Survival__ Structuring Prosperity for Yourself and the Nation - Charles George Smith [186]
We've also noted how locally controlled energy "makes no financial sense" until the devolution of cheap abundant oil/coal natural gas reaches a phase shift and suddenly "it makes excellent sense" but the means of production are suddenly unavailable or exorbitantly prohibitive.
Once again I stress the "value" of control which cannot be measured by financial metrics.
Non-fossil fuel transport is arduous in locales with long winters. But there are bicycles in summer and cross-country skis in winter. People traded goods over thousands of miles long before coal or other fossil fuels were extracted. The human landscape has sprawled out in response to the windfall exploitation of cheap, abundant oil. As oil becomes ever more costly, then households can move closer to places they frequent: schools, farmers markets, town centers, concentrations of commerce.
There is a source of latent energy within a few hundred feet of every square meter of dry land on the planet: the Earth. Though it is claimed that the soil is frozen to the depth of 700 feet in eastern Siberia, in less extreme climes then the ground temperature below 100-200 feet remains fairly constant (with the usual variations): around 50-60 degrees F (10-15 C). While it is costly to drill holes and install a geo-exchange loop, the source is renewable. As noted above, heat pulled from the earth has the distinct advantage of being within our own control. Yes, I understand the heat pumps require electricity, and that is another set of vulnerabilities and solutions. And once again, a community has the scale to raise capital and at least heat/cool one building at modest cost to the entire community.
Households which have to relocate for other reasons might survey potential locales for their proximity to fresh water, agriculture and energy sources. Not depending entirely on global corporations and distant nation-states for our essentials seems like prudent risk management.
14. Think, Plan and Act with Integrity
As I noted in the introduction, what we might term morality and ethics have no "value" in the status quo, which incentivizes looting, lying, embezzlement, misrepresentation, manipulation of statistics, propaganda, gaming the system and a vast host of other behaviors which are the opposite of integrity and honesty.
Ultimately, we cannot totally control any assets other than our personal integrity, experience and skills. If we act with integrity, we have a capital asset no one can take from us, depreciate or debauch.
It isn't complicated or difficult to think, plan and act with integrity; it is easy unless one is mired in an entitlement/something-for-nothing mindset seething with greed and trumped-up resentments.
As the risks of phase shifts, devolutions and dissolution increase, those with integrity will gain the trust of others with integrity; those without integrity will not, and they will consequently be left with their own kind.
The Remnant which thinks, plans and acts with integrity has a source of capital which is beyond financial valuation.
15. Pare complexity to simplicity
On an institutional level, complexity is a tool of control and concentrating power. In households, it is a source of confusion. Decisionmaking and planning are inherently difficult because no one can know the future consequences of action or inaction.
There is a vernacular term: KISS--"keep it simple, stupid." But major decisions like moving to another state are complex because the ramifications tumble like dominoes once the decision is made.
Ironically, there is no simple method for paring complexity. Reducing possibilities to "if-then" statements, and working through the assessment, (cost-benefit) analysis, deliberation and decision process (AADD) or the OODA loop (Observe, Orient,