Chris Martenson
Energy Concerns Are Mounting
Monday, September 13, 2010
Executive Summary
- Many interlocking factors have caused current economic woes.
- Most of the issues are still almost strictly economically driven; energy’s role is still to come.
- World energy consumption, at current rates of growth, will double in 35 years.
- Alternative fuels cannot displace oil use, but they can be helpful in electricity production and other areas.
- We should be using our highly-concentrated energy sources to capture less-dense alternative energy sources.
- The next energy shock is closer than most people realize.
- The perception of scarcity will create scarcity.
- Now is the time for prudent preparations.
In my last Insider entry, I made a number of claims that sparked a lot of good comments. I will respond to a sampling of them here. If I don’t address your comment, please know that I read and considered every one. I value and encourage continued input through comments, forum posts, and email.
There are multiple interlocking topics embedded in the question, “Why is the economy down right now?” I don’t see any one particular cause. Yes, there was too much debt, but there was also falling net energy from flat petroleum production between 2004 and 2008. Oil also happened to spike in price. Which one ’caused’ the economic meltdown and the deep freeze that followed? All of these factors, and a few others besides.
Energy Concerns Are Mounting
PREVIEWEnergy Concerns Are Mounting
Monday, September 13, 2010
Executive Summary
- Many interlocking factors have caused current economic woes.
- Most of the issues are still almost strictly economically driven; energy’s role is still to come.
- World energy consumption, at current rates of growth, will double in 35 years.
- Alternative fuels cannot displace oil use, but they can be helpful in electricity production and other areas.
- We should be using our highly-concentrated energy sources to capture less-dense alternative energy sources.
- The next energy shock is closer than most people realize.
- The perception of scarcity will create scarcity.
- Now is the time for prudent preparations.
In my last Insider entry, I made a number of claims that sparked a lot of good comments. I will respond to a sampling of them here. If I don’t address your comment, please know that I read and considered every one. I value and encourage continued input through comments, forum posts, and email.
There are multiple interlocking topics embedded in the question, “Why is the economy down right now?” I don’t see any one particular cause. Yes, there was too much debt, but there was also falling net energy from flat petroleum production between 2004 and 2008. Oil also happened to spike in price. Which one ’caused’ the economic meltdown and the deep freeze that followed? All of these factors, and a few others besides.
Note: This article is part of a series on personal preparation to help you answer the question, "What should I do?" Our goal is to provide a safe, rational, relatively comfortable experience for those who are just coming to the realization that it would be prudent to take precautionary steps against an uncertain future. Those who have already taken these basic steps (and more) are invited to help us improve what is offered here by contributing comments, as this content is meant to be dynamic and improve over time.
Graduates of the Crash Course series emerge aware that, economically speaking, the next twenty years are going to be completely unlike the last twenty years. This invariably leads to the question, "How do I prepare financially?"
We have entered some truly treacherous investing waters, where we must question everything and accept nothing, even (and especially) the base assumption that any given currency, be that the US dollar or euro or Yen, will retain its value. Is a ‘double-dip’ recession coming? Nobody knows for certain, but all the warning signs are there. Our view is that it’s best to start thinking about preserving and protecting your wealth now, while you still have that opportunity. The bottom line here is that you should not be taking your cues from what your neighbors seem to be doing, but instead being sure that your own house is in order.
What Should I Do? The Basics of Resilience (Part 7 – Protecting Wealth)
Note: This article is part of a series on personal preparation to help you answer the question, "What should I do?" Our goal is to provide a safe, rational, relatively comfortable experience for those who are just coming to the realization that it would be prudent to take precautionary steps against an uncertain future. Those who have already taken these basic steps (and more) are invited to help us improve what is offered here by contributing comments, as this content is meant to be dynamic and improve over time.
Graduates of the Crash Course series emerge aware that, economically speaking, the next twenty years are going to be completely unlike the last twenty years. This invariably leads to the question, "How do I prepare financially?"
We have entered some truly treacherous investing waters, where we must question everything and accept nothing, even (and especially) the base assumption that any given currency, be that the US dollar or euro or Yen, will retain its value. Is a ‘double-dip’ recession coming? Nobody knows for certain, but all the warning signs are there. Our view is that it’s best to start thinking about preserving and protecting your wealth now, while you still have that opportunity. The bottom line here is that you should not be taking your cues from what your neighbors seem to be doing, but instead being sure that your own house is in order.
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