tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196554259323465442.post2295783290643428405..comments2023-10-27T03:41:13.171-07:00Comments on Warning Signs: June 17, 2009: A World Afloat on an Ocean of OilAlan Carubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10901162110385985193noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196554259323465442.post-87096468049874653102010-06-17T10:04:40.129-07:002010-06-17T10:04:40.129-07:00Spot on again, Alan. Having been sucked into 2 Eu...Spot on again, Alan. Having been sucked into 2 European wars in the 20th Century, Our "leadership" decided to institute "Pax Americana", a sort of Pax Romana with a twist. Instead of collecting tribute, we have been paying tribute since the late 1960s, in hopes of preventing WWIII from coming about. <br /><br />In a nation of poverty stricken citizens, it is not difficult to incite the population to go to war. So our congress became mostly Uncle "Sugar daddy" Sams, in spite of the fact that the US became highly indebted during WWII.<br /><br />US farmers have had large surpluses of production since before the 20th Century. During the Cold War, these surpluses were given away as "foreign aid". Since the fall of the USSR, giving foreign aid has become a hard concept to sell.<br /><br />The production of ethanol is no more than huge farm subsidies, so farmers can sell the surplus grain they produce. and keep the prices of the grain high. <br /><br />Farmers used to be, at one time, highly conservative people used to dealing with reality. (I was a WWII child, reared on a farm in Iowa.) Now farmers seem to be completely dependent on federal subsidies. Of course they will vote for any party line which promises to keep those subsidies coming.<br /><br />Too, our Congress is mighty worried about war rearing its ugly head in the Mideast. Serious war between Israel and the Arab/Islamic nations surrounding Israel would no doubt cause the demise of western civilization as we know it, with the disruption of the world supply of oil it would cause. If our country were to develop our own oil and "oil equivalent" petroleum reserves, of which we have more than any other nation, we would "upset the apple cart" of the world financial system (which is on the verge of breakup in any event).<br /><br />Our only hope of survival is for our Congress to begin to look out for American citizens first, and allow other nations to solve their own problems. A huge number of members of Congress will have to be replaced if that is going to happen. We need, more than ever before, men and women of courage in Congress of which we have few at present.<br /><br />I have never been inclined to make predictions, but it is going to be a really rough ride ahead. We are deeply in debt to China, and China can destroy our nation's ability to borrow money whenever it suits their purposes. China is in the catbird's seat, regarding our financial situation, as is Russia in the catbird's seat in Europe, regarding Europe's energy supplies.<br /><br />We are indeed living in "interesting times".<br /><br />As alway, thanks for sharing your great insight with us.LarryOldtimerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10811006386363706079noreply@blogger.com