# Let's Face It. The World As We Have Known It Is Coming To An End. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 24, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-face-it-the-world-as-we-have-known-it-is-coming-to-an-end/540603 "2010-05-24T18:52:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 129
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-face-it-the-world-as-we-have-known-it-is-coming-to-an-end/540603/129 "2010-05-27T12:15:44Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > Putting aside the video for obvious reasons (heh), And they would be? > [@](#): > > … people here aren’t saying that the problem of peak oil shouldn’t be addressed. That’s a start. > [@](#): > > At _worst_ we’re saying that even if we _don’t_ address it, the free market inevitably will … I’ll let this poster from another thread address this. > [@SDMB is simply a safe place ...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-is-simply-a-safe-place/540515/48): > > Can’t argue with a word of that. > > Main thing I’d add is that while solutions will be developed, and cost will be the motivator, the transition will be a lot more difficult for the citizens of those countries that don’t plan for a world where oil is suddenly a lot more costly than it is now. The European countries have already done a lot of prep by artificially pricing gasoline much more highly than we do via taxation, and having much better intra- and inter-city rail transit than we do. > > Here, it would be nice if we were already building subway lines like crazy, and connecting nearby cities with high-speed trains, so that when the price of gasoline and jet fuel both go through the roof, people can relatively painlessly substitute trains for most of their car trips and at least some of their air travel. But instead we’ll have a lag time of a decade or so while we’re building the infrastructure for people to use instead of suddenly-too-expensive cars. It’s gonna be a hard time for a lot of people. Ten years, maybe, were we to start today. By the time everything’s ready to go and given everyone’s need to make a good profit, I wish I had more fingers and toes… > [@](#): > > Nuclear in particular has been mentioned once or twice in this thread - I’m not sure you’ve noticed? Speaking of energy alternatives like nuclear plants and alternate trasportation solutions such as high speed electric trains is the very _definition_ of ‘addressing the problem now’. Speaking about them without there being the slightest possibility of your allowing us to bury nuclear waste in your backyard nor of the electorate sanctioning our getting out of our wars and doubling the price at pumps to pay for their construction, what’s the point? BTW, you have mail from the Pit, I’m not sure you’ve noticed. > [@](#): > > But admittedly it’s not the same as throwing up our hands. I have merely raised my hands in surrender to the inevitable while waving a bit to get your attention. > [@](#): > > … and retreating to small farming communities and warming up the horses and buggys So to speak. One low budget project the govt could put into being right now to make things better for a lot of people, regardless of how the oil thing comes out, would be in Detroit, the desiccated heart of our great auto industry. There, right now, they are reducing abandoned buildings to vacant lots. Detroit doesn’t have much of a growing season, I understand, but with a few govt built state-of-the-art organic green houses along with some education and the encouragement of local participation, we could take a lot of pressure off the local fast food convenience stores, which I hear are getting fewer and farther between there as we speak. > [@](#): > > … How much space would it take to put the entire population of New York in small farming communities? Note, I have not recommended moving to an urban area, nor have I personally done so. With some honest govt help now, Post -Oil Detroit [not quite an urban area these days but it’s the best domestic example of the corporate collateral damage inflicted on us all for profit] could be brought into near self-sufficiency. Me, I enjoy mountains and trees with my snow. > [@](#): > > Oh wait, your plan is for all those people to _die_. Ah. Brilliant plan. We’ll get right on that. The free market is already on it, please take your seats. I have no plans for death but I expect, on some level, It’s inevitable and It is going to be widespread. What I’ve been talking about is the immediate need to start doing things to minimize it. For me, it’s been a damn good ride. Born too young for Korea and, with a little hedging, too old for Nam, I’ve had the full, Big Oil ride. Big Macs and cheap gas, forever, unless I outlast Oil and have to settle for the occasional home grown chicken. I will simply ignore the rest of your post. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-face-it-the-world-as-we-have-known-it-is-coming-to-an-end/540603)._