posted on Jan, 4 2006 @ 11:55 PM
I have often thought about this. Its more than just a few people that would be obsolete depending on what the replacement was. Think about all the
people involved in the exploration, extraction, refinement, transport and retail of oil
They would all be out of jobs and have families and other
people depending on them like their local communites and merchants etc!!!
Its not like just a few fat cat oil moguls would loose their fortunes and
everyone else would be unaffected. Besides the guys at the top are most likely very intelligent individuals that would do everything in their power to
ensure they didn't become obsolete with oil as they would most likely have the knowledge of it coming considering they are the ones controlling the
industry.
I know when new earth shattering technologies make people obsolete the world or the economy and socitey adapt, but oil beoming obsolete would have
some devestating effects. I know things like the computer made lots of people obsolete and they eventually learned new skills and found work elsewhere
or with computers, but oil could be different and potentially worse. I suppose in the end oil being obsolete could be a good thing, because I think
about it, if it werent for people commercializing farming or even just the whole idea of growing food or farming in the first place we might all still
be hunting and gathering or at least spending all day worrying about what we'll eat next
I don't see oil becoming obsolete let alone by some perpetual energy source. I envision something like hydrogen being the next thing and the existing
oil infrastructure could be adapted fairly easily.
[edit on 4-1-2006 by warpboost]