Are most people living in industrialized nations reluctant to believe that oil will run out & not be replaced?

Question

Oil and gas will run out, there is a finite amount on the planet, and green and nuclear alternatives are not going to be scaleable to current use. Many people will be forced into lower energy ways of living, not make the choice on their own because it's the right thing to do.

Answer 1

I won't say ALL people in ALL industrialized nations are in denial, but a majority in the USA are in denial. The fact that the days of cheap oil are already over is just one of a series of truths that a great percentage of the American public is willing to ignore in order to maintain it's current lifestyle. Global warming and the HUGE trade, government and PERSONAL debt are all being ignored as if tomorrow will never come. The 'media,' funded by large corporations, will encourage consumption above all. Exxon funds the biggest 'think tank' that puts out propaganda denying the existence of global warming. The USA has a NEGATIVE savings rate. Is this the sign of a country that is planning ahead? Of course it isn't.

Yes, there will come a time when the debts will have to be paid, and I believe it has already begun. Look at the 'subprime' mortgage situation. Look at insurance rates in Florida. How bad will it get? Time will tell.

Answer 2

As high as the price of gasoline is, as much as the new SUV's are and use, they will still complain but, will pay the price.

I saw a man that filled his tank yesterday, he paid forty dollars for the gas, then he bought four cartons of cigarettes for $200.00 such as the American way of life. we will indulge ourselves and our habits however extreme until there is nothing left, we will complain until the shelves are empty.
We're a spoiled people. Many of us have been brought up under the old school with parents from the depression era. We have been taught to "tighten our belts" but, what about the younger ones?

If you live near a lake. I've seen these guys complain about what they paid for gas, then launch a big boat that uses up more gas in one afternoon of fishing then he does in one month of going to work, the SUV he drives uses more gas then any car ever built in the past but, you know what, we'll continue to live this way and keep complaining but, we won't change.

The people that are feeling it are the seniors, the ones on a fixed budget, the young ones that can't find good jobs, people in these categories while the higher waged people will continue to feel they have a right o live their way regardless what is going on in this country. Such is America.

Answer 3

The SAD reality IS, people DON'T want to KNOW that the World's oil supplies are running out. They just don't care. As LONG as they have enough to drive their oversized "tanks" wherever they want them to go- what's going on anywhere ELSE in the World, doesn't matter. It's GOING to start costing us BIG TIME- soon, though... The way China is swallowing up IT'S "share" of the Oil Supply- I think we can all count on gas being $10. a Gallon- by 2015 or so. Count on it!!!

Answer 4

For the past twenty years we have used more oils then the newly discovered reserves in the same amount of time. In a way this is good. The free market will finally get us off the oil addiction we are junkies to.

Answer 5

It doesn't matter; there are already many alternatives. They are just too expensive now. In the next hundred years, as oil runs out, it too will increase in price until the new methods are cheaper. The world goes on.

Answer 6

i'm not reluctant to believe that its eventually going to end, but...

when it comes to energy, i think most people take the perspective of "well, we'll figure it out when we get there"