Is 50 years enough?

Question

On the way to work this morning, I heard some idiot conservative radio host say that we shouln't worry about oil supplies because there is more than enough to last us the next 50 years.

The problem is - he was RIGHT.

So what happens on year 51 - when I and those of my generation are dead, and our grandchildren are trying to survive?

Are we supposed to leave as our legacy "Well, at least we had enough for us - good luck kids!"?

I suppose I should answer my own question. No - 50 years is not enough. Americans don't INVENT things anymore. We just INVEST in things that other people build, and other nations have no incentive to make the world a better place. Not as long as American dollars are flowing freely to their bank accounts.

Americans BUILD things - they INVENT things. What happened to that?

Answer 1

That's how we continue to act. We pretend there is no global warming, greenhouse gases and running out of natural resources...because those of us who are here now, won't have to deal with it in 50 years. Passing the buck!

Answer 2

He was right that's true, but you seem to think the world's oil supply will run out in the 51st year.

The world's oil supply is vast, far more so than you seem to realize, including "hard to reach" and hard to refine, ie not Saudi Arabian, oil the world's supply is several hundred years at current consumption.

Ahm maybe you should write your politicians, if we decided to go to ethanol or even more wisely hydrogen engines it would take approximately 20 years to convert the USA.

Given American's tendency for procrastination, even by your estimates we don't need to worry for about 30 years.

Answer 3

Read about the wood famine of the 19th century. The U.S. economy was fueled by wood at that time. There was a scare and a debate very much like today over the forests being depleted.
Amercia invented its way out of that situation. It is happening again today. 20 years from now, you will not be driving a vehicle powered by fossil fuel.

Answer 4

Well, I'll be 70 in 50 years, so I'll still be on the road. I can't see everybody being able to easily convert to electric or hydrogen cars.

What would happen to all the current cars (of the future)? All of a sudden, all of the gasoline will be gone? I'm seriously interested to see what happens. We're running out, fast, and we need to find an alternative source of fuel.

Answer 5

If this "idiot conservative radio host" happened to be Rush Limbaugh, that would follow his train of thought exactly....he has NO children from his failed three marriages,thus NO grand-kids in the mix, a perfect example of PURE Sociopathy

Answer 6

I'm 59. 50 years is more than enough for me. We need to develop alternatives, like nuclear energy. We already know how & it is clean. It doesn't create any greenhouse gases. How about it?

Answer 7

We need to get off of oil immediately. The only way to get things done in this country usually is to hit Americans in the pocket books. This rise in gas prices that has happened will be good for us in the long run because it will get us off of oil faster I believe.

Answer 8

We HAVE alternative energy sources. The problem is that the left doesn't like THEM, either.

Nuclear energy: perfectly safe for sailors, but apparently it troubles the left's pointy little heads.

Wind power: It kills birds

Hydro power: It kills fish

Solar power: the panels are obtusive and bring down property values (ask the Comrade Speaker)

Face it, the left simply likes to b*tch.

Answer 9

well, probably long enough to find efficient alternative fuels

Answer 10

Privet investors will take care of it. Don't worry.