Now that gas prices are “coming down” (yes, we feel just GREAT about $3.75/gallon… what!?) I don’t sense the same urgency in the American populace to fix this problem that existed when it was $5. Of course, this placation was expected by most and predicted by many, but that doesn’t change the fact that there is still a problem out there that was never solved. And we shouldn’t be fooled: it’s not fixed now just because we are ignoring it.
I fear we are addicted to foreign oil, and maybe just oil in general.
But in the words of the immutable LeVar Burton, you don’t have to take my word for it! Please check out some or all of the links below.
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T. Boone Pickens, the founder and chairman of BP Capital Management (which manages over $4 billion in energy-oriented investment funds) has created the Pickens Plan, which aims to develop clean energy solutions.
Here’s a great article from one of my favorite contemporary revolutionaries, Dr. Ron Paul: Big Government Responsible For High Gas Prices
Newt Gingrich has also thrown his thoughts into this discussion, and although I’m not convinced that more drilling will be a long-term solution, it does seem like a reasonable band-aid, considering our current economic challenges.
If you’re a regular reader, you know I’m a big fan of Chris Martenson; he’s a very level-headed proponent of financial literacy. Check out his very important explanation of what “peak oil” really is — apparently, I had no idea!
In my quest for the truth, I came across a documentary called A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash. This film is so obviously targeted towards proving its premise — namely, that there will be an oil crash — that it’s earned a bit of skepticism from me (as I’m sure you’ve noticed, it is increasingly hard to decipher truth from propaganda). Nonetheless, it is very interesting and quite well-made.
There’s also an interesting intersection of the “climate crisis” with our oil addiction. Check out WE:
There’s no question this is a complex issue with many moving parts, but I think we all know that it won’t be solved by ignoring it. I know I’m not really offering many, if any, real solutions in this post, but awareness is a good start.
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September 20, 2008 -
just thought you’d like to know, the subtitles are polish. ;) i’ve seen the documentary and thought it was really good (if a little dishonest in its translation of a section of russian-speaking interview where the english subs are no where close to what is being spoken). another interesting doc on the clean energy topic is “who killed the electric car”… really highlights how the capability for clean energy has existed for quite some time, but the giant oil companies quashed it all back in the 90’s cause they didn’t wanna give up their energy monopoly. check it out if you haven’t yet.
September 20, 2008 -
Polish! I knew it! ;-)
LOL, oh, who am I kidding. Thanks Ben!
Thanks for the info on the other Doc… I’ll try to check it out!
September 23, 2008 -
It’s all a huge mind altering conspiracy. We are gradually being conditioned much like Pavlov’s dog. Until we say enough is enough,get control of the Washington elite and force them to represent the interests of the people then nothing will really change. Elitist will run the country. Socialists will work to erode personal freedoms.
Oil is just one of our problems and when we talk about getting away from the fossil fuels then price creeps down. When we stop talking about it creeps back up. There is much that can be done however we need to keep it at the forefront.
Larry Zagranis
October 20, 2008 -
[…] a cofounder of the Rocky Mountain Institute, and in this 20 minute talk somehow manages to make our dependence on oil seem like a second grade math problem in terms of easy […]