Funny, somehow humanity managed to survive for tens of thousands of years before shifting to a petroleum-based economy and system of production. I think I give us a bit more credit than you do for adaptability and resourcefulness.

Of course, if you really feel that there's nothing to do about it so we might as well lie down and die (which is how I read your statement "if oil goes away, so does the whole world") that's your choice. Just move off to the side before you lie down so the rest of us, who intend to stay on our feet as long as we've got breath in our bodies, don't trip over you.

To paraphrase and extend a quote from [i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly_(TV_series)"]Firefly...

Funny, somehow humanity managed to survive for tens of thousands of years before shifting to a petroleum-based economy and system of production. I think I give us a bit more credit than you do for adaptability and resourcefulness.

Of course, if you really feel that there's nothing to do about it so we might as well lie down and die (which is how I read your statement "if oil goes away, so does the whole world") that's your choice. Just move off to the side before you lie down so the rest of us, who intend to stay on our feet as long as we've got breath in our bodies, don't trip over you.

To paraphrase and extend a quote from Firefly, "When you can't run, walk. When you can't walk, crawl. When you can't crawl, get someone to carry you. And when you can't carry each other any farther, sit back to back and spit at 'em until you can't spit any more."

Funny, somehow humanity managed to survive for tens of thousands of years before shifting to a petroleum-based economy and system of production. I think I give us a bit more credit than you do for adaptability and resourcefulness.

Actually I stated that "Until replacements for 80% of the things you touch, use depend on and interact with everyday are found, you NEED oil." Adaptablility has nothing to do with being resourceful. All humankind was almost wiped off the planet at one time, and they have attributed it to sheer luck, not skills.

If you want to live with the Amish with horse drawn carriages and no modern 'anything', then be my guest. If that's what you call...

Funny, somehow humanity managed to survive for tens of thousands of years before shifting to a petroleum-based economy and system of production. I think I give us a bit more credit than you do for adaptability and resourcefulness.

Actually I stated that "Until replacements for 80% of the things you touch, use depend on and interact with everyday are found, you NEED oil." Adaptablility has nothing to do with being resourceful. All humankind was almost wiped off the planet at one time, and they have attributed it to sheer luck, not skills.

If you want to live with the Amish with horse drawn carriages and no modern 'anything', then be my guest. If that's what you call 'living', fine. But the fact remains that your WHOLE life revolves around oil and oil based products (including computers and the internet), but you and possibly others are too ignorant to admit it.

Just Fifty Things Made From Oil

Fuel for cars
Diesel for cars, buses, tractor trains and ships
Aviation fuel for planes
Credit cards
Plastic bags
Hair brushes
Anti-freeze
Motorcycle Helmets
Carpets
Telephones
Brake fluid
Boats
Glue
Toilet Seats
Shampoo
Household paint
Detergent
Bowls
Fertilizer
Explosives
Car tires
Artificial turf
Football boots
Lipstick
Weed killer
Parachutes
Umbrellas
Food wrappers
Shower curtains
Waterproof coats
Artifical limbs
Roads
Bubble wrap
Drink bottles
Toothbrushes
Life jackets
Fishing line
Tennis rackets
Roller blades
Eye glasses
Lunch boxes
Flower pots
Toys
Car seats
Insulation
Nail polish
Hair spray
Me...

Just Fifty Things Made From Oil

Fuel for cars
Diesel for cars, buses, tractor trains and ships
Aviation fuel for planes
Credit cards
Plastic bags
Hair brushes
Anti-freeze
Motorcycle Helmets
Carpets
Telephones
Brake fluid
Boats
Glue
Toilet Seats
Shampoo
Household paint
Detergent
Bowls
Fertilizer
Explosives
Car tires
Artificial turf
Football boots
Lipstick
Weed killer
Parachutes
Umbrellas
Food wrappers
Shower curtains
Waterproof coats
Artifical limbs
Roads
Bubble wrap
Drink bottles
Toothbrushes
Life jackets
Fishing line
Tennis rackets
Roller blades
Eye glasses
Lunch boxes
Flower pots
Toys
Car seats
Insulation
Nail polish
Hair spray
Medicines
Insect repellant
Golf balls
Bullet- proof glass

If you want to live with the Amish with horse drawn carriages and no modern 'anything', then be my guest. If that's what you call 'living', fine. But the fact remains that your WHOLE life revolves around oil and oil based products (including computers and the internet), but you and possibly others are too ignorant to admit it.

