# Dancing School For Pigs.  OPEN 24/7. (local sustainability)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-school-for-pigs-open-24-7-local-sustainability/547056>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [July 17, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-school-for-pigs-open-24-7-local-sustainability/547056 "2010-07-17T20:05:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 46

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**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-school-for-pigs-open-24-7-local-sustainability/547056/46 "2010-07-19T11:37:46Z")

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> [@adhay](#):
>
> …
> 
> How about this nice graphical presentation?
> 
> [The Oil Drum | Oil Production is Reaching its Limit: The Basics of What This Means](http://www.theoildrum.com/node/5969#more)

> [@](#):
>
> We live in a finite world. It is clear that at some point, we will eventually start hitting limits—we won’t be able to extract as much oil, or we won’t be able to mine as much silver or platinum, or fresh-water aquifers that have built up over millions of years will run dry.
> 
> We are reaching limits in several areas, but the one I would like to talk about here is oil production. Oil is essential, because **nearly all transportation depends on oil, and because a huge number of goods use oil in their manufacture (including textiles, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, asphalt, plastics, lubricating oils, and computers). Oil is also essential for our current agricultural system–growing food and transporting it to market.**

[bolding mine]

The author presents a series of graphs of many oil variables (discovery, production, price, etc) against economic factors (credit, GDP, etc) over time and reaches the following conclusion.

> [@](#):
>
> My personal view is that the main task we should be focusing on now is how to move to a much simpler system—one that depends mostly on locally grown food and locally manufactured goods. This will likely mean a much lower standard of living. Limiting population should probably be a goal, because it will be easier to have enough for all if there are fewer mouths to feed.
> 
> I do not see climate change legislation as terribly helpful. Cap and trade will add huge overhead to the system—something we really cannot afford right now. Peak oil is likely to mean a continuing major recession, and a natural decline in fossil fuel use. To me, we would be better off spending our resources developing local agriculture and local manufacturing, and perhaps even sailing ships.

This is the best presentation of the problem I have ever seen. I have downloaded it and plan to turn it into a slide show. It’s a natural pair with A Crude Awakening.

The download includes the comments on the article which contain a wealth of insight and personal expertise. Worth price of admission in itself.

If it’s too much trouble for you to spend some time with something so easily obtainable and so informative on the major single issue facing you and the world today, you might want to stop in at my Pig Singing School.

BTW, it’s a joke.

> **[Comedy Central The Daily Show Fan Page](https://www.cc.com/fan-hub/the-daily-show)**
>
> The source for The Daily Show fans, with episodes hosted by Jon Stewart, Ronny Chieng, Jordan Klepper, Dulcé Sloan and more, plus interviews, highlights and The Weekly Show podcast.

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