WWO - World Without Oil

[Drunken Master]

Ladies and gentlemen, it is inevitable. In our lifetimes – in 20 or so years, maybe - we will see oil at 100 dollars a barrel and it will cost upwards of that amount to fill up our tanks. Unlike the oil crisis of the 70’s, this will not be a temporary blip – high prices will become a permanent fixture. So, I thought it would be fun/extremely disturbing to speculate how our word will look once we run out of “the only oil that matters� – cheap oil – you know, beyond the fact that we’ll all be starving to death.

- The suburbanization of the white-collar workforce encouraged in the 1950’s by relatively cheap cars and gas will be reversed. The result will be a large-scale movement back into the inner city. The upside – smog and traffic congestion might actually be reduced. The downside – rent will skyrocket, and we’ll all need to get used to living a lot closer to each other.

- Likewise, living in rural areas, especially remote areas that need to have just about everything shipped in, becomes untenable. Urban populations explode. Rural real estate sells for relatively cheap, but the only people who can afford to live there are rich. The era of the two household family, able to afford both a main residence and a cottage in a rural area, ends. Billions become prisoners of the urban environment.

- As vacations become more expensive – what costs you the most during a vacation? Car/plane fuel! – people will begin focusing on entertainment options at home. Internet usage skyrockets, and the PC becomes more of an indispensable part of everyday life than it already is.

- SUV’s become even more of a status symbol than they already are. As a result SUV’s are rarely seen in the inner city, as these vehicle are routinely carjacked. The downside to this – uh, sorry, I can’t think of a downside.

Any other ideas?

 

[Hornet]

I'd be more worried about it happening in 10 years than 20.

The governments and auto manufacturers are investing heavily in "Fuel-Cell" technology that will replace the internal combustion engine. If I recall correctly, it is estimated that in about 10 years we'll start to see the technology begin to replace the internal combustion engine. It'll probably take another 10-15 years before it replaces the internal combustion engine all together.

If there wasn't this investment happening then everything you said above becomes a more real threat.

My short-term car cost fears revolve more around the insurance companies trying to screw us over on rates. That will drive me away from owning cars alot quicker than gas prices ever will.

 

[papasmerf]

looks like I will be making money on my classics

After all elimate the high availability of gas and you make use diehard classic folks wealthy

 

[red]

MP's will begin hoard massage oils, driving the prices of massages to astronomical prices. better go while you still can. Oh the humanity.

 

[Drunken Master]

I'd be more worried about it happening in 10 years than 20.

The governments and auto manufacturers are investing heavily in "Fuel-Cell" technology that will replace the internal combustion engine. If I recall correctly, it is estimated that in about 10 years we'll start to see the technology begin to replace the internal combustion engine. It'll probably take another 10-15 years before it replaces the internal combustion engine all together.

If there wasn't this investment happening then everything you said above becomes a more real threat.

My short-term car cost fears revolve more around the insurance companies trying to screw us over on rates. That will drive me away from owning cars alot quicker than gas prices ever will.

It is far from assured, at this point, that Fuel-Cell technology will ever provide a viable substitute for the the ol' Internal Combustion Engine.

 

[Don]

Ladies and gentlemen, it is inevitable. In our lifetimes – in 20 or so years, maybe - we will see oil at 100 dollars a barrel and it will cost upwards of that amount to fill up our tanks. Unlike the oil crisis of the 70’s, this will not be a temporary blip – high prices will become a permanent fixture. So, I thought it would be fun/extremely disturbing to speculate how our word will look once we run out of “the only oil that matters� – cheap oil – you know, beyond the fact that we’ll all be starving to death.

- The suburbanization of the white-collar workforce encouraged in the 1950’s by relatively cheap cars and gas will be reversed. The result will be a large-scale movement back into the inner city. The upside – smog and traffic congestion might actually be reduced. The downside – rent will skyrocket, and we’ll all need to get used to living a lot closer to each other.

- Likewise, living in rural areas, especially remote areas that need to have just about everything shipped in, becomes untenable. Urban populations explode. Rural real estate sells for relatively cheap, but the only people who can afford to live there are rich. The era of the two household family, able to afford both a main residence and a cottage in a rural area, ends. Billions become prisoners of the urban environment.

- As vacations become more expensive – what costs you the most during a vacation? Car/plane fuel! – people will begin focusing on entertainment options at home. Internet usage skyrockets, and the PC becomes more of an indispensable part of everyday life than it already is.

- SUV’s become even more of a status symbol than they already are. As a result SUV’s are rarely seen in the inner city, as these vehicle are routinely carjacked. The downside to this – uh, sorry, I can’t think of a downside.

Any other ideas?

I think we will be forced to live like most other countries right now that aren't so reliant on cars. That is more development/usage of public transit, more walking/cycling etc, smaller fuel efficient cars, etc.

 

[Hornet]

It is far from assured, at this point, that Fuel-Cell technology will ever provide a viable substitute for the the ol' Internal Combustion Engine.

Maybe so.

