The bad news first: the oceans are rising more and faster than we thought. New studies clarify what was long a puzzle for climate modelers. Scientists found a subtle error in previous temperature readings done by submarines and ships. Now they estimate the seas warmed and rose about 50% faster than previous estimates. That is especially bad news if you just invested in a nice coastal property and managed to escape subprime woes and foreclosure. Your troubles are just starting: mother nature is coming to get you. Is there no fairness in the world?
More bad news for those of you with coastal properties, especially in Florida and California. Our president and one of the presidential candidates want to restart offshore drilling. And guess what, even "hard core" environmentalists -those that drive Volvo SUV's with tons of stickers no doubt- now feel that gas prices are SO high that "something needs to be done." How about driving less? Are you kidding? We have to drive, they say. The environment be damned, they think.
Better prepare for oncoming seas filled with tar balls and bunker fuel. Now there is something that will affect property values. So far coastal communities have fared better in the mortgage crisis than their inland peers. Maybe there is justice after all?
The good news, for as long as it lasts, is that DOT announced that Americans drove 1.4 billion fewer highway miles in April of 2008 versus April 2007. And who said there was no way to solve greenhouse gas pollution? Who said we needed to explore alternative energy and invest in clean technology to solve our energy "needs?" What we really need, my friends, is to stop driving. That will solve many of our biggest problems.
1. Obesity. The US Department of Health and Human Services estimates over 2/3 of Americans are overweight or obese. It has been called an epidemic that threatens life-expectancy for future generations. Guess what, have the kids walk to school, or have them ride their bikes. And while you are at it, you can bike too.
2. Dependency on foreign oil. This is big, especially in an election year, when concern with matters of national security and flag waving are high on everyone's to-do list. Since we only import about 50% of our oil and we certainly waste more than that, what is the problem really ? Our only dependency is our addiction to consume more.
3. Global resource depletion and pollution. The more oil we use, the more other goodies we consume as well. Oil is the lubricant of the consumer economy. It makes it so we can buy new things all the time and then throw them away within 6 months. The trucks not only bring in new goodies all the time, they also take away our waste to far away countries such as India and China. It is no surprise that over 60% of China's drinking water is contaminated.
4. Global warming. That is a no-brainer. Just wait until your beach and your beach house disappear into the deep blue sea.
It is clear that high gas prices are the solution to our woes. However, instead of rejoicing, we are all worried. Not so much about the high prices -they are way too low for us to worry a lot now- but about what could happen in the future and the possibility of dwindling supplies. Nothing to strike more fear into the hearts of addicts than the specter of future shortages. That is when all good intentions go out the door. Now we are ready for blood.
The drug pushers too are getting worried it seems. Saudi Arabia just announced it was going to boost production come July 1. The kingdom is worried that we might get serious about alternative energy. Or god forbid, that we would actually change our habits and continue to use less oil. Now that would be a real disaster for the pocketbooks of so many greedy people.
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