The Era of Oil Is Nearing Its End: Do You Agree?

Dont bet on that. Like the USA and North America, You can be assured there is more of the oil in the Middle East regions if they really try to find it.
Meantime they are thinking ahead and diversifying their means of income other than being totally reliant on oil income.

I have a feeling that the "shortage" was a political ploy for green technology. We have an abundance of oil in this country, but the current administration has its development locked up. The country has not yet sufficiently developed green technology to be efficient for supplying mass amounts of energy for homes and businesses. The technology has not been perfected. Maybe in 50 or so years it will be state of the art.

The oil supply is running out? Really? We aren't even touching our own oil yet. Meanwhile, technology moving away is not coming fast enough to make such a claim.

it is a reliable and economical source of energy, until we can make other forms of energy as reliable and economical it will remain the main source for much of the world.

Recently it's been determined by Truthers that there is an unlimited supply.

It's great to talk about alternative (renewable) energy sources, but not w/o oil. You have to have those conversations in tandem while continuing to produce. Maybe produce even more oil in America while R&D; continues on alternative energy sources. Renewable energy sources will happen in time, but you can't rush it by federally mandating and regulating it.

I think its about time we found a more environmentally friendly form of energy rather than the current methods that hurt our planet. Remember, we just have one planet, one home.

The planet "hurts" itself more than man does or ever will.

How does the planet hurt itself? It goes through cycles, yes, but that isn't what I was talking about. I was talking about man made issues, over population, dump in chemicals and trash in our water etc.

Overpopulation is another name for prosperity in the minds of Malthusian liberals.

We cannot hurt the planet. It will be here, along with a plethora of new lifeforms, when all records of our existence have turned to dust.

The question is, will the planet be able to sustain life after humans as a race are gone... We DO harm the planet. Some of us just don't like to admit it. What do you think smog is? Or toxic waste that get in our water supply does?

"What do you think smog is? Or toxic waste that get in our water supply does?"

Insignificant, when compared to the fact that our oceans went from one pH extreme to the other before man walked the earth and will continue to do so long after we are gone.

Did you ever stop to think that maybe, just MAYBE it was doing that as a means to prevent over population of a species or two...? I never said that the planet would disappear or go Kaboom, I was saying it would get to a point where it couldn't sustain life. What planet do you live on because obviously you've not been paying attention to what humans have been doing to the planet.

"I never said that the planet would disappear or go Kaboom, I was saying it would get to a point where it couldn't sustain life."

That's my point entirely.

"What planet do you live on because obviously you've not been paying attention to what humans have been doing to the planet."

Sure I have.

Are you saying the earth itself made a conscience decision to decrease the human population? Do other plants just decide for themselves not to have life at all?

I believe that there's a triggering mechanism of sorts. Like a reset button once a capacity is reached Nature has to run a cycle.

My top Hum Vee bumper sticker reads, "I'm burning your kids oil reserves."

My other sticker reads, "I'm the AARP and I vote"

America would be in big trouble if we lost the taxes paid by oil companies. Exxon Mobil paid 1 Trillion in the last decade and that's only one company.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/n...
Even the progressive policy institute agrees and called Exxon and other oil companies a "investment heros"

PPI Betting on America
http://www.progressivepolicy....

Sort of. We will pretty much always use oil to some extent, and it will be, partially, a major source of fuel for developing nations for many years. But we will see a drastic drop in its usage, either through crippling shortages or new technology (Or realistically, a balance of those 2). The real question is at what 3% drop in global oil use do you call it the end of an era?

Are we running out, no. Do we need a cleaner, cheaper fuel source, yes. The earth produces mass amounts of oil everyday, for every scientist that says we are running out there is one that says we are not. The media likes to force their opinions on people because they are not capable of doing their own research and believe anything the tube tells them.

I'm sure we have a good 50 years left. Besides, we'll let the next generation worry about that.. in the mean time I think us starting wars over oil is just easier than making cars run electric. It's a noble sacrifice our soldiers are making. Besides I'm not giving up my Ford truck.





That was my Republican impersonation. :D

IT'S A BAD "AMERICAN IMPERSONATION!" (BUT KEEP TRYING!)

