There will be a major reordering of society soon

Thank God, all the anti semites will be exterminated

__________________
Its better to have fussed and crabbed then never to have fussed at all - Lucy

In what way? I have some ideas, but I will be interested to hear your comments on this.

Too many damn ways to count from what I've been figuring, but where people live, what they drive and if they drive, more government involvement in society to off set a lot of pain that may be happening and many other ways:

Will tourism drop off?

How about the cost of shipping goods from China or just trucking it in the country?

Will these shortages lead to wars around the globe?

Is there a real decline in economic growth on the way because of this?

I apologize for my flippant remark. You actually ask some very good questions.

First and foremost the government will try to take over the oil industry and then the problems will really begin.

Will we move closer to our jobs? That depends on the auto industry. If they can provide low cost high mileage cars the answer is no. If the government gets involved then the answer is we won't have anywhere to live anyway so it won't matter. I believe the old saying necessity is the mother of invention is true. I believe as fuel cost continue to rise other alternatives will become more feasible. Electric cars for example. Solar batteries have taken a dramatic leap in techonology in the last few years. As the need for them continues to increase so will the research to make them work. As long as we can keep the Luddites out of the picture America can and will prevail. If we allow government and obstructions to get in the way then no, we will be third world country in another generation.

Will wars break out. Yes, they always do. The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor so we wouldn't interfer with their takeover of the rubber plantations.

__________________
Its better to have fussed and crabbed then never to have fussed at all - Lucy

Will tourism drop off? Of course, but that could lead to other industries growing, putting in swimming pools at your home, building local recreational possibilities etc.

the cost of shipping is something I deal with every day. It will continue to rise as long as the cost of fuel continues to rise. Also, it will continue to rise because of the increased demand for ships and trucks. Years ago a trucking company motto was "If you got it a truck brought it". This is a very true statement. As the cost of shipping rises so will the cost of everything else.

The only way there will be a decline of economic growth is if the government gets in the way of industry. There may be shifts in who is doing what where but over all, as long as business is allowed to produce then there will be no decines

__________________
Its better to have fussed and crabbed then never to have fussed at all - Lucy

New more fuel efficient vehicles and alternative forms of energy will come, but what is interesting is that it might be too late. How will poor and lower middle class people afford them? They that need them most. The transition will be rocky if we don't get on this soon. And since the USA uses the most it will be hurt the most.

You mentioned the nationalization of the oil industry, which would be bad, but how long could politicians hold off on demands to subsidize gas prices? Subsidizing trucking will come first but I can't believe that regular gas will be far behind

Your assessment is the most astute I have seen you make and I compliment you for for it....

I'll rely on my long held belief that the transition will be subject to the first law of nature ..... survival of the fittest ..... just as it should be.....

__________________
Definition of political correctness:
A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical liberal minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.

I'm politically incorrect and damn well satisfied to be so. Gummer

Are you storing up on canned goods?

Let me tell you a dirty little secret of the trucking industry. Most owner operators utilize the services of a broker. The broker will post a load and tell how much he is willing to pay, the owner operator will then accept the load if he wants it. For the purposes of this discussion lets say the broker charges the shipper $1.50 per mile plus a 49% fuel surcharge. A run from Baltimore Maryland to Chicago Ill will cost the shipper $1050.00 linehaul plus $514.40 fuel surcharge. The average diesel tractor gets 6 mph so at current prices the trucker will pay $482.97 for fuel. The broker who uses no fuel will pay the driver $1.10 per mile or $770.00 and maybe half of the fuel surcharge if the driver is lucky. What needs to happen is there needs to be a law that requires brokers to give the drivers all of the fuel surcharge and then only charge what the fuel actually cost. That would lower rates 10 to 15% immediately.

__________________
Its better to have fussed and crabbed then never to have fussed at all - Lucy