German Army Report: Economy shrinking indefinitely | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1509212 United States 09/27/2011 02:30 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | This was predicted in the 60's and it was predicted that once the peak hit which happened in 2005 we would have several years of oil prices going up and down and economic chaos. There would be a few smaller crashes like the 2008 crash and the supposed double dip we have now. After this several year period it was forecast and our own military also believes based on the evidence that there will be a sudden freefall collapse in the economy. This report from the U.S. military was in the media of foreign nations. I'm sure many Germans read it but was it in the media in the U.S.? Of course not. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1281843 United States 09/27/2011 02:57 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | All the more reason to fast-track fusion reactor development and build more nuclear reactors, also probing space-based solar power solutions. I'm sorry people but to avoid this kind of catastrophe means using nuclear to make the transition to fusion/solar. The japanese fucked up by putting 40 year old reactors on a major fault on an island next to the ocean! FFS I wouldn't build a house there! Quoting: Project_Deimos Also, there needs to be a MAJOR effort to push microwave power redistribution to get electricity to remote regions. A fucking windmill and panels on your house aren't going to avert a GLOBAL energy crisis. You need a PARADIGM SHIFT to dodge this kind of economic freight train. That seems like more of the same, where is the "PARADIGM SHIFT"? |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 2158410 Canada 09/27/2011 03:12 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | True. It's because we reinvest quite massively in R&D during a recession so we're ready to seize and increase market share at the outset of the upswing. Quoting: Arminius 1886541 America and Britain do the opposite because their economies are largely non-productive, relying instead on the financial services sector, which is parasitic and destructive in nature. Sure, we have our greedy bankers too, such as the bastard Ackermann, but we keep them locked into the system and thus the well-being of the general economy. We don't really tolerate cowboy institutions such as Goldmann Sachs But how will Germany compete with Asian countries that can produce green technology cheaper? The profit motive hasn't been repealed in Germany has it? They will always compete with them for a central reason, they supply the wole world with the machinery needed to manufacture anything and in this field they 7 skies above the rest of teh humanity. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1483431 United States 09/27/2011 03:39 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
madmanNS User ID: 2159371 Canada 09/27/2011 03:53 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | just to get it right with the peeps here who are saying that Germany started 2 WW's: Isn't it more like that germany got sucked into those wars everytime they were ahead of the U.S. because they needed to prevent that Germany gets too powerful in the World. The Germans always were leading in innovative technologies - and still are nowadays. If Globalism would have failed and there wouldn't have been any wars - the small country of Germany would be the biggest economical power in the whole world. period. The Germans still paid reparations out of the versailles treaty in 2001, they are still paying for WW2 and right now paying for the bailout of other countries in the EU - and are still not bancrupt. There you can see how powerful this little country is. And now hate me for this little piece of truth.... |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 2092083 Germany 09/27/2011 04:21 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I'll say it again the Germans are the smartest people in the world. Too bad the Anglo-Saxon apple fell so far from the tree. yep, they started and lost 2 major wars and will also foul up WWIII. Brilliant really. how did they start WWI? During World War I, the German Empire was one of the Central Powers that ultimately lost the war. It began participation with the conflict after the declaration of war against Serbia by its ally, Austria-Hungary. [link to en.wikipedia.org] They will do it again, both start it and lose it! WWIII! [/off-topic] That's why we should move to EVs powered by Solar, Wind and other renewable electricity sources. Then there is the Russian abiotic oil theory. I think we're doing fine if we use the remaining (or self refueling *cough*) oil for the heavy industry and switch the individual transportation to EVs (electric vehicles). However, just another German Angst study... |
