Zeev's Turnips Patch-No Politics (ZEEV)

[Toofuzzy]

RE: Oil, inflation and such

For aproximately the last 200 years our increased standard of living has been based on substituting stored energy (hydro, oil, coal)for human and amimal labor. This occured first in farming and at the same time and increasingly manufacturing.

In the future our increasing standard of living will have to be based on using resources more efficiently. Things like using flat panel computer screens instead of catho ray tubes, LCD lighting, more energy efficient homes and cars. Replacing energy sources will not do it, conservation will or at least could.

On another but related note: The gross national product is gross. Why does it have to grow? What if efficiency kept increasing but our consumption remained that same? Would that be so terible to have the standard of living we had in 1950? As a society we would be able to work a 20 hour week and have the same amount of goods.

That is what I have done in my own life. I work 3 months out of the year doing tax preparation. The rest of the year I enjoy hiking, biking, canoeing, reading, etc.

not so;
Toofuzzy