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peak oil translates into higher prices, which eventually causes lower demand (in those countries which are price sensitive, i.e. mostly the Western world, as a large portion of the emerging economies subside fuels) - and this is accompanied by widespread pain, as people have to do with less, or with more expensive oil, and need to reduce their consumption of everything else as a consequence.
Sure, if I can't afford as much petrol, or food, as before because of price inflation, this can be called "austerity" I guess; but I find it really strange to bracket it with economic Austerianism. It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II
Economic pain is not unavoidable. Greek parents giving their children up to orphanages is not an unavoidable consequence of peak oil. FFS. tens of millions of people stand to see their lives ruined because the bureaucrats at the ECB don't understand introductory economics -- Dean Baker
It's a simple fact that increased oil prices in recent years have impacted the standard of living of the vast majority of Europeans (Norwegians excepted).
Denying this fact on the basis that other factors have caused greater impacts on standards of living, would be rather unsound. On reflection, I don't think this is what you are doing. Rather, I think you are trying to censor all mention of any other causes than Europe's self-inflicted financial crisis.
I don't find this useful. It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II
Migeru:
The ecological austerians want to argue that the current recession is the inevitable pain for living beyong our planet's thermodynamic means.
I object to being bracketed with what you term "ecological austerians", and your insistence on controlling what can and cannot be debated. After all, it is you, not I, who introduced the "hangover frame", in which I have no interest. It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II
Thomas:I really wish people would stop shilling austerian visions in the name of ecologyWho is doing this exactly?
I really wish people would stop shilling austerian visions in the name of ecology
(I will not do you the disservice of bracketing you with Thomas the cornucopian sf fan)
By the way, you're free to argue in a biblical literalist frame, too, but I would object to that frame as well, and I would not care in the least if you claimed I was oppressing you for objecting to that frame. After all I am just objecting, not suppressing your ability to argue. tens of millions of people stand to see their lives ruined because the bureaucrats at the ECB don't understand introductory economics -- Dean Baker
You're talking about two quite different uses of the word "austerity". Assimilating the two politically, based on nothing more than semantics,
Is what your enemies will do if they hear you using semantics that give them any opening to do so. Because the right wing lies. Pathologically as well as professionally.
It is also what the conventional wisdom will do when it hears you using semantics that gives it an opening to do so. Because attempting to co-opt the politically weaker narrative to reinforce the politically stronger narrative is how the conventional wisdom deals with cognitive dissonance.
Put another way, would you rather have Migeru point out that your spiel can (will) be read that way, or some bad-faith shill from a far-right belief tank present your spiel that way with a straight face?
- Jake Friends come and go. Enemies accumulate.
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