Rawfox User ID: 2122442 Germany 09/27/2011 04:26 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | ... Quoting: Anonymous Coward 860229 But how will Germany compete with Asian countries that can produce green technology cheaper? The profit motive hasn't been repealed in Germany has it? Patents? I don't know. The best cars in the world are built in Germany, not Asia. The same is true of most quality products. Many technology giants who outsourced to eastern Europe ten years ago have RETURNED to Germany because we have the right mix of tax incentives, an educated and healthy workforce and infrastructure advantages that thirld worlders will never have. Oh, yeah, and our beer .... Peak fossil fuels are going to make cars a luxury for the rare few . So how are you guys are producing horses ? Some days ago i saw a advertisement by Opel. Im sure you know Opel :) [link to www.opel-ampera.com] |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 2164465 United States 09/27/2011 05:00 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | "The German study which was released recently is unique for the frankness with which it explores the dire consequences which may be in store for us. Quoting: Sock Puppet ... The Germans also believe that it is already too late to complete a comprehensive global transition to a post fossil fuel economy. ... For the near future the study foresees that a very large increase in oil prices would harm the energy-intensive agricultural systems that produce much of our food. Not only could the costs of fertilizers and pesticides become prohibitive, but the massive amount of oil-dependent transportation needed to move agricultural products long distances could make food unaffordable for many. The study goes on to postulate a "mobility crisis" that would arise from substantial increases in the costs of operating private cars and trucks. Although sudden shortages could be relieved by volunteer and regulatory measures, ultimately the mobility crisis would feed into and add to the worsening economic situation. ... Domestic and foreign trade will have to adapt to these new relationships but doing so will likely lead to economic upheavals. As businesses transform to less oil-dependent forms of services and production, there would likely be an extended period of "transformation unemployment" that will become a major economic problem. A case could be made that our current "jobs" crisis is simply the leading edge of the "transformation unemployment" that could go on for decades. The German study maintains that all countries on earth will sooner or later be faced with the problem of transitioning to a post-fossil fuel age. As such a transition has never happened before, there are no guidelines for how it is to be accomplished. Of great significance is the willingness of nations to implement the economic policies necessary to effect the transformation to the post fossil fuel age. Forms of government will be sorely tested. The Germans who have much experience in these matters note that only continuous improvement in individual living conditions forms the basis for tolerant and open societies. Given the widespread unemployment and high mobility costs that are almost certain to accompany the transition to a post fossil fuel world, democratic forms of government are likely to face severe challenges. ... For the immediate future, however, the German Army study foresees: 1. increasing oil prices that will reduce consumption and economic output (i.e. a recession or worse); 2. increasing transportation costs that will lead to lower trade volumes - less income for many and unaffordable food for some; and 3. pressure on government budgets as they must keep populations fed, deal with the social consequences of mass unemployment, and attempt to invest in sustainable sources of energy. Governmental revenues are bound to fall as unemployment increases along with resistance to further taxation. ... In an indefinitely shrinking economy, savings would not be invested as profits could no longer be made or borrowing costs paid. In this environment, the banking system, stock exchanges and financial markets would have a hard time surviving. Banks would be left with no reason to exist as they would not be able to pay interest on deposits or find credit-worthy companies or individuals. The final step would be the loss of confidence in currencies and with them the ability to carry on normal economic transactions outside of barter. If all this sounds extreme to American ears, remember the Germans have been through far more than we have in the last century. What is interesting is the way they are telling it like they see it - no pulling of punches here." Full text [link to www.fcnp.com] Great report, thanks for posting it. It's about time that someone starts telling the truth. While 'big oil' has been spending billions to convince the World that human caused warming is a lie created just to justify a carbon tax, the real reason is to FORESTALL ALTERNATIVE ENERGY. Big oil sees the 21st century as the golden age for fossil fuels, that is, if they can prevent alternative energy from being developed. They also know that right now that it costs around 3 million to build a 3 megawatt wind turbine and that when fossil fuels costs double it will be 6 million, and then 12 million. At that point it will not be possible to even finance a wind turbine. The same goes for solar, geothermal, biomass, and nuclear. This is what the public does not catch onto. The fossil fuel plutocrats know that if they can forestall the development of alternative energy for a few more years, THE PRICE OF FOSSIL FUELS ITSELF WILL PREVENT ALTERNATIVE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT! The fossil energy lobby has a well paid army of 1000s that have infiltrated the news media and politics with all sorts of defeatism to undermine any effort to develop alternative energy. This doesn't have a fucking thing to do with the credibility of anthropological global warming, IT HAS EVERYHTING TO DO WITH KILLING ALTERNATIVE ENERGY BECAUSE IT THREATENS TO DERAIL FOSSIL FUEL'S 21ST CENTURY GOLDEN GRAVY TRAIN! |