Don’t panic: oil prices will force us to adapt

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Don’t panic: oil prices will force us to adapt Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Canada Free Press -- Despite their recent slump, high oil prices may turn out to be history’s reference card for 2008. Many pundits would happily file it next to 1973 as a watershed in economic history. They claim we have reached a “tipping point” where oil will be permanently more expensive than before because this oil shock is caused by a natural shortage rather than a 1973-style politically created one. One of the most popular predictions to stem from this observation is that we will be forced to re-create cities without the car as we know it. Canadian cities, it would seem, were built on the premise of affordable energy, and government tax and planning policies have quietly subsidized the cities’ far-flung suburbs. Very soon, the arguments run, energy economics will force cities to become more compact so we had better get ahead of the curve now.
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	Tuesday, August 26, 2008 Canada Free Press -- Despite their recent slump, high oil prices may turn out to be history’s reference card for 2008. Many pundits would happily file it next to 1973 as a watershed in economic history. They claim we have reached a “tipping point” where oil will be permanently more expensive than before because this oil shock is caused by a natural shortage rather than a 1973-style politically created one. One of the most popular predictions to stem from this observation is that we will be forced to re-create cities without the car as we know it. Canadian cities, it would seem, were built on the premise of affordable energy, and government tax and planning policies have quietly subsidized the cities’ far-flung suburbs. Very soon, the arguments run, energy economics will force cities to become more compact so we had better get ahead of the curve now. Visit Canada Free Press for full article

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coyoteAB All-Star Author Alberta Posts:508 Points:24,830 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: 8/28/2008 9:07:05 AM	Ignore coyoteAB Report Abuse
	For the cities to become more compact, they will have to stop building three doll houses per lot and start building more apple boxes per lot.
SomeChick23 Sophomore Author Edmonton Posts:197 Points:117,415 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: 8/28/2008 8:54:11 AM	Ignore SomeChick23 Report Abuse
	i'll panic if i want to.
Gerund1 Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,147 Points:828,105 Joined:Apr 2003	Message Posted: 8/28/2008 8:14:33 AM	Ignore Gerund1 Report Abuse
	Have you ever seen a drug addict trying to kick their habbit?? Extremely painful. Check out the old movie "man with the golden arm" with Frank Sinatra, very realistic. It is the same with kicking the oil habbit.
djgunrunner Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:1,546 Points:747,020 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: 8/28/2008 8:10:43 AM	Ignore djgunrunner Report Abuse
	Don't panic. Just give opec, their dupes the oil speculators and big oil all the money you have. Then go get more.
bicycler Champion Author Ontario Posts:6,202 Points:1,117,120 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: 8/28/2008 7:22:40 AM	Ignore bicycler Report Abuse
	Cheney; I hope you mean an economic or political revolution!
Brockvillian Veteran Author Ontario Posts:437 Points:277,245 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: 8/28/2008 7:21:24 AM	Ignore Brockvillian Report Abuse
	Most be a slow week for News.
bicycler Champion Author Ontario Posts:6,202 Points:1,117,120 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: 8/28/2008 7:21:10 AM	Ignore bicycler Report Abuse
	44Irish; Good point!
bicycler Champion Author Ontario Posts:6,202 Points:1,117,120 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: 8/28/2008 7:20:17 AM	Ignore bicycler Report Abuse
	This article is too friendly to the oilbarons, WHY? Why do the oilbaron not adapt to the consumer? The oil companies are financed by people and organizations who are investing excess money not needed by people who do not need the cash for daily living. The vast number of customers are spending money on gas that could be used for the necessities of life! The speculators put up a minimum of money bidding on the price in the future with no intention of taking delivery, selling the option at a profit. I find that an evil method!!!! More money flows into the hands of those who do not need it at the expense of those who do require it!!!
scrounger Champion Author Vancouver Posts:6,271 Points:1,683,595 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: 8/28/2008 7:06:18 AM	Ignore scrounger Report Abuse
	no guff???
star_deceiver All-Star Author British Columbia Posts:640 Points:129,855 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: 8/28/2008 7:03:42 AM	Ignore star_deceiver Report Abuse
	I like not living downtown
childoftibet Champion Author Cleveland Posts:1,730 Points:78,975 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: 8/28/2008 6:55:52 AM	Ignore childoftibet Report Abuse
	brutus It's not pay thru the nose, it's pay thru the HOSE !!
mahenv7 Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,204 Points:243,140 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: 8/28/2008 6:40:45 AM	Ignore mahenv7 Report Abuse
	What the hell are u talking about.
brutus Champion Author Alberta Posts:1,757 Points:937,580 Joined:Feb 2003	Message Posted: 8/28/2008 6:06:28 AM	Ignore brutus Report Abuse
	Yep, we have to live with it. It's PAY thru the nose!
cardjcsk Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,069 Points:461,470 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: 8/28/2008 5:53:48 AM	Ignore cardjcsk Report Abuse
	RIGHT
Qang All-Star Author Ontario Posts:540 Points:272,230 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: 8/28/2008 5:46:34 AM	Ignore Qang Report Abuse
	No it will not.
