BAU (Business as usual)
Energy future:
From vast discussions at theoildrum.com
Everything is based upon some form of our current BAU or BAU Lite or Green BAU. No one seems to be willing to come to grips with the probable reality that any form of BAU is dead meat.
Take the arguments for public transportation: The underlying assumption is that these millions of non-productive people will have jobs to go to. Sure, let’s spend billions of dollars for these systems. About the time they are completed I’m willing to bet that society finds it can no longer afford people who do not produce. And, by “produce” I mean exactly that – “stuff” whether it is new practical ideas or physical things.
Further, all of this leads to what shape education should take because it is trapped in the same BAU mind-set as energy. If it isn’t changed now, we are going to end up with another generation of useless people who have skill-sets that are no longer appropriate.
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If those of us who are not sanguine about the future and have prepared are wrong, we hurt no one. However, if those of you who believe the future is rosy are wrong, it is likely that you will destroy society trying to survive.