A Comment by Ernie Fidgeon

Kure Beach, North Carolina

Before I get to today's very short article, I need to point out that I cannot post comments on my own blog nor respond (reply) to others' comments here under my regular Google account due to a snafu that Google has yet to fix. I read about it before I left on my trip but could not seem to get the issue corrected even after trying all the suggestions (such as enabling all cookies). Basically, if I want to comment, I have to comment as "Anonymous" or as the new identity "Erik Michaels" with the URL being my blog (as if I'm not signed into Google [which is ridiculous as I wouldn't be able to write these articles!]). Hopefully Google will get this fixed in the next few weeks (the original issue seems to have started sometime in April).

OK, now on to the topic for today. Every once in a while, I come across something so accurate and veracious that I feature it in one of the groups or other social media places. This particular comment, which was made in the Peak Oil Facebook group, was penned by Ernie Fidgeon and shared with permission here instead, as I think it may reach a wider audience publicly than in private groups. Ernie points out the difference between problems and predicaments along with energy and resource decline and the implications of our psychological and sociological makeup:

"Paraphrasing a conversation with a neighbour, who understands PO (Peak Oil) etc., but struggles with anger issues, finger pointing/xenophobia and railing against 'the man'... So, I explained my menial understanding and how I seem to be at peace amongst all the chaos, translated into a mini-essay form to present my thesis.....

Problems & Predicaments

We are alive at the moment of peak civilization, we exist at the apex of the great global organism, a monstrously successful machine of human potential, evolved to grow in response to and as a precursor to population growth. It is unmistakable that this requires a continuous and increasing supply of easily obtained energy and materials. The appetite of our collective global organism is insatiable. Understand though that to sustain this level of affluence also requires continuously increasing complexity to deliver even the smallest incremental gains & to maintain growth.

For most folks and leaders then the problem is: “How do we continue to feed the organism? And more individually, how do I maintain and cushion my lifestyle of consumption?”

Problems have solutions. Surely our big brains and ingenuity will innovate and invent new ways to keep the machine churning.

Realize however that this conditioned thinking, this worldview, is based on a fallacy. A very, very significant fallacy. There is no such thing as a ‘continuous and increasing supply of resources’. The planet has a finite limit and every year it becomes more difficult to harvest resources. At some point it becomes pointless to harvest due to the energy cost becoming too high – it literally takes more energy to obtain compared to the energy in that which is obtained, a negative return on effort. This is a non-negotiable basic reality of nature, and there is no technological or other brilliant solution that can overcome this constraint, nor will there ever be, no matter how hard we try.

We are, today, somewhat past this point. From these moments forward we live in an unfolding environment of diminishing supplies, the evidence is apparent in all directions. That is the real problem, in fact it is more than a problem - it is a predicament. And by definition predicaments do not have solutions.

So. Here we are. We are in a place unknown but surely to mean increasing hardship, strife, unfairness, sadness and anger. Decreasing goods, basics, patience, and tolerance. Scarcity mentality will (and has) infect and blur judgement. People will, by nature, struggle as individuals to continue to be kind. The gap between the haves and have nots will grow. Special interests and the broad social spectrum of tolerance will collapse. Xenophobia and scapegoating will increase. This is clear. We rose from primitive clans that were reigned by the simple rule of ‘those with the biggest sticks and stones’ ruled. And those who ruled directed those under them to harvest what meagre resources they had access to for the benefit of the rulers. Those who opposed or resisted were ejected from the clan, often by alienation led by the rulers who encouraged the serfs to destroy their own kinfolk. Modern civilization, buffered by great surplus energy, evolved complexities and layers that gave the false impression to the masses that truly democratic and fair societies were a logical result. Take away the surplus, take away the abundance, and the true colours of modern rulers (and many serfs) come out – they are no different than their ancestors, save the fact their sticks and stones contain far larger clans, and are far more deadly. This is clear. To those who are more observant it has been happening for decades.

I suggest that while there is no solution to this predicament, there is a path of minimal suffering. Accept the facts, accept the reality, and accept that there can be no reversal, no return to the days of yore. Accept that change is inevitable, that we can't possibly reach some utopian ideal seen in fiction. Accept that collapse is happening now, and will quicken. Acceptance of the predicament can be an enormous relief. Adapt and evolve. Live each day fully because tomorrow, next week and next month will only change to be more challenging than today is."

One will find it very difficult to come up with a better description of where we are. I agree, Live Now - not only will tomorrow be more challenging, nobody is actually guaranteed tomorrow.