Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (136671)	4/15/2010 1:51:33 PM
From: Wharf Rat	Respond to of 543149

TOD comment GreenIan asks if Chindia can sustain growth at $100/barrel. It may take an even higher price to cool the Chinese economy. China’s Economy Surges in First Quarter nytimes.com China, and India as well as the smaller countries of Greater Chindia like Vietnam, can profit from burning $80 oil. Given inefficiences in their use of oil, I expect that they can profit from burning oil at twice this price. USland, including sidekicks like Canada, has a great deal more difficulty with $80 oil, but given the huge waste of oil in the transport sector of USland, could reduce the negative economic impact of higher oil prices by forcing people to volunteer for less motorized travel and smarter motorized travel. Two people per car would be a great start. Even then, I think the likelihood is that USland is going to be progressivly deprived of opportunities for wasteful consumption and may be forced into a lifestyle of more social engagement (North Americans have fewer friends today than even a couple of generations ago). It is likely that exercise will return to life outside the gym. The truly big issues touch on social justice and economic vitality. How is the burden of adjustment to a less wasteful lifestyle going to be distributed? What is the economic impact of intergenerational wealth transfer when it results in rich idiots (George Bush comes to mind) running companies, and leaves most smart, innovative people struggling to gain access to accumulated capital. The problem is not, as some believe, whether capital is sufficient, but who gets to direct its employment. While some foresee roving bands of starving pillagers, rapists and murderers wreaking havoc as the world burns its way into the second half of the oil endowment, I believe USland and other will witness minimally violent class warfare as the born-wealthy resist measures to create the equality of entrepreneurial opportunity history demands in periods of stress.