June 24th, 2008 - Where their anger really comes from?
People's anger over the rapid rise of oil is not completely due to the rise itself, but because they could not partake in the recent run-up. The average American could easily dabble in internet stocks and even flip houses when those sectors were hot. But that was then. Now, as stocks and house prices fall, people accuse speculators of raising the price of oil. Well, what was the average American doing in internet stocks and flipping houses? Were they not speculating? If the average American could have played the oil markets, they would be pounding the table for increasing world demand and their anger would be directed to any politician or corporation who dared to increase supply. Does it always come down to greed?
June 23rd, 2008 - A few positives due to high energy costs.
(1) A reduction of greenhouse gases because less energy is being consumed thus saving the planet from doom. (2) Higher food costs for beef, chicken, and pork thus saving animal lives from pain, suffering, and death. (3) Airlines will have to decrease routes and scrap their inefficient jets for cleaner, quieter ones. (4) Large SUVs and pickups are pulled from the market and roads thus making driving safer and paving the way for even smaller, more efficient cars. (5) Less traffic on major roads as more and more commuters carpool or take the bus. (6) Force the United States, and a number of other countries, to quickly develop new alternative energies: creating jobs and a new era away from oil. (7) If oil no longer is our primary energy source, American troops can begin to come home and stay home: less blowback. (8) Oil producing countries would undergo a significant change in social classes as the few who now accumulate and control vast amounts of wealth would finally be forced to adapt and just maybe, maybe, include many more of their country's men and women in the new era. (9) If energy sources like wind and solar become mainstream, perhaps, people would begin to see and describe themselves more and more as global citizens because their energy sources come from worldwide sources that no nation can rightfully claim.
June 22nd, 2008 - Green Revolution now?
Are there growing fears among oil companies and oil producing nations that if high oil prices remain where they are or even rise further, it may permanently give alternative fuels the advantage? What will happen to the Middle East, to OPEC nations, if Europe, the United States, and China change their infrastructure to support alternative fuels? Perhaps a growing fear among corporations is consumption rates will never recover? Could it be that some people have embraced the Green Revolution permanently; that they will continue to size down everything: not only their cars and homes, but what they eat; that more and more people realize their rates of consumption have global consequences? Could everyone embrace such a way of life? As the world population approaches 7 billion people, expected to hit that mark sometime in 2012, maybe the Green Revolution has to be embraced no matter where oil prices head in the coming years. Otherwise, there's no doubt, protests and violent unrest will increase as food and oil shortages worsen.
June 3rd, 2008 - About change.
"No matter who wins this election, the direction of this country is going to change dramatically. But the choice is between the right change and the wrong change; between going forward and going backward." Said the old white man to the young black man. John, try not to embarrass yourself again.