The peak oil story has not been nullified by the scramble to unload every asset for cash -- including whomping gobs of oil contracts -- during this desperate season of bank liquidation. The main implication of the peak oil story is that we won't be able to generate the kind of economic growth that defined our way of life for decades because the primary energy resources needed for it will be contracting.
Just as global oil production peaked, our economy evolved into a morbid hypertrophy, and the chief manifestation of it was the suburban sprawl-building fiesta that has now climaxed in the real estate bust. By the early 21st century, when so much American manufacturing had been swapped out to Asia, there was no business left except sprawl-building -- a manifold tragedy which wrecked the banks that financed it, and left the ordinary people mortgaged to it with ruinous liabilities.
Peacenik has mentioned in the past that Peacenik is concerned about shortages at the grocery stores and beer stores. This raises the question about how one should try to prepare for sudden shortages. Will there be warning signs? Will there be alarms? Should Peacenik start preparing for shortages now? When is it too late? Quite independent of Peacenik's concern, are weekend reports of shortages, unrelated to bankruptcy, in a food store in Florida. Major food suppliers in the U.K. are about to go bankrupt. Kunstler and Ilargi both mention the probability of food shortages in the near future.
Peacenik will share his strategy. Peacenik set up a Google Alert for +"grocery shelves" +empty. Decide what your comfort level is. If this search returns a couple of alerts a week, all is probably well. If the search starts returning 10 or 20 alerts a week, it is time to head for the grocery store. Peacenik will see you there in the bulk food department.
