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209 comments on Saturday Open Thread

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louGrinzo on April 1, 2006 - 11:29pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
"That's the real problem here. The majority of the population does not understand basic economics."

With all due respect, baloney.

People understand economics plenty well enough, and they also understand the corrupting influence of power, whether that power is influence over a market, political, sexual, or something else.

The major disconnect with mainstream consumers right now is that they know almost nothing about the peak oil concept, so they assume (incorrectly) that higher prices are caused by greedy corporations, not by supply and demand.  It's not that they don't know how supply and demand work, it's that they don't see the connection between that staple of economics and what they pay on their gasoline and heating bills.  So they look for the best alternative explanation, and they wind up blaming the "big, greedy, evil" oil companies, a group that's, in the mind of consumers, all too easy to blame for anything, whether deserved or not.

I've had I don't know how many discussions, some at relatively high volume levels, with mainstreaners about this issue, and I've had a very hard time convincing them of the scope and serious of the fundamental situation.  

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Twilight on April 2, 2006 - 12:36am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
In fact, I think the outrageous oil profits are helping to convince people that PO is not real, that it's all just a scam.  I think this is especially true in liberal circles, where I see a lot of doubt about PO.  
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davebygolly on April 2, 2006 - 1:13am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
There are two true things:

1 The oil companies profiteer.
2. Oil is at or near peak.

In addition:

1 is old and has always been true.
2 is new.
2 is going to make 1 even more true.
1 should be dealt with, yes, taxation, regs...
2 needs to be dealt with even more.
2 IS being dealt with, but in the worst possible way.

Final truth:

3. We're in the deepest conceivable doo.

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AlanfromBigEasy on April 2, 2006 - 12:37am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
There is great resistance to accepting the concept of Peak Oil because (IMHO) 1) the implications for the assumptions that people have built their lives on is too great and 2) there is no trustworthy "solution".

My Electrification of Transportation is aimed at #2.  I know that it is NOT a complete solution, but it is a big chunk of one.  Generally understandable (I think).

Coupling "bad news" with a way out should reduce the level of denial.  Again IMHO.

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209 comments on Saturday Open Thread

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