Have you ever heard of Transition with a capital T? That is what is needed to buffer the “End of Suburbia” when Peak Oil does its thing. New scientific opinion (whatever that is) claims all the alternative energy in the world will not be able to sustain this country’s “obscene” and “gluttonous” suburban lifestyle, a house of cards sold to the public as “the American Dream.” (1, 2, 3) I’d better stop before somebody quotes me.
The American Dream was the concept that if somebody worked hard enough, they could keep their wealth to create whatever good thing they wanted. If a disaster, such as “obscenely” taxed petroleum were to strike, American Dreamers would muddle through the crisis with diligent effort and inventiveness. Those who rose to the challenge would get to enjoy the prosperity they earned and use it for whatever good they wished.
One popular “End of Suburbia” review claims the enlightened “understand the want and need to make the way the collective we live in a more walkable and humanistic manner.” Other reviewers fault people who live in suburbia for a “sense of entitlement” to fossil fuels. Although I hate polluted air more than most people, the promotional materials for this movie hit me as having an, “I don’t want to exert myself, so nobody else should be allowed to exert themselves,” attitude.
Prove me wrong, and see the short version for free at the Transition Asheville Orientation at 7:00 this Thursday at the North Asheville Public Library. I will be carbon-footprinting myself up the Interstate and unable to attend.
