Wake Up, America. We’re Driving Toward Disaster.
25th May 2008
But the truth is that no combination of solar, wind and nuclear power, ethanol, biodiesel, tar sands and used French-fry oil will allow us to power Wal-Mart, Disney World and the interstate highway system — or even a fraction of these things — in the future. We have to make other arrangements.
In typical dhimmi fashion, Kunstler’s preferred solution is for us to suffer.
First, we’ll have to dramatically reorganize the everyday activities of American life. We’ll have to grow our food closer to home, in a manner that will require more human attention. In fact, agriculture needs to return to the center of economic life. We’ll have to restore local economic networks — the very networks that the big-box stores systematically destroyed — made of fine-grained layers of wholesalers, middlemen and retailers.
We’ll also have to occupy the landscape differently, in traditional towns, villages and small cities. Our giant metroplexes are not going to make it, and the successful places will be ones that encourage local farming.
Although he would no doubt resent the comparison, how does this differ from listening to Pat Buchannan?
I have an idea: Let’s do whatever it takes to get oil at an affordable price. If that means inconveniencing people who, before civilization intruded on them, measured their wealth in camels and goats, too bad for them.