Peak Oil Theory

This week, Peter Maas has come out with an article in the New York Times Magazine about the looming crisis in oil production throughout our planet. Adherents of the Peak Oil Theory claim that it won't be too long before even the most oil rich areas cannot meet world demand(a large portion of which is us).Saudi Arabia has an estimated 260 billion barrels, Iraq 110 billion. Of course, the management of the Iraq War by our current administration has decreased the amount of Iraqi oil being produced. Maas points out that these are finite amounts, that in the near future will not be adequate. He argues that the 10 billion barrels in ANWR will be necessary at some point, but he mostly argues that we urgently need to conserve in our use. Even though I am a Sierra Club member, I could see clean, careful drilling in ANWR if, in return, BushCo would continue serious cutbacks-restrictions for mpg allowed in our vehicles.









One way to alleviate this problem to everyone's benefit would be to add a dollar or two Federal Tax to each gallon, but then use the extra tax collected to pay for universal healthcare. This isn't likely to happen with such chicken politicians running things, but then America would have the best healthcare on the planet while reducing our taste for gas hog cars, trucks, and SUVs.