# SDMB is simply a safe place ... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 23, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-is-simply-a-safe-place/540515 "2010-05-23T22:50:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 48
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-is-simply-a-safe-place/540515/48 "2010-05-25T16:49:17Z")
> [@ghardester](#): > > Oh, of course I agree with you. I was just responding to the OP to say that the sky is not falling, the end of times is not near. > > Solutions will be developed. Cost will be the motivator. Life will not only go on as it has but will continue to provide more oportunity and a better quality of life. The developing countries of the world are not going back to the plow and cattle life. > > Anyone who thinks the US and the world will come to a screeching halt in 50 years because of a perceived peak oil scenario should find a street corner to stand on and preach. Because you are just that silly. 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. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-is-simply-a-safe-place/540515)._