http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/11/14/521...
We have a lot of things hitting us at one time.
We have contaminated our air and waterways, clear-cut our forests, and our inner cities are dying. The pollution of such natural resources often preceeds economic and societal collapses. The shrinking dollar, soaring gas prices, housing slump and stock market fall, though inconvenient, are not the biggest threats to the economy. These are symptoms caused by deeper systemic problems. We need to learn from these events and discover how to build more sustainable societies. Otherwise, these “hits” are likely to increase and spread.
Many major American institutions are in crisis, including healthcare, religion, transportation, political systems, energy, and education.
That which Heinberg and other Peak Oil theorists have been predicting for years seems to be entering its next stage. With the supply of petroleum and other fossil fuels diminishing and the demand for them increasing–especially from rapidly industrializing China and India–we are moving toward a radically worsened US economy. Canada is one of the many countries whose citizens are ahead of the US in prudent planning for pending crises caused by extreme climate, Peak Oil, and related matters. The Vancouver City Planning Commission has posted a report on a 2006 seminar on collapse at www.plancanada.com. Videos of such ongoing seminars to get ready are available at www.peakmoment.org.
Too many Americans selfishly believe that they have a God-given right to consume whatever their wealth can purchase, without regard to the consequences to other people and the Earth. They take, rather than give, even the natural resources of other peoples. As a farmer, I know that you reap what you sow and that chickens come home to roost.
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Sweetheart there is 120 trillion tons of coal in Montana that can just as easily and less expensively supply our fossil fuel needs for another 500 years (at current usage rate levels). While I agree with alot of your theories, Peak Oil is another scare tactic like terrorism or Global Warming to incite the problem-reaction-solution response in order to control man. Keep your eye on the ball kiddo, its about globalization and these are all tools to push us that way.
I don't understand they had good news on that financial channel and from the government, naw just kidding. It does not look pretty, but this is America and we will survive. The other answer folks have really valid answers and scope them out.
There is a avatar on here who has a way to make energy and it's patented, but gee the big boys don't want to use it. I for one am going to learn a new language.
This "super highway", the new money. I have watched the euro grow form being worth 80 cents to being worth $1.40 now. That is a joke. the strongest currency in it was the German mark. The rest, excluding the Swiss France were like the French franc, and other that are on par with the peso. So how can the euro be worth anywhere near where it it? And yes you all may be on the mark that we are headed to being middle America, but hopefully not for a while.
I still wonder why the admin thinks Reaganomics will work now during an entirely different time in space. We need to pray and seal the country and let it heal. Take care. Lot better answers than this, but did want to put in "two cents as some call it.
Why do you foolishly toil over which side of the political system is to blame for how we got here? It's both both sides faults and your own for electing these greedy thieves back into power every time. The US economy will be fine so long as one thing does not happen. That being said that one thing is almost about to happen. The world, since this economic collapse, has felt a direct effect of our own foolish greed. In reaction to this they have begun to discuss an alternative to an international base currency other than the US dollar. They have even discussed creating a World currency. This, seeing as how we have no actual monetary value to our money being a Fiat Currency and not a Standard based one, would collapse our economy far beyond what we have seen thus far and leave the world to continue on because they would no longer rely upon the United States to get things done.
Seems Pacific Lumber profits well from two huge countries,
where you can hide some local environmental desasters well,
if I sense a certain lack of sensitivity in some answers correctly.
Canada is not plain oeko gold either, they allow clearcut also.
Russia would have more than a century work clearing Siberia. :)
Still, let's avoid to spell it. While we already have Peak Oil.
Just statistics unlike environmentalists' warning long ago,
USA could give a better example (ie. to industrial challengers
how to get filthy rich) than just to deny all consequences.
So China heading top does as well. Big deal to guess so.
Merely somebody call it myth. Then Capitalism is a myth, too.
Legend became what was once the US-American technology
leadership, to which we could pledge back by taking it back.
Environment is not even in contradiction to business interests,
energy efficience simply spares costs. If aluminium production
would upgrade to latest rectifyers, 30% less energy needed etc
(pron THIRTY, almost ONE THIRD but to cry energy SUBSIDY
and lay off workers is still a bit cheaper than rectifyers)
There's no such thing like one simple magic, but diligent work
on many many details - and why sulk anyway if it is a bargain?
Depression will hit only - literally even - those who profit from
dependence on oil, we'll have a collapse unless they step back.
Fantastic question Enigma! I have often contemplated on this very subject. I too can see the warning signs that elude so many others who choose not to see. I am very concerned for the u.S.A's economic future. I wish I could do more to prepare for the collapse, but I am a poor student and cannot afford the elaborate scheme I have devised to survive comfortably. The best I can do is to buy silver coinage and hope for a windfall. Than you for the web sites. Maybe I should look into heading north. Though if there is a economic collapse in the u.S, the rest of the world will be hard hit as well.
Kevin....They are clear cutting the old growth trees. I should know, I live in the west and are only about 50 miles from them...and we have already had 2 storms which has devastated this area...we just got our power back on! We are being sold out as we speak!
Yes, I think that within 10 years that the USA will totally collapse and the North American Union will be created. They are already COUNTING on this happening!
EDIT: BUBBA... The reason why they are burning all the time is BECAUSE of the clear cutting! There is no longer any undergrowth to keep the moisture in! Doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that if something gets dry, it burns easier! No, wind blockage, means stronger winds and storms. Which is EXACTLY what we are seeing where I live which is the Puget Sound Area.
EDIT: STEEL...And what will happen to Montana once the coal is removed? Collapse in on itself? Coal is OLD tech and VERY DIRTY!
We are on the precipice of a recession, with all of the deficit spending by the Bush Administration; above-prime loans issued to homeowners, with their properties now in foreclosure; occupations of Middle Eastern countries that cost millions of dollars each day, as well as costing millions of dollars of damages to these countries, to be paid in the future to rebuild these countries; unfairly high oil prices, despite a glut of crud oil available; writers' strike preventing the airing of new shows for Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.
We may be headed for disaster...
China's economy will collapse before ours does. The environment is getting so bad in many places there that productivity is being affected, and people are starting to protest, even though they live in a totalitarian society.
Of course the US economy is going to collapse , just do what I do - stock up on can food .
we will be in a recession before the next 3 or 4 months are up and hopefully it wont become the D word.