economics] PO Jobs
Baring in mind you may get a few-decade recession, or a soft crash, or a hard crash, no one knows: what's the absolute best concievable profession to have right now? The one that all-but-guarantees a safe, secure, enjoyable life?
Doctor?
Farmer? (Get screwed by high fuel prices and having to relearn half your skills...)
Solar cell manufacturer?
Hydrogen car scientist?
Oil explorer?
Politician?
Police officer?
Martial artist?
Biochemical engineer?
Horse handler?
etc.
Who's got the best chances of leading a successful life in the time ahead? _________________ "Our forces are now closer to the center of Baghdad than most American commuters are to their downtown office."
--Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, April 2003
Sure, we'd probably always need doctors. The power supply might not be reliable but you'd think at least they'd try to keep the hospitals running, more or less.
On the morbid side, when push comes to shove and the dieoff / resource war / whatever really starts to take off, you might find a somewhat guaranteed job as an undertaker, mortician, etc ...
If humanity decides that we absolutely need to keep this Internet thing running and if it lives up to its purported fame as a network able to withstand disruptions and nuke attacks, you might want to be a (very busy) systems administrator - for a while - perhaps?
Or, as has been discussed elsewhere, join the military, and hope "they" don't send you to places where the locals like to shoot at you ... _________________ Live quotes - crude oil, gold and currencies
http://www.post1.net/lowem/page/livequotes
Handymen will always be in demand, unless people somehow want to stop building things.
My fantasy job would be a CEO of some powerful water monopoly. Supply will be low and I'll be able to dictate prices to everyone, including the government .
Organic farmer, maybe. Of a farm so small it's not likely to be confiscated by the government.
Doctor would be good, too, but it's not easy to get an MD. Takes time and bucks. Becoming an EMT or something that ilk might be a good choice for those who don't want to deal with medical school.
Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 9:40 am Post subject: Best job . . .
US DoD IT worker. And I'm trying to get on with the local county sheriff, as a member of the auxillaries. Being a quasi member of the local law enforcement can't hurt.
Also, my wife is an RN at the local Children's Hospital.
These should be some of the last jobs to close up shop.
Also, most folks would be surprised how much like a computer job is like a handyman's or rather a tinkerer (if actual repair of hardware is in your skill set).
A small forge is on my list of things to get installed. Besides basic metal working, I need to be able to shoe the horses.
Joined: May 24, 2004 Posts: 3428 Location: California, USA
Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 2:39 am Post subject:
Scroungers, eh? The Army Engineers and the Seebees had their own versions of that. Don't remember what they called 'em though.
I'm thinking that my gig as a telecoms engineer gives me an advantage as telecommuting becomes more and more prevalent. And a few other skills I have, could come in handy after a crash.
In general: building your skill sets is good. Include skills that make use of your muscles; skills that make use of your head; skills that involve building or providing basic infrastructure such as food, clothing, shelter; skills that relate to community defense; skills that relate to continuation of civilized culture e.g. education etc.; and skills that relate to organization and administration e.g. bookkeeping.
My father is a meat cutter at a grocery store in a low-income area of Kansas City. He has never been laid off. He has never had a pay cut. He has never worried whether the company is going to collapse from higher energy costs or anything.
In a post peak world, there will still be livestock and animals people will raise for food or sell. Either way, someone has to be able to take the living animal and turn it into 8oz steaks and riblets. Besides ripping meat off a bone and cooking it over a fire on a stick, how many people really know how to handle meat? I think as the world goes in a hand basket; he will still be working away at his job, bringing the paycheck home. (Side note: the one thing that everyone buys before gas, bills, and stuff is food. it might not be good food, but still food. So any job dealing with food items will be in demand.)
Joined: Aug 12, 2004 Posts: 1180 Location: England
Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 3:26 pm Post subject:
I think dustin makes a very good point , there could be a whole host of new jobs that the post peak society is based on. I reckon the following list may play a part(?)
1) Land fill miners -- to get at all those lovely plastics
2) Agriculture -- anyone with previous experience of getting higer yields will be worth there weight in gold.
3) Bio Diesal production -- Maybe small quantities but hell it will be in mega demand!!
4) Labourers -- Someone is going to have to rip up all those lovely retail parks for agricultural use!
5) Sub Urban asset strippers -- All those empty estates from defaulted mortgages are going to be gold mine of fuels, tools, and various other bits !
6) Turd(sh*t) Shovellers -- Someone will need to get that human manure and make it useful!!
Most of these will be sh*t pay(especially the last one ) , but hell post peak I will do anything!!
Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 11:18 pm Post subject: Good Jobs
I assume by the best job, you want something that gives you some standing in whatever social group is left post crash. So, go for something like this;
-Doctor, preferably a GP rather than a surgeon. You can still do a lot of good work without sophisticated equipment.
- Vet. People need their livestock looked after, and again, you can still work without drugs or equipment.
- Tradesmen. Any trade really, carpenter, plumber, electrician. The simpler the better, and be skilled in the use of hand-tools. Trademen also develop a very practical, hands-on way of thinking that will be invaluable.
- Metalworker. Think blacksmithing if you want, but any trade that can take scrap metal and turn it into usable implements and tools.
- Horse Breeder. Takes some money to set up, but if you have some good stud Clysdales you'll be set as there will be a severe draught horse shortage.
- Soldier. Provided you're not in a country about to fight in Africa or the Middle East, this may work. Soldiers will be needed to maintain order and defend the country, and if it really falls apart, you've got access to weapons, you're skilled in their use, and you have a tight-knit bunch of people to guard your back. Men with weapons always eat, and so do their families.
- Police. Ties in with the above, but may be better in that you won't be sent to Baghdad or Tehran.
- Grocer/Shopkeeper. Only works if you can ensure a steady supply of goods, but if you do, you're quids in. The men who made the money in the Gold Rushs weren't miners, but those who sold them their supplies. One of the most important and prestigous roles in an early small town (be prepared to defend your store though).
There are plenty more, but this should give you some idea anyway. Hope this helps.
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