Like the illusion of Wall Street, with its vast and powerful investment banks, now shuttered, China too is an illusion perpetuated by the Globalists that gave us the 15,000 mile Caesar salad, poisoned cat food and lead based paint on babies' pacifiers. Like the illusion that money would come from thin air to always push housing prices higher, China has spent a generation pursuing its illusion. Pursuing an unattainable dream to be like the West, while 6000 years of its carefully shepherded top soil blows into the sea.
The story is about hurricanes in Florida but the human psychology is the same even if we talk about Peak Oil. Even if they know there is a problem, most people will wait until it is too late to begin to prepare. And the problem will only get worse as the economic impacts of peaking oil hit people in the pocket books.
Quote:
MIAMI — The hurricanes are coming. Carlos Alvarez, mayor of Miami-Dade County, cannot say when or how severe they will be, but every public speech he gives now includes a warning.
Carlos Alvarez, left, mayor of Miami-Dade County, says people need to prepare for a big storm. But Cheth Thach, who once did so routinely, says many can no longer afford the expense. Given the economy, he said, “it’s kind of tough to buy everything.”
“Hurricanes are part of our lives,” he tells people, adding: “Every time you get groceries, add a few extra cans. Have some jugs to fill up with water.”
For many, though, the message has yet to register.
Florida’s faltering economy and a recent scarcity of major storms have led to what emergency management officials now describe as a dangerous level of complacency. More than two months into hurricane season, and even as Tropical Storm Fay formed on Friday over the Dominican Republic and headed west, Floridians on both coasts are less prepared to withstand a major storm than at any other time in years, according to officials, business owners and residents.
Further, a Harvard study last month identified a significant post-Katrina distrust of shelters, with about a quarter of people surveyed in coastal areas in eight states planning to stay home if a hurricane hits.
“Officials tell us that they are really quite worried about people who would not cooperate, who are not aware of what was about to happen,” said Robert Blendon, director of the Harvard report. “And just thinking of the mobile homes, if people stay and they really are blown all over, public officials, ambulance services, Red Cross units have to go find these people and provide them with support and services.”
The public cost could be significant. Miami-Dade County has spent $250 million in local, state and federal money cleaning up from the hurricanes of 2005, Katrina and Wilma, and officials say that when people are unprepared, the expense rises substantially.
That is partly what worries Larry Gispert, director of the emergency management office for Hillsborough County, on the Gulf Coast. Mr. Gispert says the questions he has received at preparedness seminars this year — like “When is the next hurricane coming to Tampa?” — show that residents are woefully uninformed.
“My concern is that they will get the religion at the very last moment,” he said. “Then they want everybody to help them at the very last moment, and that’s what we cannot do.”
_________________ “It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.”
J.R.R. Tolkien
"The time has come for men to act like men; and for women, well, to act a lot more like men."
-Ma Cur
Joined: Apr 06, 2006 Posts: 3626 Location: 3 miles NW of Champoeg, Republic of Cascadia
Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 6:40 am Post subject: Re: Most people (will attempt to) prepare At the last moment
Morning Cur,
At least people are cognizant of hurricanes, or other types of natural disaster. Now, if only we had gas shortages or price spikes every 5 years...the European experience doesn't suggest that decades of heavy fuel taxes will do sufficient nudging, though, although in general they're much more prepared than us in the US.
People want to take it easy. They don't want to agonize over storms or fuel shortages, they want their Tivo and Cherry Coke. It's like we're still on vacation after WWII, too. Wasn't this country based on hard work and frugality or something...? The Roman populace's fondness for panem et circenses tells us that this love of carefree sloth isn't specific to a nationality or era, though. _________________ Cogito, ergo non satis bibivi
C'mon man, who're you gonna believe?
Joined: May 10, 2007 Posts: 3358 Location: Resiliency Farm
Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 6:49 am Post subject: Re: Most people (will attempt to) prepare At the last moment
As I talk to family and friends there is a basic understanding of the problem... they do not understand the scale or the threat but they have a basic understanding of the problem.
At the core of their complacency seems to be the idea that somebody will do something, just like those who are in the path of hurricanes. They will make whatever changes need to be made, but at the last moment. I would guess that they will expect someone (government) to help them (this is the unspoken part of the expectation that someone will do something).
My mother is slowly waking up to the possible scale. My father is not. I have one grandfather who is awake to all of the possibilities and another is too distracted by the immigration debate to care.
My co-workers are all somewhere in-between. some are doing the right things for the wrong reasons (buying homes close to work, adding bicycles to their commuting options).
So, I don't know... I've linked it before but I guess the Dude is effecting the way I view the world.
Let all of those people do what people do, The Cur Abides _________________ “It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.”
J.R.R. Tolkien
"The time has come for men to act like men; and for women, well, to act a lot more like men."
-Ma Cur
Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 7:24 am Post subject: Re: Most people (will attempt to) prepare At the last moment
A lot of folks I share PO with believe technology will save us. Plus I see a number of folks that feel they can't do anything about it so they don't! wisconsin_cur your hurricane thread is another example of how unprepared we are and will continue to be. It's one of the reasons I'm such a doomer! _________________ Everybody thinks they're righteous! Adam Baldwin "Jayne" Firefly/Serenity
Joined: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 13191 Location: naive idiot fantasy world
Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 7:29 am Post subject: Re: Most people (will attempt to) prepare At the last moment
wisconsin_cur wrote:
At the core of their complacency seems to be the idea that somebody will do something,
Where does this attitude come from in our history? Does it stem from the welfare programs of the Depression era and later? Or what?
