The Oil Drum | Thursday open thread

124 comments on Thursday open thread

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MUDLOGGER on May 11, 2006 - 5:18pm

''Will they consider ASPO's Energy Depletion Protocols as a way to defuse the political storm, or will it just be a pointless shouting match leading to ever more militarism?''

Well... lets take a wild guess.

You are looking into the future and these are alternative scenarios. In order to codify some kind of short hand for future scenarios, may I respectfully suggest we harden our options. I welcome any other handles or alternatives or other possible scenarios.

THE JETSONS - A cornucopean, hi-tech vision of our future based a new , unlimited source of energy and personalised transport.
HOBBITON - A heavenly vision of rustic charm, real ale and copious amounts of food with relatively little back breaking work in the fields. This scenario is basically 1) but low tech and with hairy feet.
MAD MAX - A disorganised, chaotic dystopia of brigandage along Hobbesian lines.
1984 - An organised, regimented dystopia with extreme social control, propaganda, torture and chemical coshes.
THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR - Just get it for us. Now.
SHOGUN - Pretty self sufficient. Excellent news for those allowed to wear Katana, Not too hot if you are one of the night soil collectors.

Right now, 4) and 5) seem to me to be on the up.

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AlphaMaleProphe... on May 11, 2006 - 6:27pm

Seems to me number three (Mad Max) is the most accurate model of US foreign policy: a large, rude warlord rides around the desert shooting people and stealing their oil.

Just substitute Dick Cheney for Lord Humongous and there you have it.

Best,

Matt

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MacDuff on May 11, 2006 - 6:50pm

To understand who he was, you have to go back to another time. When the world was powered by the black fuel. And the desert sprouted great cities of pipe and steel. Gone now, swept away. For reasons long forgotten, two mighty warrior tribes went to war and touched off a blaze which engulfed them all. Without fuel they were nothing. They built a house of straw. The thundering machines sputtered and stopped. Their leaders talked and talked and talked. But nothing could stem the avalanche. Their world crumbled. The cities exploded. A whirlwind of looting, a firestorm of fear. Men began to feed on men.

"I am gravely disappointed. Again, you have made me unleash my dogs of war."

Yep, sounds about right Matt...

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enviro attny on May 11, 2006 - 7:25pm

You forgot

7. Soylent Green. I think that it is spot on (with the possible exception of Soylent itself). No energy, destroyed ecosystem, masses of people, global warming, and a very few wealthy people living in luxury.

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Arch Stanton on May 11, 2006 - 7:53pm

attn Duncank
yes , that is where i got this name ....
was using it long before i gound out about PO . but it does seem to fit the situation in a way . im a country boy , in a fairly survivable spot . small town with less than 10k people , 60 plus acres thats a had a garden for 130 years nonstop in my family , pretty much raised in the field and stream ....congrats to you , your the first one here to catch that ..

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MUDLOGGER on May 12, 2006 - 7:35am

Yes, Soylent Green at number 7)

Number Eight?

8) THE HANDMAIDS TALE: Theocratic , fascist, dystopia with complete subjugation of Women.

Just need anothe two and we have the top ten hits for 2020.

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fallout on May 12, 2006 - 9:19am

Chronologically, several of the following could occur, in sequence:

#6) Three Days of the Condor - Some could argue that we have already entered this period. Puts off the inevitable.

#7) Soylent Green - The decline begins in earnest, government unable to cope, corporations step in. War, famine, and pestilence stalk the land. 10 years from now.

#5) Shogun - Modern civilization starts to crumble, stabilizing in a neo-feudal system, similar to that seen in third world countries today. Somalia or Zimbabwe seem apt models. 25 years from now.

#3) Mad Max - Effectively, the end game. Only vestiges of modernity remain, fossil fuel energy sources mostly exhausted. 50 years from now.

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themouse on May 12, 2006 - 9:47am

On the movie theme, how about 'THE POSTMAN'

Modern civ destroyed itself, those who survived found different ways to make a living:

some making it by living as 200 years ago, farming, fishing, community
some making by maintaining some modern era tech, hydroelectric, computers
some find themselves subject to warlords, raping, pilaging, burning, taking

Tony

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124 comments on Thursday open thread

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