Yeah, but if the world can eliminate burning gasoline in cars, we should have enough to continue making plastics and such for a couple hundred more years, instead of sixty. I can't remember exactly what percentage of oil is used for fuel, but I do know that it's far higher than that used to make plastics. Sweden's got the right idea. If we don't get off of oil soon, the entire world is liable to be in boatloads of trouble.
My beliefs on the matter:
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Originally Posted by JSLTIGER
The American economy has not been in such a dire situation since the late 1920's. Americans are spending every penny that they have as soon as they get it, with more than 50% of the populace living paycheck to paycheck, savings are at their lowest levels since just before the Great Depression. The US is producing less and less and relying on services more and more. Our trade deficits are massive, already unsustainable, and only growing. The budget deficit brought on by the war is continuing to grow, and yet the POTUS continues to ask for more funding for current programs and the creation of new ones.
The only reason that Americans have been able to support an economy of the current scale is by tapping into the vast savings created by the lack of consumer products available in World War II. The demand and boom of the 1950s-1970s all resulted from Americans tapping into their savings to buy new goods. When these savings are finally depleted in full and the other nations of the world stop funding our debt, America will be in for a massive economic slide, the likes of which haven't been seen since 1929.
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Originally Posted by JSLTIGER
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Originally Posted by Kapitain
As for america i predict this;
America will be stable for at least another 60 years with ressesions but overly will be stable despite the fall in value of thier currency.
But should america keep going to war i also would say thier currentcy by 2020 will be around $2.00 to £1 which is atleast 20% higher than it is already.
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Personally, I don't even think America can make it for another 60 years. Most of the American economy relies on cheap oil. As we get closer to the end of the world's oil supplies (predicted to be anywhere from 2031-2066), the American economy will become increasingly disrupted by the ever-increasing costs of energy. The only potential way to avoid this is for America to get its head out of its ::expletive:: and give up the gasoline-based internal combustion engine and fossil fuel based energy.
In my opinion, the most promising technology is the Generation IV nuclear reactor. Moderated by liquid lead instead of water, it has the advantages of producing Hydrogen (which can be reclaimed for use in fuel cells), and running at 1 ATM pressure instead of the 350 ATM typically used in today's water moderated Generation II and III reactors. When combined with breeder reactors which produce more fissile fuel than is used (currently outlawed in the US, unfortunately), we can stretch our supply of fission-able material from 60 to 500+ years. That should give us enough time to come up with a suitable alternative (i.e. fusion) before we run out of energy entirely. |