posting from Seattle....

Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 8:41 AM
To: "wwo@worldwithoutoil.org" <wwo@worldwithoutoil.org>
Subject: posting from Seattle....

From just outside Seattle ..

So, its several weeks into the 'oil crisis' and although we are faring better than most due to our heavy investments in hydro power over the years . I do see BIG trouble coming shortly. Here in the NW we have always had a deep seeded independent streak and that is bubbling to the surface and building momentum. Confused? Well, for many years there have been groups trying to 'break-off' several NW states and Canadian provinces to form, as they say, a more perfect union, and for the first time these people aren't just the nuts on the fringes . they are getting an audience and its growing!

The idea around this has always been that due to our unique climate and volcanic soil we are able to grow all of our own food and export, power ourselves(and export power), we have developed international relationships with foreign governments for trade(in most cases our relationships are much better and less conflicting than the US Fed Gov't relationships), many large rich and influential companies and individuals(King county is the wealthiest in the world with the who's who of the richest men) and so the idea that we could be self-sufficient has bubbled in the background for many decades. So strong is this idea that our last Governor election was stolen from the ballot box to place a sympathetic ear in the Governor's Mansion to advance this idea more publically. The concern is that the limited supplies of oil coming from Alaska, major pipelines of natural gas coming from Canada and the busy seaport come thru here and I don't see any way of avoiding Federal troops from both Canada and the US coming in to ensure stability. With that combination of troops and angry people in close proximity . BIG TROUBLE is ahead! And I do fear that many deaths will be the outcome. I fear that PANIC is going to rule the day. I ask myself how did this happen? Did the government not realize this day would come? Did the oil companies not see it either? Why didn't they use those profits to develop other forms of energy? What about our automotive industry? Where have the billions in R&D gone too? Why has this happened? Mankind's greatest strength has always been to adapt, anticipate and marshal its strengths and build on to the future . what about that future now???

As for me and my neighbors, we are very worried about what the future will bring us and our families. Most of us in the local area are either retired or self-employed consultants, like myself, who make a living traveling. I have been a good American and worked hard, got educated, worked my way up the corp ladder and then finally left and offered my services as a consultant. It all seemed real good . and the promise of a great America, like the one that was so many years ago seemed to ensure that if you got educated, worked hard, saved your money, invested wisely and looked to the future, then the dream of a grand retirement was a reality. BUT, now all of my work means NOTHING at all! Although it is easier than ever to get a plane ticket . who can afford one? My investments are collapsing . and there is no way to get out of the free falling stock market. All of the past symbols of success are now simply a series of albatrosses around our necks because we can't power them. Ironic that all of the things we as Americans clung to for so long are now just monuments to our past glory . literally, monuments standing before us . almost motionless, like all of the statues we erected in our townsquares.

I don't know what the future will hold for us, but I am worried that in our panic we might just do what we didn't during the cold war . foolishly destroy ourselves over stuff, jealousy and envy. My hope is that we as humans can overcome this disaster, find new leadership to the future and rebuild a new and better society for our children and grand-children. If we can, the question then is .. Will we, if we survive, learn from this lesson? Or will it just be a temporary reprieve to the inevitable? Only the future will tell.. But I am hopeful . I have to be.

We'll keep you posted as long as we can.

Netizen Charliefree from just outside Seattle.