[Culturechat] What does Jim Kunstler know?

Wed, 29 Dec 2004 18:51:55 EST

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Excerpt of Jim Kunstler's comments regarding Las Vegas (which actually apply=
=20
to many Southwestern cities):

 =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0If anything, the destiny of Las Vegas is to dry up and blow=20=
away,=20
sooner rather than later. Here's why:
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0
     -- The global oil production peak will put an end to cheap oil and=20
economies that depend on it. That means the end of things like casual visito=
rs=20
motoring in from Southern California and Phoenix. It means the evaporation o=
f=20
hallucinated value in abstract financial rackets like derivative-based hedge=
=20
funds. It means far less disposable wealth among the population in general,=20=
and for=20
many baby boomers it probably means the end of hope that their retirement=20
will be funded by pensions and stock options. It means the end to cheap air=20
conditioning and bargain hotel rates. It means bankrupt airlines.
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0
     -- The water situation in Las Vegas is dire. The city has absolutely no=
=20
capacity left for expansion under any circumstances. What's more, Lake Mead,=
=20
the impoundment behind Hoover Dam, is down to historically low levels, dropp=
ing=20
a foot per week lately, and may soon fall so low that the turbine intakes on=
=20
Hoover Dam no longer operate, meaning goodbye electric generating capacity.=20
The Colorado River's flow in 2004 was 70 percent below average, and the regi=
on=20
was gripped by a years-long drought. Climatologists agree, in fact, that the=
=20
desert southwest has actually been enjoying two comparatively wet centuries=20=
and=20
is now reverting to a drier cycle. Global warming could make it much worse.
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0
     -- As industrial agriculture withers, places in America than can't grow=
=20
a substantial amount of their own food will be (in bad shape).    (In place=20=
of=20
Jim's favorite verb).  =20
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0
     The last thing that the American future will be about is mega-cities in=
=20
the desert supported by lifelines of cheap oil, cheap electricity, cheap air=
=20
conditioning, cheap diverted water, and cheap long-range transportation and=20=
the=20
pissing away of financial resources for "excitement." Of course, when your=20
national mythology is based on the idea that it is possible to get something=
 for=20
nothing, you'll believe anything.
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0
The businessmen in Las Vegas and the Times business reporters are like the=20
clueless westerners gamboling on the beach in Phuket with a tidal wave silen=
tly=20
bearing down on them. Only in this case the wave is a permanent global energ=
y=20
crisis. When the wave lands in Las Vegas, the excitement will be over.

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<HTML><HTML>Excerpt of Jim Kunstler's comments rega=
rding Las Vegas (which actually apply to many Southwestern cities): 
 
 =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0If anything, the destiny of Las Vegas is to dry up and blo=
w away, sooner rather than later. Here's why: 
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -- The global oil production peak will put an end t=
o cheap oil and economies that depend on it. That means the end of things li=
ke casual visitors motoring in from Southern California and Phoenix. It mean=
s the evaporation of hallucinated value in abstract financial rackets like d=
erivative-based hedge funds. It means far less disposable wealth among the p=
opulation in general, and for many baby boomers it probably means the end of=
 hope that their retirement will be funded by pensions and stock options. It=
 means the end to cheap air conditioning and bargain hotel rates. It means b=
ankrupt airlines. 
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -- The water situation in Las Vegas is dire. The ci=
ty has absolutely no capacity left for expansion under any circumstances. Wh=
at's more, Lake Mead, the impoundment behind Hoover Dam, is down to historic=
ally low levels, dropping a foot per week lately, and may soon fall so low t=
hat the turbine intakes on Hoover Dam no longer operate, meaning goodbye ele=
ctric generating capacity. The Colorado River's flow in 2004 was 70 percent=20=
below average, and the region was gripped by a years-long drought. Climatolo=
gists agree, in fact, that the desert southwest has actually been enjoying t=
wo comparatively wet centuries and is now reverting to a drier cycle. Global=
 warming could make it much worse. 
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -- As industrial agriculture withers, places in Ame=
rica than can't grow a substantial amount of their own food will be (in bad=20=
shape).&nbsp;&nbsp; (In place of Jim's favorite verb).&nbsp; 
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The last thing that the American future will be abo=
ut is mega-cities in the desert supported by lifelines of cheap oil, cheap e=
lectricity, cheap air conditioning, cheap diverted water, and cheap long-ran=
ge transportation and the pissing away of financial resources for "excitemen=
t." Of course, when your national mythology is based on the idea that it is=20=
possible to get something for nothing, you'll believe anything. 
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 
The businessmen in Las Vegas and the Times business reporters are=
 like the clueless westerners gamboling on the beach in Phuket with a tidal=20=
wave silently bearing down on them. Only in this case the wave is a permanen=
t global energy crisis. When the wave lands in Las Vegas, the excitement wil=
l be over.</HTML>

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