44Irish Champion Author Ontario Posts:1,010 Points:252,210 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: 8/28/2008 5:44:23 AM	Ignore 44Irish Report Abuse
	Adapt, it took a million years for mankind to develop to what we are today and 100 years for us to destroy ourselves. I don't think that we learn very quickly.
Outie Champion Author New Brunswick Posts:1,179 Points:538,200 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: 8/28/2008 5:15:11 AM	Ignore Outie Report Abuse
	The electric Car will force oil companies to adapt.
plumb37 Champion Author Quebec Posts:2,356 Points:98,800 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: 8/28/2008 2:45:46 AM	Ignore plumb37 Report Abuse
	I don't use enough to adapt
fastfreddy38 All-Star Author Ontario Posts:855 Points:909,900 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 11:15:55 PM	Ignore fastfreddy38 Report Abuse
	Right!
Cheney Veteran Author Toronto Posts:471 Points:1,214,765 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 10:46:27 PM	Ignore Cheney Report Abuse
	don't adapt. Revolutionize.
Dancin Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,655 Points:1,209,480 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 8:59:13 PM	Ignore Dancin Report Abuse
	Yeah. We can switch to natural gas and refill from our gas line at the house.
TECH500 All-Star Author Alberta Posts:960 Points:202,685 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 8:40:02 PM	Ignore TECH500 Report Abuse
	Yesterdays news ... btw we have been adapting and I am not any panic.
hawkON All-Star Author Ontario Posts:644 Points:185,660 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 8:11:45 PM	Ignore hawkON Report Abuse
	We better!! And high price is here to stay.
mustangus Champion Author Ontario Posts:1,308 Points:352,210 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 8:09:00 PM	Ignore mustangus Report Abuse
	Same old, same old.
eaglemom Veteran Author Toronto Posts:287 Points:107,915 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 8:02:19 PM	Ignore eaglemom Report Abuse
	old news.
vgahuja Veteran Author Toronto Posts:304 Points:106,835 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 7:57:21 PM	Ignore vgahuja Report Abuse
	OK!!!
ccf_jeff Champion Author St. Louis Posts:5,986 Points:1,010,530 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 7:45:09 PM	Ignore ccf_jeff Report Abuse
	I don't care if someone makes money off of it as long as they do so legitimately. It's their reward for the risks they took and the time, money and effort they spent on trying to come up with better solutions than the other guys or gals who were doing the same thing. We as consumers pay for the solution(s) that we think are worth it and the best value for us. Ideally we all win.
radicale All-Star Author Calgary Posts:684 Points:183,525 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 7:23:25 PM	Ignore radicale Report Abuse
	They forget one thing, "learning" to adapt usually means someone is going to make money off of it - guess who? US!
choppercrv Champion Author Vancouver Posts:1,080 Points:794,975 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 7:02:14 PM	Ignore choppercrv Report Abuse
	I think we learn to adapt long time ago
Qang All-Star Author Ontario Posts:540 Points:272,230 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 6:41:23 PM	Ignore Qang Report Abuse
	Ya right!
intrvvder Veteran Author Vancouver Posts:353 Points:89,770 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 5:27:00 PM	Ignore intrvvder Report Abuse
	I am already adapting by driving 1 day less in a week to work.
RobRD Champion Author Alberta Posts:1,355 Points:408,685 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 5:09:06 PM	Ignore RobRD Report Abuse
	We need to continue to adapt to change and conserve energy.
caddilac Champion Author Ontario Posts:5,485 Points:518,885 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 5:00:50 PM	Ignore caddilac Report Abuse
	Oil prices forced me to adapt way back last October. Since that time I very rarely use my car, instead I walk or ride my bicycle. I'm waiting for a reasonably affordable ALTERNATELY POWERED car to come onto the market. A hydrogen fuel cell car would be just the ticket if it were reasonably priced.
