Unfortunately, we are ALL prey to the desire to hear "good news". Good news about hugely devastating problems like Peak Oil is wishing it away. Show me a politician (or any democratic "leader") who has been successful over the long term by telling unpleasant truths to his electorate. There are few, if any. Just the number of successful movies in the US with an unhappy ending (very few) is testimony to the "saleability" of good news ("happy endings"). If people voted for politicians who spoke the truth or LIKED hearing "bad news" (unpleasant truths), politicians would use the truth a LOT more often. They don't because we don't like to hear unpleasantness as a general rule. Do you like to read this "bad news"???

Ian (bad news messenger, don't shoot me!)