THE FACT THAT DRILLING WON'T SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM IS NO EXCUSE TO DO NOTHING AT ALL. (SARAH PALIN)

We should be drilling just to lower fuel costs. Or work on making vehicles more gas efficient, I don't really care which.

It should be anyway.

According to who and by what standard?

according to me and my standard! I thought SH was about opinions!

still waiting for that GREEN energy policy Obama promised....everything Obama bragged about is bankrupt or nearly there...
Solyndra....
Cost of solar is stilll way out reach..
Cost of maintenance on wind is way too high..plus noise..and dead owls...
Nuclear...everyone wants it ,,but...Not in my back yard...

then theres the Chevy volt...10,000 in sales...compared to toyota camry 243,000
wow...what a massive failure...

So looks like Oil still is viable...and needed....

No its booming here in Texas.I work for a Oil Company and Oil Companies are ramping up Production here.

Judging on the tremendous success of the Chevy Volt and Obama's Solyndra - I think oil has a little more useful life. Certainly more useful life than the EPA.

The best days of the oil based economy are obviously over. Reserves are finite and the rapidly growing wealth of the world's most populous countries (China, India, Russia, Brazil) mean that demand for oil will grow enormously while oil reserves are inevitably declining. It means the that oil will get more and more expensive and ultimately renewable options - electric cars - more emphasis on public transport will become dominant. The automoble based "American way of life" will soon be history.

Hey Paul, as long as you're walking anyway, how about taking a long walk on that short pier over there.

Aw Scott - dont be mean! Maybe you honestly think that oil will always be plentiful and inexpensive. Its just that I don't agree!

Well Paul, oil is a lot more plentiful right now than any alternative. You sound like you are ready to throw in the towel, you're beaten, you give up. You're ready to throw our standard of living away. I'm not. And yes, I'm a tad militant about it because your position seems.... well, stupid to me.

We should stop driving why? Because you say so? Because Obama says so? Because there is a dream of solar powered 18 wheelers to deliver our food to markets? And an idea for a wind powered jet liner to carry people around the world?

No Paul, it's not time for those dreams yet, they haven't invented an economic alternative to oil. And to crash the economy and dissolve our standard of living to ... I don't know, force it to happen just isn't going to work.

Forget Obama - this issue is WAY bigger than him or America.. You're talking "right now" - I'm talking future. Sheer economics will force the more measured use of gasoline. Leaner engines. You joke about solar powered 18 wheelers, but how about using the railroads more effectively? You cant argue with the fact that oil is a finite resource. Maybe synthetic fuels can be developed so that our children's childern can afford to fly in airliners - I certainly hope so... but its foolish to imagine that we can just carry on as we have been for the last century.

No one is suggesting that we carry on as we have. And yes, I am talking now - that's the time in which we live. The economics that is forcing measured use of oil is being manipulated by an administration that has an agenda to destroy the energy industry. And RIGHT NOW there is no alternative. So, to destroy an industry that is keeping us moving and warm and with electricity (coal is under fire too) is nuts.

While the amount of oil is finite, there is enough to last a hundred years or more (especially with more fuel efficient engines).

I'm not sure what your point is Paul. If your complaining just for the sake of conversation - OK. If you're pushing to kill oil, gas and coal and nuclear - I think you are wrong. If you're pushing for alternative energy - so am I. And so are hundreds of thousands of potential investors - as soon as a promising technology is developed.

My point is that I believe that the era of oil is nearing its end (see question at top of thread) and we have to start preparing for it. I'm not pushing to kill any energy sources and I'm pro nuclear. I am not aware I have complained about anything. Anyway I think your last couple of sentences would indicate maybe we're not so far apart. Truce?!

Truce Amigo!

Now, go invent some cool new energy source! Wouldn't it be something - do do that I mean?

If you did, would you give it to humanity or get filthy rich? I admit, I'm torn.

NO our country has plenty of natural resources & we need to utilize them & tell the idiots at the EPA , kiss off & the morons in the middle east will soon get the message that we are energy independent & don't need them !!

The earth constantly produces oil and natural gas. Old wells build up pressure over time. We will learn to consume more efficiently. I believe we're approaching the end of 1-3 ton passenger vehicles though.