Bill313 Champion Author Kansas City Posts:5,363 Points:746,465 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 2:07:42 PM	Ignore Bill313 Report Abuse
	Easier said than done
ccf_jeff Champion Author St. Louis Posts:5,986 Points:1,010,530 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 1:49:35 PM	Ignore ccf_jeff Report Abuse
	I don't know, maybe it is time to panic, or at least take this a lot more seriously than we are. A lot depends, however, on whether or not we have reached peak oil yet or are close to it. If so, according to some models oil prices could skyrocket to the point that we would pine for the days of $5/gallon gas. The production levels of individual fields, countries, and presumably the world follow a bell curve pattern. Production ramps up increasingly quickly then begins to level off near the top, then slowly drops off at first, then increasingly rapidly, and then begins to level out again at relatively low levels. Unfortunately, if that happens we could be in a world of hurt. Demand is going up and some 70 million new people are joining the world's middle class every year. Those people want to join the rest of the world in getting automobiles, heating their homes etc. and generally using more oil & oil based products, such as plastics & fertilizers etc. Rising demand and rapidly dropping supply is a recipe for disaster.
bluebird1 Champion Author Toronto Posts:7,352 Points:1,498,625 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 8:10:06 AM	Ignore bluebird1 Report Abuse
	Not sure if can write this off that easily to 'natural shortage', given the speculation & profiteering going on. However, they are right it is going to remain expensive & have no choice but to adapt.... but adapting doesn't just mean conservation - major economic changes will/are occurring & std of living will be affected (some getting very rich, most having it drop).
EagleEye16 Champion Author Nova Scotia Posts:1,367 Points:201,970 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 8:05:37 AM	Ignore EagleEye16 Report Abuse
	I think this resettlement idea was done in Newfoundland about 40-50 years ago. Move everyone out of the little places and settle them in the bigger places, so they have access to all the things that "townies" have. I think that after all this time, the Newfoundlanders are still split 50/50 over whether it was a good idea or not.
Brockvillian Veteran Author Ontario Posts:437 Points:277,245 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 7:58:38 AM	Ignore Brockvillian Report Abuse
	A much improved high speed transit system would be great. Similar to Japan and Europe. :)
Egor Champion Author Regina Posts:1,337 Points:573,220 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 7:58:10 AM	Ignore Egor Report Abuse
	Cool. I already live in the middle of the city. Everybody come on in. I will sell you my house for $1,000,000. It will be a cheap compared to everything else. Pretty good deal considering I only paid $40,000 for it. I'll go retire somewhere, so you can have my job too.
Zygnatz Champion Author British Columbia Posts:4,981 Points:978,105 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 7:48:51 AM	Ignore Zygnatz Report Abuse
	And we can all sleep in pull out drawers.
bicycler Champion Author Ontario Posts:6,202 Points:1,117,120 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 7:45:49 AM	Ignore bicycler Report Abuse
	stardeceiver; There would have to be a cop in front of every dwelling.
bicycler Champion Author Ontario Posts:6,202 Points:1,117,120 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 7:44:14 AM	Ignore bicycler Report Abuse
	This article reads like an oilbaron CEOs dream!!! Never did like the Canada Free Press anyway, too big business orientated! It ciuld have been written by a oil company employee.
star_deceiver All-Star Author British Columbia Posts:640 Points:129,855 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 7:21:23 AM	Ignore star_deceiver Report Abuse
	ya, you try containing a million people to just a small area of downtown
robertsss All-Star Author Hamilton Posts:761 Points:92,705 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 7:00:25 AM	Ignore robertsss Report Abuse
	Why adapt.... high fuel costs are new... not old
Ducky_NS Rookie Author Halifax Posts:67 Points:92,415 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 6:48:30 AM	Ignore Ducky_NS Report Abuse
	We Canadians have adapted to the increased cost of gas over the years and will continue to do so. To do this we will have to consolidate shopping trips, buy energy efficient cars, move closer to work and the city core and travelling by bus or train.
mahenv7 Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,204 Points:243,140 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 6:30:30 AM	Ignore mahenv7 Report Abuse
	Natural shortage my A__.. Who calls them the pundits... Speculators, more like it
cardjcsk Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,069 Points:461,470 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 5:55:32 AM	Ignore cardjcsk Report Abuse
	RIGHT
Outie Champion Author New Brunswick Posts:1,179 Points:538,200 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 5:21:55 AM	Ignore Outie Report Abuse
	I don't think cramming people is the answer but I do think that a lot of productive work could be done from home. I realise that a good chunk of my work lately is done on computer. I could do this from home and save gas and wear on my car. All the CADD design, engineering and employee time cards takes 60% of my time, this is 3 days of which I could do at home. I would still need to go in for installations, debugging and commissioning but I figure 2 days a week would cover it.
44Irish Champion Author Ontario Posts:1,010 Points:252,210 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: 8/27/2008 5:06:27 AM	Ignore 44Irish Report Abuse
	I agree, it already has.