Hello,
Hello, to those of you reading this in some distant future. I'm writing to you because I don't see much point in trying to convince my fellow
citizens anymore. We are a civilization of addicts, and we're in full-fledged denial. Our modern world is based on one element, and everything is
dependant upon it's power. We are a culture derived from petroleum. Without it, our communities and civilization would collapse. If you want to
understand our world of the last 150 years, you need to understand the black goo.
Your biggest question about this particular point in history, must be why didn't we change course when we had the chance? You'll know that by the
year 2011, it was obvious that negative consequences of an oil economy were manifesting themselves at every level of society. You're obviously
wondering how we could be so stupid.
But remember you are from the future and we are the primatives. At this time we are still learning what we can do. And not yet evolved enough to be
asking, should we be doing what were doing. Here, it's consequences be damned. I'm sure we will have learned something of the concept after the
ultimate oil crisis. It's just a shame it takes a conflict to resolve a problem. We're not much on preventative health methods either. The only
thing we've prefected is preventative war. We start a small war to prevent a bigger one. We have very short attention spans. Blame television and the
stock market. We only think in terms of short term profit. Damn the long term, we're getting ours.
Our problem is oil is an addiction. The undeniable moment came when George Bush Jr admitted it. One of the very few good things he did. We are
dependant on oil and energy. We can't exist without oil. We know it. We are slaves to it. We labour long to fill our tanks and work hard to get a
dollar to heat and cool our homes. The only time we really start to question and speak out is when the prices go higher. Or when there is a disaster
that makes headlines. We bitch about the prices and yet we'll pay almost any amount. People believe they begining gouged at the gas pumps. But
they're not. It really is supply and demand. And we've never really ever paid the true price of production because it has always been subsidized.
Just like our farms. The first hit is always free.
We know we are nearing peak oil production, which means the prices will only go higher. In fact, as we pass peak oil production, the prices will only
spike more often and by multiples. We steam now when we realize gas has gone up by a buck or so. We have no real grasp of the changes brought on by
prices that double, then triple within short spans. Today's citizens has no idea how they'd survive if fuel went up tenfold. The governments will
always be looking into the matter and set up panels to look at pump prices, but nothing will change.
It's the free market. The highest bidder always wins. Supply and demand. Producer and user. Drug dealer and addict.
Just before the British Petroleum spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, President Obama announced an expansion of deep water drilling to meet
America's energy needs. Today, we have spiking prices at the pumps, which means we have a screaming populous demanding lower prices. What's the
solution? New energy technologies?
Nope.
Let's drill in Alaska.
www.latimes.com...
Conservation?
Hehehehe. Really? Never! The last time we really ever considered fuel efficency was back in the late 1970's.
Instead of changing, we just went on more and more conquest adventures.
Tomorrow we'll be ravaging Beautiful British Columbia.
www.vancouversun.com...
But as you sit reading in the comfort of you future world, don't feel too smug. Because, if you existed here, even knowing all that you know of the
future and science, don't think you could change anything. Many here and now understand the problems, many here are working for solutions and are
thinking about the future. It's just the simple fact that the machine has grown beyond our individual control.
The American Dream of having a car and living in the suburbs has become global. China and India want their piece of American Pie.
The problem is that the American Dream is a delusion. It's a halluciation derieved by the rush of a chemical dependancy. A pipe dream.
An addiction.
www.theglobeandmail.com...