45 Years

I've wanted to write about this topic for some time now but when I think about it, I get so angry that my brain implodes, which makes forming complete and coherent sentences impossible. I'm still angry, but I think it's well past time for this post.

The price of gas has become a thorn in the sides of many people over the past few months. As the cost per gallon rises ever higher, we hear cries of "Produce more oil! I don't want to drive slower and consolidate errands and reduce my consumption! Start drilling in the Alaska Wildlife Refuge!"

To the people who make these outbursts, I respond with the following: You are idiots.

Why do you think it's called "fossil fuel"? Perhaps because it was created millions of years ago? It's a NON-RENEWABLE energy source, you short-sighted morons. In case those words are too big for you to understand, I'll dumb it down so your reptilian brain can grasp the point: When it is gone, it is gone. Poof. Bye-bye.

What good will it do to continue drilling for oil when we're using it faster than the planet can replace it? But that's what most people will say, that's what their solution will be - find more oil deposits and suck them dry. That'll fix the problem, right?

An optimistic estimate [note the word optimistic] states that at the current rate of consumption (and we all know the current rate will rise), we will exhaust the resources of oil left in the ground in about 45 years.

45 years.

That's it.

Less than a lifetime for people who will be born in the next few years.

Why worry though, right? I mean, most of us will already be dead by the time this happens, so who cares? We'll get ours. Why concern ourselves with discovering RENEWABLE energy sources, which will neither run out nor pollute the planet further? Why bother conserving energy while working to perfect solar power or fuel cells or hydrogen engines? That seems like way too much work. Let's just drain the rest of the Earth's blood and let our children worry about the future.

Bluntly put, I am appalled and disgusted by the human race.