Rod Speed
Gas: The good 'ol days 2231Nope that didnt happen after WW1. Britain was left to look after itself and made a complete hash of that, essentially by going off the gold standard. It was really only...
But we remained strong enough to help pull them out of it. Every time there is a war, lots of $ goes into development of military technologies. It's from these technologies that new industries eventually arise. Industries largely based on the consumption of oil.
Yeah... another war to boost the economy.
What if, instead of spending all this $ over in Iraq, we spent it instead on developing alternative energies and bringing them to market? Or is that just my naively idealist wishful thinking?
Which was probably a wise move. And their efficiency allowed the US to guzzle even more. Even if US starts getting efficient now, it just means China will have more to guzzle, doesn't it?
Yeah, I was not including britain at all. I consider them more like the US than like the rest of europe.
What happens when we can't? When the price of things get too high and people start losing their jobs and houses?
Yep, I'm talking about the day-to-day stuff. All the trucks that deliver food and consumer goods to disperse areas in every suburb. Not to mention the SUVs commuting to work and to supermarket, mall, etc. Isn't it something like half of all our oil usage goes into our cars and trucks?
My gf doesn't lack any experience and she's a highly competent, send driver. Much more so than I am. The standards to get a license are much higher and more expensive, cutting out those who lack the experience. But, yes, high density living has a lot to do with the driving conditions. I got white-knuckled driving down curvy two-lane streets that were really only wide enough for one car. It's amazing that more people don't get into traffic accidents!
Gas: The good 'ol days 2235Larry Bud from the article, "Eating Fossil Fuels" which you can read here In the United States, 400 gallons of oil equivalents are expended annually to feed each...
I think that's what I'm saying. It's more about the Japanese (and US) cultural values, based on the idea that the economy will just keep expanding, and placing a high level of value on those who continually succeed.
Unfortunately, we've been having a brain-drain in this country for a long time. While we were once strong producers of US engineers and scientists, this is no longer the case. You don't notice it so much because we simply import students from other countries like India. IF the US economy falters, this talent may just pack up and go home. Leaving us... where?
See comment above. But I'll add that it is mind-boggling to think about what an emerging post-petroleum industry might be like. Probably nothing we can begin to imagine. I do agree that on the whole, humans are highly creative, resourceful, and inventive. Even if it doesn't get invented in US in the future, it'll get invented somewhere!
It certainly applies to the mbuttive suburban sprawl surrounding NY - CT, NJ, etc, etc.
We figure if all else fails, we can make a thriving rikshaw business.
jen
