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GaryF's avatar

An odd corollary... Much of the "developing" world has bypassed part of the giant infrastructure of the US (and others). Cell phones rather than landlines. Balcony solar rather than giant power plants.

Now, yes, these still have more of a dependency (distance to fall) than much of what you talked about, BUT also avoid major infrastructure decay that the US has (and is getting worse and worse). More decentralized. Perhaps an odd historical twist bypassing major long term maintenance issues.

The Mongoose's avatar

There is a real tension there, i've read the same reporting. Are they far enough ahead on the curve to bootstrap? I hope so.

Élisabeth Vonarburg's avatar

“Here, we have fifty thousand storage facilities full of tools and furniture and appliances, all just sitting there in the dark — America’s accidental strategic reserve, filed under “hoarding” rather than “inventory.” If the supply chain seizes, that junk becomes a savings account we forgot we had”. Ah. Such a science fictional remark en passant !🙂 “America's accidental strategic reserve”. Love this.

tmack-62@gmail.com's avatar

When things calm down, if things calm down, we need to go to and stay there a while. 💕

The Mongoose's avatar

That will be fun, if the world holds together long enough.

Patrick R's avatar

Diesel is the weakness everywhere. The entire world runs on it, and the "premium" light sweet crude we produce in American shale plays has very little of it. If we can't get Venezuelan heavy production on-line quickly (we can't), then we're going to see diesel shortages here in the imperial core soon too. By the end of the year, probably.

But we still have gasoline, right? Well, sure, if you have the diesel to distribute it...

The Mongoose's avatar

That is the big if, isn't it! Yeah, those tanker trucks I see delivering gasoline to the local petrol stations, do not run on gasoline. It's gonna be a bumpy ride. Hang on tight.

Olga Skorapa's avatar

You must read HCR as this column is such a necessary antidote.

The Mongoose's avatar

HCR is brilliant, I read her most days. And, my POV is a bit different. It’s not that I disagree with her, I rarely do. But think of me as … hope-punk.