I know, I know, it's much easier to just ignore this problem.  But life in the 21st century is never short on reminders that we exist in a world of ever-increasing energy needs in which our economy's growth and even its most basic vitality is almost directly tied to our access to a few precious commodities.  Petroleum is necessary to continue our current lifestyle and yet our ability to obtain it in the quantities we need becomes less and less certain with each passing day.  While there are a number of environmental and climate-related issues tied to the use of this fuel, I won't attempt to address those problems here and they must be reserved for another diary.  This entry will be limited to the potential availability of petroleum sources in the near future as well as some of the geopolitical problems stemming from this possible shortage in the long run.

So join me on the flip side for a little history, a little analysis and a lot of "wonk" to find out just what kind of mess we're in...

I have often wondered what the long term effects would be of the rise of conservatism.  Would a strong focus on the individual with a seeming disregard for the whole have any adverse outcome on our system?  And would Reagan's (and many others) insistence that we need not change our lifestyle despite a reality that suggested the opposite come with consequences?  One of the conflicts that has always been present in this country is the tension that exists between individualism and devotion to one's community, or the "common good."  The current extreme that we have reached in today's political climate begs the question of whether democratic citizenship can thrive in a society built on competition and the individual.  Striking a balance between the two requires us to examine the forces that drive citizen actions toward each of these goals.  Can they be compatible?  Or are the desires of individuals and their respective communities mutually exclusive?