Michael Perelman wrote:
>Doug is probably correct that the threat of choking on oil is an impending
>danger, but the oil is getting harder and harder to get. The low hanging
>fruit is gone. The oil that is now being drilled in the Gulf of Mexico is
>deep at the bottom of the sea. No one knows what will happen if a serious
>accident occurs there. The oceans, in addition, are being pushed to their
>environmental limits -- think of the fishing industry in decline.
isn't the ladder for getting the fruit -- the technology for extracting oil
-- getting taller, too?
I totally agree that there's a lot of environmental impact: that's why I
put the emphasis on the role of external costs (i.e., on capitalist
society's failure to produce & distribute & consume at the lowest possible
social cost) rather than absolute natural scarcity. The same goes for
water, where the biggest problem is pollution.
BTW, here's a poem (received via the internet) for all my friends on pen-l:
Are you tired of all those mushy "friendship" poems that always sound good
but never actually come close to reality? Well, here is a "friendship" poem
that really speaks to true friendship and truth itself!
Friend,
When you are sad, ... I will get you drunk and help you plot revenge against
the sorry bastard who made you sad.
When you are blue, ... I'll try to dislodge whatever is choking you.
When you smile, ... I'll know you finally got laid.
When you are scared, ... I will rag you about it every chance I get.
When you are worried, ... I will tell you horrible tales about how much worse
it could be and to quit whining.
When you are confused, ... I will use little words to explain it to your dumb
ass.
When you are sick, ...stay away from me until you're well again. I don't want
whatever you have.
When you fall, ... I will point and laugh at your clumsy ass.
This is my oath, ...I pledge 'til the end. Why you may ask?
Because you're my friend!
If you send this poem to any of your closest friends, get depressed because
you'll realize you only have 2 friends, and one of them is not speaking to
you right now anyway. Remember: A friend will help you move.
A good friend will help you move the body
[The above message evoked Eudora's flame-alert, warning that I might get my
keyboard washed out with soap. I decided not to tone it down, since all the
objections came due to the "poem."]
Jim Devine [EMAIL PROTECTED] & http://bellarmine.lmu.edu/~JDevine
