[lit-ideas] Re: A New Oregon Trail?

David quotes Deffeyes: We're not doing much about it. We could have had a soft landing if we had listened to Jimmy Carter and started 20 years ago. But in the absence of a Winston Churchill or John Kennedy, I'm not sure we're going to get in gear fast enough to avoid this. The mildest form of the disaster is a global recession worse than the Great Depression, and that's a form it could take rather than war, famine, pestilence and death.

I saw his presentation last year at the 92nd Street Y here in Happy Town. That's one reason why I suggested that this is the Golden Age of Multiculturalism and that nations will reassert themselves as jet fuel skyrockets and international travel slows to a trickle. As the chances of soft landing recede, global corporations will have to decide on a base for their power, which is less likely to be those countries with dictatorial central governments (like China) and histories of strong federal regulation of industry (like France). Therefore it seems likely that nations will attempt to undo their global commitments. Of course, Andreas thinks I'm living in the early 20th century when in fact I'm living in the upper east side.

------------------------------------------------------------------
To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off,
digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html

Other related posts: