How can we have a middle class without oil?

Question

How can we have a middle class without oil? Someone told me that in countries with high gas prices, there's no middle class. There's just the rich and the poor. I don't know if I agree with that, so here's my real question: When Earth runs out of oil, how can we continue to have a middle class?

Answer 1

If your question is about middle class in general, then I would have to say that the same way there was a middle class before there was oil. The French Revolution was of and for the middle class. And industrialization did as much to increase poverty (initially) as it did to create our ‘powerful’ middle class.

However, if the question is asking how will the middle class be able to keep the life style we define as that term by in America, or for that matter just keeping a ‘city culture’, then I am as stumped as you.

As on a side note, not all countries with high gas prices have no middle class. Europe pays extremely high prices for their gas, something like seven dollars a gallon the last time I talked to a friend stationed over there, but then again their population is more dense, and the layout means that many of them are not driving ten or twenty miles for work each day.

Answer 2

I believe that action should be taken to prevent the end of oil. Aggressive reduction targets should be made, and new fuels researched, such as ethanol to some degree, and biofuel from yard and food waste. If the world just runs out of oil cold turkey, then there is going to be mass chaos, in both the rich, poor and middle class. Those who can adjust there lives to live moderately without oil, and have transitioned to newer technology will be the new middle class.

Answer 3

You assume that the middle class is dependant on oil to keep their social status.
I am not aware of too many areas, where higher oil prices equate to only 2 economic levels.
maybe if you view them as compared to American or other industrialized nation incomes, but that is no way to make any kind of judgment call.

With alternative fuels, the price for energy and fuel should be lower, allowing the middle class to afford more, and have better lives, essentially allowing them to keep their economic status.

if we keep using oil, following the current trend, it won't be long until the middle class shrinks, and the lower class grows.

Answer 4

oil is the reason we have so much wealth, cheap oil that is. everything is transported with gas, products are made with oil, if it costs corporations more to make a good or service it costs us more, and if corporations are paying less in salaries to increase profits that leaves less money to buy barely beyond needs. oil is also used as money too. since the us dollar is almost worthless now.

if you make 40,000 dollars a year that is middle class but if your forced to give up half in taxes, leaving 20,000 and it costs 1000 dollars a month to eat for a family of four, and it costs 200 dollars a week in gas just to go to work and the store, and may be the doctor then you can see that leaves little to buy a decent house.

the middle classes best asset is their home and land, the best assets for the wealthy are their stocks, bonds cash, etc. they don't need to include their homes. it is the least of their valuable. the middle class loses their homes, (and forced to rent) they lose almost all their wealth, their homes is their wealth. it is what they can use to borrow against to start up a business or start a business in their home etc.

the wealthy can borrow against their bonds, stocks, contracts of loans paid out, or whatever, their homes are secure. they don't need to borrow against it.

so as wages go down, and cost of living goes up, then you can see how wealth is decreased overall. gas prices are one of the biggest if not the biggest expense. we pay it in our cars, in food prices, in medical care and prescription prices in bus fare, plane fares, clothing costs etc.

if gas prices go up everything else does too including cost of doing business, and businesses do not like to lose money so where aer they going to make up the difference? oursourcing, downsizing or cutting wages? take your pick it all ends the same.

if they had let creative individuals work on alternative fuels decades ago instead of stifling it(that don't affect food sources or increase cost of foods) then we would be able to use that instead as gas prices exceeded the cost of the alternative. competition keeps prices low and quality high. that is why gas prices are so manipulated. they have no competition.

RRRRR

Answer 5

What an astute question! I suspect the people who said that from a technical standpoint there is no reason we can't. However, I have to agree with the people who stated (or implied) that it will continue on in a political stalemate for the benefit of the greedy until the options are out of our hands. I do feel that small enclaves could go against the majority absence of will if they were strong enough.

Answer 6

If and when we run out of oil. Noone will care if there is a middle class. It will be a whole new and different world.

Answer 7

We can use renewable energy.

For on the middle class and renewable energy: http://thoughtsonglobalwarming.blogspot.com