I became convinced the American Empire was going to crash long ago, maybe by 1970. When we got to 1975 I realized that energy and consumption were at the core of the problem. I spent several years then trying to convince others and get some policy changes at the state level. When I proposed a graduated tax on non-renewable energy with the revenue going to support R&D in renewables I was politely informed that such an idea was politically impossible and laughed at behind my back. It's called a carbon tax these days. I pretty much gave up on this frustrating activity. Decided that the best solution was to burn up the oil as fast as possible. Then things would change. Nobody had heard about climate change due to anthropogenic CO2 back then. I started working on my personal plan.

Hadn't given up on collective solutions completely. Still had hopes people might listen to reason. Throughout the '90s I published an email and web newsletter that dealt with diverse local political-social issues. In 2002 I stopped. I had said everything I had to say and I was sick of the futility. Just about then the term "blog" came into currency. All of a sudden, everybody was shouting. And nobody was listening except to what they already thought they knew. Do blogs help anything? I don't know. I tend to think not in general but some help me. I think it's a pretty mixed bag with no way of telling except on an individual level.

Would I do anything different if I knew the ultimate decline would happen in 2014? I'd try to do everything I'm doing now a little faster, a little more urgently. Probably wouldn't succeed but I know I'm already better off than 99.9% of the population. So, no worries, mate. Let the winds blow. I've been expecting it. A bit surprised things have held together as long as they have.

Would I do anything different if I knew it would be business as usual? No again. I'm doing what I do because that's the way I want to live out my life. Simple.