This is the most common response I get when I bring up the issue of peak oil. "Someone will do something." It just never seems to occur to them that the "someone" might need to be themselves. _________________ "...powerdown so soft and fluffy you'll think you're living in a pillow." - jboogy
Joined: May 18, 2006 Posts: 4867 Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 7:42 am Post subject: Re: Most people (will attempt to) prepare At the last moment
Ludi wrote:
vision-master wrote:
Hurricanes? Ain't that like living in a floodplain?
Nah, it's like living on the entire eastern seaboard and gulf region. And much further inland these days. Maybe we should all move to Minnesota!
No Earthquakes.
No Hurricanes
No serious Droughts
Minimal Tornados
Besides, we are high enough to be protected from another Deluge.
It does get cold here. 5 Months of WINTER! _________________ Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.
Joined: May 10, 2007 Posts: 3358 Location: Resiliency Farm
Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 7:48 am Post subject: Re: Most people (will attempt to) prepare At the last moment
Ludi wrote:
wisconsin_cur wrote:
At the core of their complacency seems to be the idea that somebody will do something,
Where does this attitude come from in our history? Does it stem from the welfare programs of the Depression era and later? Or what? This is the most common response I get when I bring up the issue of peak oil. "Someone will do something." It just never seems to occur to them that the "someone" might need to be themselves.
I think it might be deeper than that. It is only a theory but it seems like a large percentage of a population at any place and at any time will take this kind of attitude. When the Turks (or Crusaders for that matter) attack, why did so many people stay in the city that would be looted if the attacking force won? They trusted the magistrates to "do something."
No doubt a percentage fled to the hills or the interior.
Culture probably does influence the exact mix 80-20 or 90-10 or 99-1 but I think the mix (and even which will be in the majority) is somehow hard wired. _________________ “It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.”
J.R.R. Tolkien
"The time has come for men to act like men; and for women, well, to act a lot more like men."
-Ma Cur
Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 7:48 am Post subject: Re: Most people (will attempt to) prepare At the last moment
vision-master wrote:
Ludi wrote:
vision-master wrote:
Hurricanes? Ain't that like living in a floodplain?
Nah, it's like living on the entire eastern seaboard and gulf region. And much further inland these days. Maybe we should all move to Minnesota!
No Earthquakes.
No Hurricanes
No serious Droughts
Minimal Tornados
Besides, we are high enough to be protected from another Deluge. It does get cold here. 5 Months of WINTER!
Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 7:50 am Post subject: Re: Most people (will attempt to) prepare At the last moment
Ludi wrote:
wisconsin_cur wrote:
At the core of their complacency seems to be the idea that somebody will do something,
Where does this attitude come from in our history? Does it stem from the welfare programs of the Depression era and later? Or what? This is the most common response I get when I bring up the issue of peak oil. "Someone will do something." It just never seems to occur to them that the "someone" might need to be themselves.
I was telling a highschool kid at work about PO; I thought him to be a pretty intelligent kid. After I finished he said, "well, I'm glad someone's doing something about it" ?
Joined: May 10, 2007 Posts: 3358 Location: Resiliency Farm
Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 7:52 am Post subject: Re: Most people (will attempt to) prepare At the last moment
The ancient equivilant of waiting to the last moment to prepare was to go to the cathedral/mosque as the invaders rampaged through the city. On a few occasions it worked, the commander in place decided to spare them... usually it just meant you all got to die in the same place and made clean up easier. _________________ “It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.”
J.R.R. Tolkien
"The time has come for men to act like men; and for women, well, to act a lot more like men."
-Ma Cur
Joined: May 18, 2006 Posts: 4867 Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 7:55 am Post subject: Re: Most people (will attempt to) prepare At the last moment
JJ wrote:
vision-master wrote:
Ludi wrote:
vision-master wrote:
Hurricanes? Ain't that like living in a floodplain?
Nah, it's like living on the entire eastern seaboard and gulf region. And much further inland these days. Maybe we should all move to Minnesota!
No Earthquakes.
No Hurricanes
No serious Droughts
Minimal Tornados
Besides, we are high enough to be protected from another Deluge. It does get cold here. 5 Months of WINTER!
don't you have BLACKFLIES?
an Wood Ticks + Mosquitos. _________________ Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.
Joined: Oct 03, 2004 Posts: 566 Location: Washington State
Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:14 am Post subject: Re: Most people (will attempt to) prepare At the last moment
Prepare for what, exactly.
a few years ago, as I became aware of peak oil, I considered it mainly a transportation fuels issue. In my neck of the woods, with abundant hydro power. I still consider that the main issue.
Two years months ago, we did not face an escalating cold war. Does one prepare for nuclear war the same way as for peak oil?
I believe TPTB will delay effects of peak oil as long as possible. This will make preps harder, as the seriousness of the final outcome will intensify.
Most preps, getting out of debt, simpler lifestyle, network of like minded individuals, are good whatever the event you are prepping for. Peak oil is not a hurricane. The day it impacts you cannot be forecasted. Like a hurricane, your two options are hunker down or run. Preps usually imply hunkering down, but you should always have plan B and probably plan C, especially if you live in a city. _________________ This is where everybody puts profound words written by another...or not so profound words written by themselves
Highlander 2007
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