Take This Economic’s Test:
Good Morning
The King and Queen of Simple are going to be out on the road this week, checking out the hiways and byways of our nation (well, part of it). I hope to be able to access my site and post my finding along the way. Please feel free to comment on today’s article and be patient, I promise to come back. Thank all of you sooooo much for your readership and friendship. Mike
Here’s the first problem that I want you to solve. If a country imported 75% of their oil, and the countries that export that oil to them quit doing so, how much oil would the citizens of the import country have left?
Those who answered, “None, because the import country’s government would confiscate the remaining 25% to wage war on the export country that cut them off,” are correct. Those who answered “25%” haven’t read the associated text, “The Biggest Lie Ever Believed.”
Next question: The export country cuts back by 20% of the previous amount of oil sent to the import country, creating a shortage. How long would the line be at the gas station be and how high would the price go?
Those who answered, “Camping equipment should be standard on all trips to the gas station and having a co-signer would become mandatory for a fill-up,” nailed the answer.
Here is problem number 3: If a country is a net importer of food and the countries that export that food quit sending it because they are currently eating all of it themselves, how much food will be left at the grocery 10 minutes after the news breaks that there is a food shortage?
Those who said, “There may be a couple of jars of hairy anchovies and one package of tripe remaining;” got this one right. You guys are good!
Now, this next question is more difficult so put on your thinkin’ caps. Here it is: If the import country (which obviously can’t support their own people without the help of countries that cut their citizens’ heads off for jaywalking) were also in the business of importing more than a million additional people per year, would the food and fuel situation get better or worse?
I know this one is tough, so I’m going to help you a little. The million plus additional people definitely drive cars and eat…and have more kids.
Times up, put your pencils down. Who said, “No country in the world is that dumb?” Those who answered something similar to this get an “A” in economics and common sense, but I’m afraid that I have to fail you in American History; sorry.
One more general question before we take the final exam. If great big ships and giant airplanes that use massive quantities of a finite resource, such as oil, deliver the food and fuel to the import country, and if the resource, such as oil, became very costly, or worse, was not available, what would happen?
Those who answered, “Holy Mother of Jesus!” are right on target.
Pick your pencils back up and get ready for the final exam. Here’s the final question: If there really were a country dumb enough to import the essential elements of life from nations that didn’t even like them to start with, and at the same time, elected to also import millions of immigrants (and let a few million more sneak in when they aren’t looking), how long would the elected officials be allowed to remain in office?
Everyone who answered, “232 years and counting,” graduated from today’s exam with honors.
So what’s my point? Truth is far stranger than fiction.
Subscribe to this blog
Seven billion people on this planet and Peak Oil has arrived, sounds like a zero-sum game to me. What we now have is a fight for the remaining resources. We already know that the long-term carrying capacity is closer to one to two billion. Lots of people aren’t going to make it.
Our course of action is extremely counter productive. However, our leaders understand what most US citizens don’t; that we are in for the fight of our lives. Our leaders are scared and behaving the way you would expect a desperate group of people to behave - like animals. They know our life-style is threatened and they are frantically trying to stave off terminal decline.
The masses say it is simple; do with less, conserve. However, they don’t understand the growth imperative of a debt and interest based economic system. If the growth stops, recession sets in. If the growth goes negative for long, you get a depression. If that continues, anarchy sets in.
So, if you are a leader, do you plunge the country into a permanent recession or depression now, or hold on as long as you can and hope for a miracle? Keep in mind, when you are a Christian, miracles are possible.
You may say Bush is a “war criminal”. Perhaps, but being human, we rationalize and we are delusional, so it is easy for the President and Congress to claim “I/we had no choice, I/we did what was best for all involved.”
The behavior of our leaders is predictable. You say they could do things differently - yes, but tell that to someone who is in a state of panic.
Unfortunately, Americans have allowed their voting systems to be compromised by electronic systems that lack a paper trail. As a result, two Presidential elections were rigged, and we ended up with a highly incapable leader who wasn’t elected by the people. As for Congress, that is another issue all together.
It’s 5:30 AM and were are hitting the road for Oregon.
Greg said, “However, they [our good citizens] don’t understand the growth imperative of a debt and interest based economic system.”
This is exactly correct Greg, however it is not taught in homes or schools, in fact the exact opposite is taught, that growth is good. And to a point, growth was both good and necessary to form a sustainable society.
The key is that there limits to growth, and recognizing that the U.S. passed those limits a few towns back is what we need to hear from our leaders.
Mike..
Have a safe trip, and enjoy..
Looking forward to more insight…
Wma….
A compromised voting system has very little if anything to do with our problems. I have done a tremendous amount of study and it is the ignarance and apathy of our population that has us cornered at thyis time. People who are very intelligent, are not doing the study or participating the way the need to be. Look who is running for office right now and tell me the system is compromised. The people’s unwillingness to educate themselves in this electronic age and their unwillingness to participate in the system is the problem. Pooint fingers every which way, but go take a look in the mirror, that is where the proble begins. I acknowledge this and take responsibility for it. Very few others do, including my own extended family members. We had a candidate, Ron Paul who is the only one who ran for the office that could have intitated the effort (I did not say he does not have flaws). He is the only candidate who did not lie throughout the campaign. But the American public chose the 3 stooges as their potential leader. The system is not flawed. It is the ignorance and lack of participation that is flawed. - bb
The system is flawed.. The voting system is flawed.. Money, and power have too much influence.. Main steam media have too much influence.. If it takes three hundred million dollars to run a campaign for President, the system is flawed.. Senators and Congress have the same system.. We have free elections, not fair elections.. We select poor leaders because the system is flawed… WmA..
I do not believe that any thinking American would argue against the fact that the system is flawed. I also believe that with rare exception, we all think our elections cost way too much.
So why is the system flawed? There was one candidate (Ron Paul) who has the know how to begin a major turn around in this country (way over due by anyone’s standards), but look who we ended up with for the grand finale. Dr. Paul can not help us if we choose not to help ourselves.
We have masses of people believing that looney tunes like Lindsey Williams, telling the world, basically that we are not running out of oil and there is an almost endless supply available to us if it were not for the government conspiracies. We will continue to vote for and elect liars, misspeakers and thieves if we do not have the inclination to do any basic research for ourselves.
We all want change; but only if it does not affect our lifestyles.
Most folks, especially those who read this post, are aware of our governments economic policy of “Exponential Growth”. But few are inspired enough to learn the many negative consequences associated with such a policy. Something that a grade school student would understand, if he or she were to study it for even a short while.
So again, I ask, why is our system flawed? -bb
I also think money has too much influence..
I think we have the best government money can buy..
I understand what BB is saying, and agree, that people shud take more responsibility..
But, what works in theory doesn’t work in the practical world.. If the corporate media doesn’t like a candidate, they are facing a uphill battle..
I think the system is most flawed in our primaries.. The two party system means we get a choice of two corporate clients..
Getting on the ballot, or getting included in the debate is a hurdle.. Or a blockade..
We the people shud do better, but I don’t blame the victims.. Like a casino, if they can get an edge, it will always pay in the long run.. Our system is flawed, and will never be improved as long as the crooks are making the rules..
We need to change the system…
Wma….