Comments on: Be afraid? http://www.eatthesuburbs.org/2007/11/be-afraid/ Creative adaptations to peak oil and climate change Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:37:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: adam http://www.eatthesuburbs.org/2007/11/be-afraid/comment-page-1/#comment-16594 adam Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:09:52 +0000 http://www.eatthesuburbs.org/2007/11/be-afraid/#comment-16594 I'll be sure to pass on those reassurances to the 1 billion or so malnourished people that the market is allocating resources 'properly', if you'll excuse the cheap sarcasm. Things are getting a lot worse for the poor as petrol tanks compete on a level paying field with stomachs. (See Stuart Staniford's <a href="http://www.theoildrum.com/node/2431" rel="nofollow">Fermenting the food supply</a>). I haven't read Friedman but since his thoughts are pretty much the economic mainstream, I think that like everyone I've absorbed them by osmosis. Actually I would argue that the market signals of higher prices of food and energy are in some ways 'proper' for us in the west where food and energy take relatively small parts of our income. The correct signals are begining to be sent, the problem is that the market is reactionary. We needed these signals a couple of decades ago to be really prepared for what is ahead. Meanwhile, the monetary system which underlies the market is growth dependent. It will likely be pretty dysfunctional in a period of descent. See my interview with <a href="http://www.energybulletin.net/25560.html" rel="nofollow">Richard Douthwaite</a> to understand the mechanics of why that is so. Desirable or not, I suspect some form of rationing will be part of managing the descent. Local currencies and black market exchange based on non-national currency will help fill the gap. I’ll be sure to pass on those reassurances to the 1 billion or so malnourished people that the market is allocating resources ‘properly’, if you’ll excuse the cheap sarcasm. Things are getting a lot worse for the poor as petrol tanks compete on a level paying field with stomachs. (See Stuart Staniford’s Fermenting the food supply). I haven’t read Friedman but since his thoughts are pretty much the economic mainstream, I think that like everyone I’ve absorbed them by osmosis.

Actually I would argue that the market signals of higher prices of food and energy are in some ways ‘proper’ for us in the west where food and energy take relatively small parts of our income. The correct signals are begining to be sent, the problem is that the market is reactionary. We needed these signals a couple of decades ago to be really prepared for what is ahead. Meanwhile, the monetary system which underlies the market is growth dependent. It will likely be pretty dysfunctional in a period of descent. See my interview with Richard Douthwaite to understand the mechanics of why that is so. Desirable or not, I suspect some form of rationing will be part of managing the descent. Local currencies and black market exchange based on non-national currency will help fill the gap.

]]> By: iain http://www.eatthesuburbs.org/2007/11/be-afraid/comment-page-1/#comment-16593 iain Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:29:24 +0000 http://www.eatthesuburbs.org/2007/11/be-afraid/#comment-16593 I'm afraid you've fallen victim to propaganda, and are subsequently incorrect in pretty much your entire worldview. You ought to read "Free to Choose" by Milton Friedman. The scarce resources you talk about will be allocated properly by the market. This will be aided by abolishing the Farm Bill in the US, and the CAP in Europe. Just for starters. I’m afraid you’ve fallen victim to propaganda, and are subsequently incorrect in pretty much your entire worldview. You ought to read “Free to Choose” by Milton Friedman. The scarce resources you talk about will be allocated properly by the market. This will be aided by abolishing the Farm Bill in the US, and the CAP in Europe. Just for starters.

]]> By: Janine http://www.eatthesuburbs.org/2007/11/be-afraid/comment-page-1/#comment-9753 Janine Sun, 04 Nov 2007 05:37:18 +0000 http://www.eatthesuburbs.org/2007/11/be-afraid/#comment-9753 Your exactly right, growing your own food is the least you can do for your own security and for that of your family. I am lucky enough to live on an old fashioned block and with 100 square meters of garden, chooks and ducks I make a fair attempt at growing my own food for my family of five. I'd like to expand but the kids need to play somewhere!! What frightens me is so many postage stamp sized blocks people hardly have room for an outdoor setting, let alone growing vegetables, it is a mad world we live in! Your exactly right, growing your own food is the least you can do for your own security and for that of your family. I am lucky enough to live on an old fashioned block and with 100 square meters of garden, chooks and ducks I make a fair attempt at growing my own food for my family of five. I’d like to expand but the kids need to play somewhere!! What frightens me is so many postage stamp sized blocks people hardly have room for an outdoor setting, let alone growing vegetables, it is a mad world we live in!

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