But, I think the governments of the world are starting to think heavily (billions of $'s) into alternatives to fossil fuels. Hybrid cars are just an example.

I guess I'm being more of the optimist on this situation. I think there are enough tree-huggers out there starting to get their voices heard that we are starting to move in the right direction. It isn't going to be a quick move but it will all come down to need and R&D $'s and we're starting to realize the need.

I'm not saying I know the answers, just that, i believe and hope there are people alot smarter than me working on the problem, even if it's going to take time to solve.

 

[wollensak]

Wall Street A-holes

I hope everyone remembers as I do the yap coming from Investment analysts who claimed the long-term trend in oil prices was downward, and they forecast oil at $26 a barrel.

How do these clowns stay employed? I knew they were full of SH*T, bought oil stocks and have profited.

When are we going to stop subsidizing road transport?

Makes you realize how farsighted the city of Toronto was in the early 50s when the built the subway.

The gutlessness of today's political leaders is embarassing.

Heard an interesting radio interview recently on CBC. According to him, the auto industry is running itself into the ground fighting over market share, and not banking enough money to develop
the new energy solutions.

Obviously, the govt should get involved to make it happen.
Oh, sorry, I forgot, the "market has the solution to everything". Yeah right. Why are right wingers so f**ing stupid?

 

[jerbear]

The gays will revolt over no KY Jelly.

 

[jerbear]

Hopefully by then new technology with maybe some old fashion thinking will be used and more natural substitutes for oil will be used.

 

[sweet guy]

When oil runs out, Israel will regretably run out of its "usefullness" in the eyes of the Americans and the Arabs/Muslims will lose their only bargaining chip, if you can call this to their "usual bashing favorite"-the Great Satan, aka the United States of America.

 

[langeweile]

UHHHH the end of the world is near
So much doom and gloom wanna make start smoking pot again.

My guesss is that the drying up of the oil well will expedite the push for alternative energy.
I believe that most oil companies, at least the smart ones, have already plans ready to go . It is all about timing. once the market is ripe for higher prices. High price alternatives become more palatable.
There will be competing sources fuell cells, bio diesel, ethanol, solar power are just a few.
However the real problem will not be transportation. Other products relying on petroleum will have a harder time.
How does sheepskin condoms sound??

 

[strange1]

Re: Wall Street A-holes

Makes you realize how farsighted the city of Toronto was in the early 50s when the built the subway.

And all the work they've done since (yes, I am being sarcastic)

 

[Von Wigglestaff]

Relax folks

We're not running out of oil. What we are seeing presently is that Saudi Arabia is the only nation with proven oil reserves. For the longest time this was a non-issue, but now that China and India have become stimulated to the joys of consumerism, demand has skyrocketed. This gives the Saudis power of terrorist thumbscrew and allows prices to become volitile when places like Nigeria and Venezuela become politically unstable.

Before we can begin to diversify our energy needs, something that is well within our powers to do, we must break the iron grip of oil companies over western governments. The policy of trading blood for oil is unsustainable and makes Gods out of violent men like Osama bin Laden.

The oil companies have controlled western foreign policy since the 1950's. It all began when Texaco sponsored a coup d' etat in Iran, crushing a fledgeling democracy movement and re-installing the brutal regime of The Shah. Considering the state of Iran today and the fact that they are on the verge of producing nuclear weapons, how short-sighted was that action?

Also, nukes can never replace oil as an energy alternative. Uranium is a rare mineral that is notoriously difficult to mine. Canada is the world's second largest producer of uranium, since we've never used our reserves to produce nuclear weapons, we are deeply respected worldwide. Also, uranium and it's derivative Plutonium are unstable radioactive elements that eventually decay. Russia is having huge problems disposing off it's decaying warheads, I seriously wonder how China, India and Pakistan will manage the problem?

 

[tompeepin]

Any other ideas?

Two words:

MAD MAX

Relax folks

... but now that China and India have become stimulated to the joys of consumerism, demand has skyrocketed. ...

... we must break the iron grip of oil companies over western governments. The policy of trading blood for oil is unsustainable ...

The oil companies have controlled western foreign policy since the 1950's. It all began when Texaco sponsored a coup d' etat in Iran, crushing a fledgeling democracy movement and re-installing the brutal regime of The Shah. ...

Exactly.

Besides we forget about the second world war. We do not know how to go without. People become ingenious. Ethanol as shown in WWII and today bio diesel becomes more viable with oil at high prices. It does not mean "The End" unless you think that it is "The End" when you can no longer fill up your SUV to roam the city streets as a single passenger and never go off road. How STUPID is THAT? Or unless you think that "The End" is "The End" of copious consumption. Or if you think that "The End" is living the lifestyle that the average Chinese or African person lives. Oh right “The End� of the western “lifestyle� being subsidized off of the backs of the rest of the world.

 

[Asterix]

I'm sorry, but I think this is going to blow up in our face a lot sooner than most people think. China especially concerns me as their oil consumption is increasing exponentially, and may one day top the US. The biggest lie of the post cold war is marketing the idea that the rest of the world can live as we have.