Addiction

Even though the national average for gasoline is topping $4 a gallon, Austinites haven't quite gotten there...yet. Around town gas fluctuates from 3.79 to 3.89. As gasoline prices are hitting the American consumer, politicians are quick with lame solutions, excuses and are generally adept at doing what amounts to nothing.

Since the problem has just burst in view for most of the population, I would like to posit that we can frame this response in a grief/addiction mentality. I realize I'm not the first to suggest this concept of a civilization withdrawing its reliance on a natural resource but I think its important to be aware of what's going on. I don't subscribe to a rigid sequence of emotions in a grief state, but I do believe there are enough similarities to warrant further examination.

Politicians are essentially in a bargaining state, suggesting solutions that don't fundamentally accept the reality of what is going on. We could drill in environmentally sensitive areas, and we could return to older wells (here in the US). I doubt very much that any of this will stop the decline of American Oil production. Remember that we use close to 20 million barrels of oil per day. The wells that have been proposed are all on the magnitude of 1-5 billion barrels of oil total, most being under or around 1 billion. This amounts to 100 days of consumption, hardly worth destroying the last vestiges of American wilderness.

A better solution would be to cut consumption, to dump money into renewable resources, and to commit to using an increasing amount of renewables per year. This is problematic for the addict, however, because it acknowledges the fundamental reality; that oil production is not keeping up with demand, and that will probably be the toughest part about acknowledging peak oil for US politicians.

One of the hallmarks of any successful organism/organization is its ability to adapt. Right now America is losing BIG TIME in its ability to adapt to the changing geologic reality. We will see if America can psychologically cope with peak oil, recover and regain our status as a world leader.

Our past investment in freeways, in cars, in suburbia and far-fling working/living arrangements make this change extremely difficult to make. The front lines of peak oil in America will definitely be played out in the suburbs and around 'interstate culture' and even with high gas prices people are still driving, BBQing and life is going on as before....we'll see how long our nation can sustain that.