Chapter 15- Playing Chicken with the Apocalypse

I think that Mr. Heinberg is wrong. The end of cheap and abundant energy is not apocalyptic but a necessary driving force to fuel the alternative energy campaign. Americans want cheap energy. We want it for our cars, our houses, our foods, etc. However, just because oil is running low does not mean it is the end of prosperity. We currently have numerous solutions to these problems; we are just waiting for them to enter the consumer market. Hybrid cars are slowly entering the market, helping the world to get ready for electric. Electricity can be made from nuclear power plants. For a cheaper, more natural alternative, solar powered cars may become a possibility in the future. Also, I slowly see a “green” lifestyle coming back into its own. The next time you are in Barnes and Noble, look around at the magazines. There are magazines on everything from solar energy to decorating “green.” Americans are slowly returning to a more conservative lifestyle, whether it be through reusing old items for new purposes, using paper bags instead of plastic (Whole Foods actually no longer offers plastic because of its detriment to the environment.), or using rain barrels for household water supply. A natural resource "crisis" should not lead to the apocalypse, just change. However, the idea of the world being built on ideas could prevent a threat. Let’s just hope our ideas are ones of promise for the future.