Gas & food is still real cheap in the USA ,,,but soon we may have to pay more.. now is the time for the uninformed to pay attention to what is happening .I have been listening to people condem any one they think is guilty,,IDIOTS it is us!!! OUR FUEL IS CHEAP it is going up and the price of everything hauled by truck is going up.. we can only wait and see ,,but fiero forum members should be prepared to survive hard times ,,be prepared !!O.K. to think of me as a crazy alarmist,or a loon I think nothing serious will happen ..

The family men out there should be prepared for gas shortages ,storm damage, floods, hurricanes, tornatoes,..and bat attack the pesky flying critters are liable to get you with a dive bomb Guano attack ,splattering your eyes and mouth
You are prepared for the unexpected just like if you saw me comming up the drive or walkway with a suit case you would turn out the lights and not answer the door and call 911

This will go one of two ways, either the oil bubble will burst and everything will go back to a reasonable level, or it won't and we'll all be screwed. In which case I predict the end of Western civilization, and a second dark age.

http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/

When the country with the most powerful military machine in the world finds itself at risk because it cannot sustain it's hunger for fuel - what do you think will happen?

quote Originally posted by Formula88: When the country with the most powerful military machine in the world finds itself at risk because it cannot sustain it's hunger for fuel - what do you think will happen?

Lets hope by the time that happens on a world scale we still have the most powerful military machine...

quote Originally posted by Formula88: When the country with the most powerful military machine in the world finds itself at risk because it cannot sustain it's hunger for fuel - what do you think will happen?

The government will give free fuel to poor people.

Been worried but most are not, because most people look at the increase in fuel prices as some sort of bubble, which "will soon burst, bringing prices back down where they should be-$50-$70/bbl". Most people believe growing prices are a just a product of commodities speculation and/or price gouging by oil companies.

And, it may well burst, but that burst and lower prices will be temporary at best. Any one who will actually take the time to look at growing global demand versus lagging global reserve replenishments should be able to conclude this is a case of [high demand/low supply=ever increasing prices].

How concerned am I? Very. I'm not to the point of stockpiling food and water but am ferventlyworking toward being able to produce more of my own food. Looking for a windmill to pump my water so I don't have to rely on the demon electricity. Now, if I could just find a pair of harness trained mules to pull my Georgia stock...........

Seriously, I believe food stuffs--in my lifetime, and I'm now 58--will become more of a concern both in cost and availabilty worldwide than fossil derivied energy itself.

The Peak Oil link that Avengador posted is old news to those who have kept up with things over the last few decades. I first heard the term Peak Oil while working for an IADC drilling contractor in the late 70s-mid 80s. I saw firsthand what a boom-bust looked like, especially in the Austin Chalk boom in east central Texas. How many thousands of wells were drilled into that formation in just a few years--how many billions of barrels of oil extracted--then that big play depleted in just a short time. Oil was at $36/bbl then--would be worth many times that today. When the production in that big field reached a plateau, it was said to be at 'peak oil' production, which showed up almost overnight as a big decrease in the number of rigs standing against the blue sky. That's how it goes around the world--rigs stack, and the geologists and seismographers swing back into high gear looking for the next big thing--half a state or half a world away from the last one.

There is a special miniseries coming out later this mnth called Black Gold--I forget which network. You might gain some insight into just what it takes to produce that barrel of oil nowdays. It will be along the lines of Deadliest Catch-may just be a ratings ploy or funky reality show--dunno....

On another note, I see the Saudis have called for an emergency summit between producing countries and consuming nations regarding the recent run up in oil prices. The Saudis publicly say the increase is unwarranted. It is my belief that they really see the price increase as detrimental to their long term profitability. Higher prices will likely spur more alternative fuels development, which will eventually cut into their economic cash cow. Perhaps I am wrong, and their concerns are the worlwide food shortage predicted a week ago by the UN group--spurred by more and more crop production being diverted towards ethanol production worldwide. We'll see how that summit plays out, but I suspect there will be a preponderance of closed door meetings, and we may never see/hear what is really said.

no, not worried.

quote Originally posted by lurker: no, not worried.

quote Originally posted by maryjane:

lol. i was thinking of that when i posted.

i'm aware that things are getting weird. that's why i bought a geo metro last june, and am watching goodwill for a $5 bicycle.

i'm aware that there's little i can do except cut my reliance on the outside world. i refuse plastic bags, combine trips, i'm handy with tools, and am good with plants. it may get unpleasant but i'll adapt and muddle through, as will the vast majority. a few, very few, wont make it due to heat stroke in summer or freezing to death in winter. want to ride it out without too much discomfort? simplify your life, now

if i'm wrong, i have a little stash of ammo, and i know how to use it. no, i'm not worried.

[This message has been edited by lurker (edited 06-10-2008).]