You totally misunderstand, RN. Lexi & I (being Mr. Lexi) fully understand the implications of Peak Oil. We understand how petroleum products are the foundation of everything our suburbia-based society is built on.

Where we differ is that Lexi & I accept that much of the modern conveniences we've come to get used to will become unavailable within our l...

If you want to live with the Amish with horse drawn carriages and no modern 'anything', then be my guest. If that's what you call 'living', fine. But the fact remains that your WHOLE life revolves around oil and oil based products (including computers and the internet), but you and possibly others are too ignorant to admit it.

You totally misunderstand, RN. Lexi & I (being Mr. Lexi) fully understand the implications of Peak Oil. We understand how petroleum products are the foundation of everything our suburbia-based society is built on.

Where we differ is that Lexi & I accept that much of the modern conveniences we've come to get used to will become unavailable within our lifetimes. What you seem to be advocating is finding some way to keep running things the way they have been, the way you're used to & which you like.

That's just not an option. And I'm surprised that someone who seems to understand peak oil as you do would then come to the conclusion "We need to find some way to continue this unsustainable way of living."

I point you towards the book World Made By Hand by Jim Kunstler, author of The Long Emergency.

The world will not go away as we slide down the back-side of Hubbert's Peak. It just means life will be a bit harder, more physical labor involved, and less of the basic comforts we've come to associate with high-energy industrial society.

You seem to want to find some way of keeping, as Dick Cheney put it, "Our non-negotiable way of life" going in the face of our new negotiating partner, Reality.

Reality is saying "You want to continue as a civilization, learn to powerdown."

If you're too weak & frail to handle what's coming...

I think its very obvious what we loose without oil for everyone who has commented, without your list.There are many alternatives. It's nearly 2009.
Yes, things would change. Life may become different, possibly harder, but also possibly simpler.

To think that mankind would not come up with alternatives to sell if we stoped buying or ran out of oil is ignorance. One thing America and most of the world depends upon is passive consumers. When we stop being passive consumers , or run out of oil, they will stop producing what we don't buy or simply do not have and they will present new alternatives. A price will be paid, thats for sure.
To get children & students to think out of the box is ...

I think its very obvious what we loose without oil for everyone who has commented, without your list.There are many alternatives. It's nearly 2009.
Yes, things would change. Life may become different, possibly harder, but also possibly simpler.

To think that mankind would not come up with alternatives to sell if we stoped buying or ran out of oil is ignorance. One thing America and most of the world depends upon is passive consumers. When we stop being passive consumers , or run out of oil, they will stop producing what we don't buy or simply do not have and they will present new alternatives. A price will be paid, thats for sure.
To get children & students to think out of the box is great, not ignorant.

And by the way. I would love to live off the grid, ride a horse and live in a community that helps build each other build their houses and grow food. That I would trade for a world without oil and yes I would call that living. I would be more than willing to toss my laptop. I allready stopped driving and killed my TV.

It's more complex than simply saying people should ditch their cars, tvs and computers.

Getting around is easier if you're young and fit. A bike is cheap and pollution free, but what if you live in a hilly country area as I do, or are elderly, sick or have young children?

The blame should not be placed on individuals. Transport is the responsibility of governments and should be free and widely accessible. Here in NSW Australia we are about to get a transport fare hike, yet our public transport system is so run down after years of neglect and partial privatisation that it can't cope with all the extra people who are turning to public transport because of higher petrol prices.

Giving up t...

It's more complex than simply saying people should ditch their cars, tvs and computers.

Getting around is easier if you're young and fit. A bike is cheap and pollution free, but what if you live in a hilly country area as I do, or are elderly, sick or have young children?

The blame should not be placed on individuals. Transport is the responsibility of governments and should be free and widely accessible. Here in NSW Australia we are about to get a transport fare hike, yet our public transport system is so run down after years of neglect and partial privatisation that it can't cope with all the extra people who are turning to public transport because of higher petrol prices.

Giving up the internet is not a solution either. Many people rely on it for study and work. The sick and elderly depend on it to feel less isolated. What about NGO's (non-profit orgs) - how would they create awareness of global concerns and raise money and support? What would happen to the free exchange of information which has helped increase our knowledge of the world? Without modern forms of communication many people and animals would suffer even more!

There are alternatives, but it is not in the interests of capitalist governments to take them up. Google YouTube + Peak Oil + Cuba to see how a small country under the heel of a US embargo tackled the problem.