An email of note

Consider the following strained systems:

Electrical Grid

Those of us who live in the NE or southern Canada remember the
blackouts of 2003. All caused by a couple of trees in my lovely home
state. There are multiple articles available on how we barely have
enough generation capabilities now and things are going to grow a lot
worse by 2020.

http://www.eei. org/industry_ issues/industry_ overview_ and_statistics/ in
dustry_statistics/ index.htm

http://www.utilitie sproject. com/documents. asp?grID= 111&d_ID=3237

And from the CFR (nobody freak out)

http://www.cfr. org/publication/ 12866/united_ states_future_ need_for_ pow
er_and_energy. html

Housing Bubble

Many experts suspect that the building boom and home refinancing
represent the only real growth in the US since 2000. So the
implications of this are bigger than normal. If it's over what's
next? Inflation and recession.

http://thehousingbubbleblog. com/

http://moneycentral .msn.com/ content/P149596. asp

Personal and National Debt (includes currency)

Basically, many Americans and our Nation are bankrupt by GAAP
(generally accepted accounting principles) standards. The dollar is
doomed.

http://www.brillig.com/debt_ clock/

http://www.whatreal lyhappened.com/ARTICLE2/ doodoo.html

http://mwhodges. home.att. net/nat-debt/ debt-nat- a.htm

http://www.wsws. org/articles/ 2004/jan2004/ debt-j15. shtml

http://www.msnbc. msn.com/id/ 11098797/

http://www.wnd. com/news/ article.asp? ARTICLE_ID= 53311

Oil/ Natural Gas

The favorite of this board. Not only includes finding and producing
oil but refining it.


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Anyone can google anything and post a bunch of links. I mean cell
phones, teflon cookware, etc. (and I apologize if I have touched on
anyone's favorte tin foil hat subject) will all kill us all soon.
What is interesting to me about this doomsday list is that with the
exception of peak oil all the statements and issues are facts. When
(very seldom) these issues are raised no one disputes the reality of
the situation. The only "solutions" that are offered are the tired
old lines of we'll grow our way out of it, technology will save us,
etc. Sometimes all that is offer are platitudes like:

"Oh it isn't really all that bad"

or

"Things have always worked out"

My point in this list is to support the need to prepare. I must admit
that at heart I am an old fashioned guy who likes old ways and splits
his wood by hand just to do it. That being said I am an engineer ho
loves technology (insert fast cars here) who while he likes the old
ways would prefer to keep it as a hobby and not return to the 1800's
or stone age. But unfortunately, facing the multitude of issues we
have, I find it likely that things are going to get very ugly sooner
rather than later.

Population

Most industrialized societies, excluding immigration are near zero
population growth. Some are in slight decline. A German colleague of
mine told me that he gets a check from the government because he has
kids and more kids means more Euros.

Global warming

I am very ambiguous on this one. When I was a child the same
climatologists were telling us the ice age was coming and we were all
going to freeze to death. I am very leery of the $ aspects of the
debate and am appalled that one side wants to cut off all debate and
professionally destroy anyone who questions their religion...errrr I
mean science. That being said there is no doubt that pollution, in
general, needs to be addressed. Al Gore has made himself the poster
boy for this and frankly if I owned a McDonald's I do not think I'd
let him run it. He is cut from the same cloth as the rest of the
current band of politicians and therefore I take everything he says
with the same credence I'd give an internet rumor. I see hope in this
area too. Lake Erie, while not perfect, in unquestionably better than
it was when I was a child and the Cuyahoga River hasn't caught fire
lately.

Habitat Destruction

Another item that would be addressed by ending population growth. We
must save wild areas and there are many of us who do want to live
where we can touch our neighbors house. I cannot imagine living in a
world without wild areas but I think enough people feel that way and
that makes a little room for hope.

All of that being said I do not see much room for hope right now. I
outlined in another post all the things I see as currently screwed
up. I wish peak oil was the only problem we faced. We all need to
prepare as much as possible.