Tim Knowles
Jul 24, 2017 · 2 min read

Touche’ you are right I misspelled and (sort of) erroneously corrected your spelling.

I think you might have a sense of humor (sic) and we could still exchange ideas even if you think your analogy is good and I don’t, still don’t.

I think someone said we are two countries divided by a common language.

I will take your word that pedalling is a proper spelling and humour is also a proper spelling. I will try another word, aluminium. Hey I think I have a Nationalist American Spell Checker.

Sorry, my mistake.

Let me summarize our disagreement (outside of the spelling thing).

You think the end of oil will lead to an increase in violence and deprivation accompanied by possibly severe and catastrophic political upheaval.

I think the transition will be less traumatic but I admit it will not be without some pain.

Me I don’t think I will have to rely horse power but will have a self driving electric car charged from my roof top solar panels, rationed single payer healthcare and Universal Basic Income. I will supplement my UBI with “Fun Work” (which I already have) and pay out of pocket for healthcare that the system does not provide or provide in a timely manner (even if I have to travel overseas or use a black market).

You might be right, I might be dreaming and none of this will happen before I die. There might be blood in the streets as the elites cut down the poor protesters and more people end up permanently living in refugee camps that will provide a different kind of UBI (food ration) and Health Care (burials).

Oil and natural gas are going to become too expensive to burn. Coal will be considered to dirty to burn. Nuclear will be too dangerous. Geothermal will only be cost effective locally. Hydroelectric is pretty much maxed out in the developed world. Fusion is not going to get here any time soon. That leaves us with getting by on Solar and Wind. If the EROEI for Solar and Wind are not improved then the middle class standard of living will have to be decreased because the cost of energy and the energy component of the cost of everything else will eat up more of the middle class income.

The Saudis (Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, etc.) better get busy turning sand into solar cells.

Russia better improve their food production.

Venezuela needs a miracle

Africa will just revert to earlier times.

China is already adapting

Or

Climate Change be damned there is plenty of cheap coal.

TEK

    Tim Knowles

    Written by

    Worked in our nations space programs for more than 35 years