James Howard Kunstler writes in The Long Emergency that the decreasing availability of cheap oil will cause massive disruptions in our economy. As oil becomes more scarce, its price will continue to increase, causing prices to rise for all of the goods we purchase - food, clothing, appliances, electronics, cars, you name it. That's because it takes lots of oil to grow, produce and transport everything we consume. Our daily commuting costs will climb, too. As the cost of everything increases, we'll buy fewer non-essentials, and businesses will suffer from decreased sales. To reduce their operating costs, they will outsource and automate wherever they can, and they will lay off employees, further reducing consumer demand. As oil prices continue to climb, many companies will go out of business, causing more lay-offs. You get the picture. I won't try to summarize the evidence behind Kunstler's conclusions - you can read the book if you're interested. He doesn't offer any solutions, because there aren't any. Instead, he attempts to describe the disruptions and disorder that will occur as the economy contracts. He paints a picture of a less globalized, more locally-based economy, where people consume a lot less, and are more directly engaged in producing what they consume.
It's depressing to read stuff like this, but by becoming informed, you have the opportunity to plan and prepare for the changes ahead. For myself, I'm trying to build up my savings, so I can weather financial hardships. I'm also trying to reduce my dependence on my car. That means looking for a job that I can get to by bus or by walking. This spring, I'll increase the size of my vegie garden to eat healthier and reduce my food bills. Those are all things I want to do anyway - reading Kunstler keeps me motivated and focused.
It's depressing to read stuff like this, but by becoming informed, you have the opportunity to plan and prepare for the changes ahead. For myself, I'm trying to build up my savings, so I can weather financial hardships. I'm also trying to reduce my dependence on my car. That means looking for a job that I can get to by bus or by walking. This spring, I'll increase the size of my vegie garden to eat healthier and reduce my food bills. Those are all things I want to do anyway - reading Kunstler keeps me motivated and focused.
