It will be...Different.

[Javaman]

Last night, my wife and I got into a long discussion regarding the recession/depression. How did we get here? How long will it last? etc.

But the thing that has been lurking in the back of my mind for a while now, especially since last summer when the price of oil/gas shot through the ceiling is: Suppose we do "recover" (kind of ambiguous these days), what are we going to recover to, exactly?

The concept of a "recovery" hasn't really been defined nor has it been spelled out into simple terms. I think because, frankly, no one knows.

In the various panics of past, the US always had one thing going for it, resources. A veritable cornucopia of limitless resources.

Now, not so much. On top of that, we had money. Again, now, not so much. Well, we're broke.

What do we have to look forward to as far as a recovery is concerned?

We are entering into the accelerated stage of global warming. Temps up, water level up, droughts up, rainfall down, forest fires, CO2 negative feedback, acid oceans, etc.

We are at peak oil. Everyone in the world is wanting more of what can't be produced. Oil fields globally are cutting back production due to less output.

We use 25% of the worlds resources but only have 5% of the population.

Things are going to give soon. We saw a little preview last year.

So, we go green, right? Wind mills, solar, ocean power, some level of nuclear, cutting coal and oil uses, but honestly, like the ramping up to electric use at the turn of the 20th century, the gap that needs to be closed is enormous.

What we are experiencing is the rural electrification that took place in the 1930's on a nationwide scale.

And given the fact that resources are declining, I frankly believe we will never ever be, or even come close to level of ease we currently enjoy. We are going to have to live with a lot less.

Like Winston Churchill once said, "Americans always do the right thing, eventually".

We will, but it won't come without it's birthing pangs. And pangs there will be.

As our nation, not just Obama, but also future administrations walk the fine line of trying to maintain "our non-negotiable way of life", to quote mr. chaney, the earth heats up and resources dwindle.

What the US has enjoyed for the past 60 years, is/was a moment in history so completely unique, that is only with 20/20 hindsight that we see the waste and complete loss of opportunity.

However, we as a world civilization did some amazing, truly amazing things, but think now, what if we as a world took into account the concept that nothing lasts forever; how things might have been different? More wars for the limited resources? Probably. That is inevitable. Those wars are happening now. People will aways want more of something they feel they need or believe they don't have. (I'm not talking about the poorer nations, those wars are mere side shows to the main event.)

It's so easy now to say "what if", when thing are in a terrible state of affairs. And given the cascade of historical events that lead us to this booming era, could it have been slowed down? Could wisdom have prevailed? Sadly, I don't believe so. It appears as if that path was irreversible and we were destined to become energy/resource hogs. Shoulda, coulda, woulda.

So given the current landscape, what will our recovery be like?

It will be...Different. Very different.

[polichick]

1. "We are going to have to live with a lot less."

I'd like to think we'll be living with a lot less meaningless stuff ~ and a lot more meaning.

[driver8]

3. That's what I'd like to think, too.

It is about time that Americans realize that life is not about how much stuff you have...

Life is going to be very scary in this country for awhile.

[polichick]

5. Could be a huge blessing in disguise - some will fight the change for a long time...

...but others are already turning lemons into lemonade by downsizing, simplifying and focusing on family time.

[FedUpWithIt All]

8. Many will rage against the changes coming on us.

Eventually, people may come to realize that without the burden of "things" life is more free and rewarding.

The sad thing is that many will not simply lose "things" but the most basic of necessities.

"May you live in interesting times."

[Warpy]

2. Maybe we won't have to keep running faster and faster

to avoid slipping behind faster and faster. Maybe, just maybe, people forced into idleness for a few weeks or months or even years will rediscover what is important to them and insist on getting it when they go back to work. Maybe new hobbies will be developed and new businesses will be started from the garage up.

Maybe people willing to work 80 hours a week and stay connected by Blackberry even when they're supposed to be on their stingy little 2 week vacation will be harder to find. Maybe we'll be able to unhook for a month and return to work truly refreshed, like our European cousins have been able to for decades, instead of rushing to a destination we have to go into debt to get to and rushing around frantically at that destination to squeeze enough memories into 2 weeks to last a year and then rushing home exhausted.

Hell, maybe the next economy will be humane, for a change, at least until the rich manage to buy enough politicians to push us back into debt slavery.

[No.23]

4. The line between our needs and our wants...

have been blurred for a long time.

A very long time.

And we are paying the price for it now.

That line will have to be resurrected and clarified.

If we have any chance of recovery.

[FirstLight]

6. I used to think it would look drastically different...almost apocalyptic

Now I am more hopeful that we can perhaps make the real changes and keep some level of "normal" life...though you ARE seriously right - Normal will look drastically diferent too.

I heard somewhere that we are basically going through a 20 year shift in paradigm and structure of our entire society- in about 4 years time. This is the part that makes it feel so much harder ...the rapid shift is very disconcerting for many.

[shadowknows69]

7. Well fuck me running Javaman. I'm back one day and you have me depressed already

j/k keep speaking the truth. It will indeed get a lot worse before it gets better and many won't survive the "recovery"