this post was submitted on 05 Apr 2025
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We've got tons of resources, and the means the produce more. The problem is that's not going to make some people lots and lots of money, so they don't do it.
Scarcity is not a problem of "can't" right now, it's a problem of "won't".
We're going to run out of oil in the next 30 years, and it's not just cars that will affect. The mass produced factory farmed food that feeds 90% of the world's population is utterly dependent on fossils fuels. There are almost no "Tesla" giant combines. And the trains that transport food to the cities run on fossil fuels. Cities will collapse. Air transport and ocean shipping will cease, destroying the global economy.
Many of the remaining oil reserves are in deep water, which are each and every one a man made environmental catastrophe waiting to happen, and as the easy reserves dry up, offshore drilling will become more common.
Meanwhile, we're running out of precious metals needed to make cheap consumer electronics. And while we're finding new reserves and the finite limit may not be a close, as computers and phone components become more expensive, and only the well-off will be able to afford them. The income disparity we see within our countries will become global, with entire countries falling behind.
And then there's fresh water. This will become a bigger problem as time goes on, and water wars will become large scale events.
We're living on a finite planet of finite resources. Our only hope for space exploration is a couple of commercial companies run by the 21st century equivalent of robber barons. If we do start mining asteroids for materials, those resources still be utterly monopolized by a single handful of individuals.
I don't understand your belief that we still have plenty of resources, when the scientific community has been warning that we're running through our reserves ever faster, for years.
Right you got me thinking so here's my thoughts. Not looking to argue just discuss the points you've made.
1st paragraph:
Global economy crashing is a good thing. Like you have pointed out it is completely dependent on a non-renewable resource on top of that it is one of the biggest contributors to worldwide exploitation. It also a contributes to cultural colonialism.
more info: youtube.com/watch?v=4UJSf_oyVAo.
When it comes to farming. People will come up with solutions. I believe that farmers are competent enough that when we run out of oil they aren't just going to go. "welp guess I starve now". They are going to innovate and do what they can to keep going. Also swapping out an ICE motor for an electric one doesn't seem that complicated.
Also Interesting that you didn't mention plastics. The most used oil product in the world. I'll be so glad when they're finally gone.
2nd paragraph is just a continuation of the first.
3rd paragraph
The key word in this paragraph is make. We don't really need to make any more electronics. We've already made enough. How many processors do you think are just sitting in some warehouse never to be used because a newer model came out. How much of those precious metals are inside cars that are going to be useless once oil runs out. We need to focus on recycling and reusing existing things and devices instead of making new ones.
4th paragraph
Water is a cycle. It doesn't just disappear. We already recycle most of our water. Although I'm not that knowledgable on the topic so I can't say much about it.
5th paragraph
skip.
6th paragraph
The scientific community has made those assertions with the assumption that we are going to keep doing what we're doing. Mindless consumerism, buying and making new things, and abusing our planet. And they are right. What I and the commenter you're replying to are (probably) saying is that the problems with resources are caused my how we live our lives and the problem disappears without capitalism, consumerism and the constant resource abuse they create. A more sustainable shift in society and economics will solve these problems
Also
I sidestepped you're points about money, because I am an anarchist. I see capitalism and money as the precise reason for this artificial scarcity and natural abuse. Like you even said in you're comment even if we get infinite resources in the form of asteroid mining it still won't be distributed properly due to monopolies. Having more resources won't fix anything because the problem is the market that distributes them being inefficient due to running entirely on profit motive. The solution is to end capitalism and when we do we are going to find that we have more than enough without needing to do asteroid mining. Where would we even get the fuel? doesn't that require oil?
Takes like this are why I think it should be illegal for anyone under the age of 25 to express any opinions about anything whatsoever
I can get everything I need to comfortably live from a 20km radius, or I could If my country hadn't outsourced clothes production to china. why does my life need to rely on a regime that's half the planet away while destroying the said planet in the process?
The fucking gall to post that on whatever device you are currently using to access the internet.
I don't need the internet (or any computer) to be comfortable. In fact It really is a lot more bother than it's worth. I just use it because there's not much else to do.
Also I already have a computer. I don't need another one. and even if I would do you know how many computers are in that 20km radius? because I'm pretty sure it's at least 100.
By the way I'm also a programmer. I spent the entirety of my teenage life learning how to make computers do things because I think they're neat. The internet has changed my life and given me a meaning and a purpose. It's really useful. But I could do without it. Would probably even be happier because I would actually meet people.
Cool, byeeeee
read until the end of the sentence silly.
Gosh, it sure doesn't seem like you don't need the internet.
I don't need it. I like it. While I have it I'll use it. but I don't need it. The only things I need are water, food, shelter, and companionship. Everything else is just extra. Good to have, but not a necessity.
Have you ever in your life lived without all the "everything else"?
No. But I bet I could. After all, prisoners do it every day.