Wow, something finally makes sense. Jim Kunstler, longtime peak oil doomsday prophet, has always rubbed me wrong. Until now, I always felt it was just myself not liking to think about his rather dark predictions of the future after peak oil. Rationally, however, I do believe we're on the road to a big problem with peak oil, so logically, my dislike of Kunstler didn't make sense. Now however, Andrew Nimelman has posted a wonderful essay that poses the question 'Is Jim Kunstler a Neo-Con?'. The answer, according to this essay, is yes - although he is in denial about it. Aha! Now the pieces fit together for me! The basic neo-con world-view to me is so alien and (IMO) wrong that I instinctively cringe whenever I meet someone who espouses these beliefs.
Of course, this is only speculation. I however agree with the analysis - it just fits too well.
None of this is to say that the peak oil crisis won't be a crisis. I'm still looking for solutions for my own life as well as the nation's. I do refuse to despair however, I suppose I'm too much of an optimist for that. And if I'm wrong, well then I guess that's when it helps to be prepared and accepting of change. Bend like the willow, don't snap like the oak.
Of course, this is only speculation. I however agree with the analysis - it just fits too well.
None of this is to say that the peak oil crisis won't be a crisis. I'm still looking for solutions for my own life as well as the nation's. I do refuse to despair however, I suppose I'm too much of an optimist for that. And if I'm wrong, well then I guess that's when it helps to be prepared and accepting of change. Bend like the willow, don't snap like the oak.
posted by Joshua Szmajda at
8:44 AM
9 Comments:
I agree with you totally on the oil situation. Why should people in Iraq only pay 4 cents a gallon and we pay almost 3 dollars a gallon? or in Canada they recieve free health care and we pay thrue the nose for it. or while we are at it, kids are so much smarter than we are. Why? they go longer to school. Longer school years and days. Adults have more days off and are happier people than we are. I could go on and on all day long. But the bottom line is just this. If you want to change the world why don't you start in your own back yard. Pick a cause you belive in and stand up for what you belive in. Your a young educated white male. They tend to pay attention to what you have to say. So say it at your town hall meeting.
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Anonymous, at 9:37 AM
i left off a big part of that, People in other countries are smarter and happier than we are.
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Anonymous, at 9:38 AM
It's been said that all politics is basically local politics. Based on that, you're definatly correct. To change the world you have to change the minds of the people who make up that world. There's no better place to start than at home.
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Joshua Szmajda, at 9:44 AM
because of the rising cost of fuel, everything else is rising as well. Community projects are getting cut. We are sending our young men and women to die and yet they are cutting the vets funds. They are shutting air and navel bases accross the country. Vets live to only come home and die of various illness or mental illness. It's a crime what we take for granted every single day. We have the luxury of driving and going place to place...how many homeless people do you know? How many of those had great jobs or served our country? Plenty or I should say too many. Oil dissapearing is a problem,but people starving in your home town is bigger. The rich get richer and the poor die of hunger.
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Anonymous, at 11:41 AM
True, the poor starving is a major problem, however there are at least some systems that supposedly are in place to handle that problem. Peak oil is the greater problem in my opinion.. Imagine a country where gas is $10 or $15 a gallon. All the goods that arrive at your local Wal-Marts and other stores are shipped around the world. Imagine their price increases as the fuel it takes to ship them increases drastically in price. Prices of basic items like food will skyrocket unless we find alternatives. Heating oil, something we rely on so much in the Northeast, will be totally unaffordable to many more.
The problems resulting from this crisis are many and so widespread as to affect every aspect of our lives. People need to be aware of this present danger so they can prepare for it. Hunger and care of the needy is still important, but soon there will be a great deal more hunger and a great deal more needy.
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Joshua Szmajda, at 12:59 PM
If people don't have jobs and nothing to eat then who is going to buy the oil? If we don't educate the children and get AFFORDABBLE HEALTH CARE for all people then who is going to buy the oil? When you live in a town with a very bad education system that becomes a big priority. 10 years from now we will be in bad shape all the way around if we don't fix all of these problems. Government is only as good as the next vote. They come to us and say they want to change things but they most of the time never do. It is a big battle over demecrats and republicans. If they did away with the republicans and demorcrats and work as a unified body we might get something done. Until then we are stuck with who can out vote or out do the next guy.
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Anonymous, at 1:30 PM
It is a very tightly interconnected problem.. After all 'Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.'
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Joshua Szmajda, at 2:42 PM
I guess we have said enough about the same thing. Life is life and there are things you can't change. I can bet that if you truly Knew who I was you would never want to blog with me again. Things have been said and people have been hurt. But life has to go on. I am not a spy, just a person agreeing or disagreeing with what you have to say. I am a house wife that stays to myself. I like to debat on things close to heart. Education,healthcare and poverty. I did hold bad feelings in the past but like i said in the past. I can only speak for myself though. Any way it was fun blogging with you.
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Anonymous, at 2:57 PM
I have a pretty good idea. I certainly never meant to do anyone harm. I hope you and yours are well, and I agree these converstations have been enjoyable :).
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Joshua Szmajda, at 3:07 PM
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