Solar Power Education

Student Loans because they think they will be able to repay within a reasonable time. With the economy in ruins, without reasonable timetable for recovery, how can we still find a job to repay the loans? The U.S. economy has not had an ounce of chance of recovery that we're producing jobs actually do something or grow something we can sell to other countries. The agricultural sector is in a desperate situation that the cost of fuel, fertilizers and pesticides is increasing exponentially every year, all because of our dependence on petroleum products and transport our foods. That time is rapidly approaching an end. We need to start thinking about our local businesses and agriculture. Globalisation is dead because it depends on the availability of petrofuels, aviation fuel in particular. It seems that everyone is clamoring to avoid the slower, agrarian way of life at any cost, which depends on the slow railways and ships. Do not we need to revamp our education system so that we produce more farmers, artisans and traders, rather than people who do not produce something tangible? The exception to this would be the medical community who require a good education. But, as in Russia, a physician need only go to 5 years of medical school without having to attend pre-Med, which is usually a bachelor's degree in a related or unrelated to medicine here in the USA I think we will need to undergo a change in our way of life voluntarily, or we will be forced by the reality of our energy situation. Most alternative energy projects generate electricity, and a much smaller amount than our coal-fired generators. In addition, solar energy is not a steady source of power since the sun does not shine in most places 24/7/365 and will depend on batteries for backup. I have not seen a battery that could compensate for variations in the production of electricity from the sun is not there all the time. At least not at the rate of the United States uses electricity. Oil and gas are a lost cause because of the decreased availability and pollution factors. Transportation of these products will be a problem as the rising cost of fuel and the potential shortage of space. Would it be better to commit ourselves to the kind of education that will help us live the life we will eventually have to live anyway? The Amish community requires only that their children attend school for 8 years. I'm sure we'll need a bit more than perhaps 12 years of high school with an emphasis on trades, agriculture and domestic economy. doctors and assistants who would be what most agrarian communities require.

While I agree with some of what you say I do not agree with some of your assumptions.

There are many people already changing the way they live (See Permaculture and Transition Towns) they are planning energy decent. The oil crisis is a crisis of consumption. As oil prices rise, as oil sands become more difficult to treat, the price of oil will increase, but so will the incentive for people to work and live in different ways. It will not happen overnight, but if it does then there's still a lot of hope (See How Cuba survived Peak Oil) as Cuba has shown the Special Period.

We will not lose the technology nor the expertise we already have, the products will be refurbished and progress will be made quickly so that less materials and energy are used. The skills are transferable and the problems will then be in the world on global markets will be very competitive in seeking solutions.

We will not return to the Stone Age, we will move forward with a new way of thinking, a recognition of how foolish we have been in the past and a much greater need for well educated P.