For a minute there I thought I had to get off my couch, when all the while the fact is we don't have to do anything much but keep things afloat for just a few decades more! In fact, we'd best shut up about PO, because if our offspring finds out we knew about it all along, they'll turn and wring our necks come 2036!
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:09 am Post subject: There is no upside in the politicans coming clean with PO.
When I question media / politicians about why they hide their head in the sand when it comes to PO most have no reply. It seems they think there is 'no upside' in this topic of peak oil since it can't be fixed.
The upside is in the preparation and a more manageable and orderly transition...less deaths. Then again, maybe the governments upside is in the deaths and having less mouths to have to feed?
Joined: Oct 12, 2004 Posts: 997 Location: In the suburban sea of strangers
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:36 am Post subject: Re: There is no upside in the politicans coming clean with P
Economic qrowth and full employment are seen as unquestioned, unqualified goods. Conservation is the enemy of economic growth.
Preaching conservation is going to make enemies of job seeking voters and profit seeking corporate contributors.
A politician cannot win by preaching conservation. Just ask Jimmy Carter. _________________ The battle to preserve our lifestyle has already been lost. The battle to preserve our lives is just beginning.
Joined: Sep 04, 2005 Posts: 362 Location: central MA, USA
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 3:37 pm Post subject: Re: There is no upside in the politicans coming clean with P
I think your question supposes that most of them are aware of Peak Oil (probably true as of this year) and believe it is real.
Even if they believe it is real, their responses to that are as varied as we see anywhere else.
1. Thanks to [insert one of: Engineers, The Market, God], a miracle will occur just in the nick of time.
2. Thanks to [insert one of: Solar Power, The Market, Conservation], we will gradually and painlessly transition to the New Order.
3. I'm old, glad I don't have to worry about it.
4. I'm rich, glad I don't have to worry about it.
5. I'm worried, and I'm talking about it, but everyone looks at me like I was from Mars.
6. It's an election year, I'll worry about it later.
7. It's just to painful to think about, so I don't.
etc etc etc.
There's too much disagreement generally over how to respond to this, and in what time-frame, so why should we expect "the politicians", as a group, to agree on a response?
Personally, to the extent that people can respond to it meaningfully, I think current fuels prices are an "encouraging" thing.
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