Peak Oil and Social Security Privatization

[neonplaque]

As there has been so much discussion of 'Peak Oil' in the news and blogosphere lately, I wonder if anyone has considered what impact this will have on the financial markets during the coming decades?

How will Peak Oil impact the financial markets? How will Peak Oil impact stocks and retirement accounts invested in stocks? Are the 'historical rate of returns' of stocks an honest forecast given the impact the looming energy crisis will have on all industries?

Given the very rough road we have ahead to meet this crisis, would anyone want to invest their current government guaranteed benefits into the stock market?

Anyone here with a better understanding of economics and the free-markets who might better gauge the impact of the energy crisis is going to have on society and personal finances?

Which 'crisis' is more critical? Social Security or Peak Oil/Energy?

any thoughts?

[RaulGroom]

1. no, no, you've got it all wrong

Peak Oil is just some crazy conspiracy theory. We'll never run out of oil - it's infinite, like water or topsoil.

Social Security, now there's a crisis. Did you know if you extend the system out to infinity and beyond, it runs out of money when the earth plummets into the sun? How will old people pay their cable bill after that? Huh?

[12345]

2. Maybe Social Security privatization will help stabilize the

stock market?

I don't know much about the market myself, but as I read about privatization, I keep coming back to that thought. Imagine, all of a sudden, having billions of new investments in the stock market that are cumbersome to move around, or even somewhat controlled as to where they can be invested, and that can't just be pulled out...I know that I've read that 401k's have stabilized the markets to some extent because they aren't pulled out as easily.

Also, it seems like it's giving a lot of cash to companies that are increasingly in debt and have bad credit?

Just a thought for what it's worth (not much).

[liberal N proud]

4. Imagine all the Wall Street investment firms getting a chunk of

your social security check!
That is what Social Security Piratization is all about.
Peak Oil is about justifying the bu$h doctrine of drilling in ANWAR and jacking the price of oil sky high.

[12345]

5. I haven't missed that point

Just been thinking about other potential "benefits" of privatization..

[liberal N proud]

7. If you are on the side where you will make money from the

piratized accounts, they you can see a benefit. but those who are not are screwed.
This whole Social Security scam was conceived to help the investment buddies of as it appears KKKarl Rove and dickless cheney to get their hands on the money set aside to assist us in our retirement. I for one don't want more people dipping their grubby little fingers into what little I already will be expected to live on when I am old.
At the rate things are going now, I don't expect I will ever actually retire, just change jobs.

[aneerkoinos]

3. End of Capitalism

It's not a very complicated thing. Capitalism is based on axiom continuous economic growth, that has been possible by increasingly excessive use of natural resources and especially cheap and abundant energy.

Peak Oil (and Peak NG) mean end of cheap and abundant energy and decades of negative economic growt, and Capitalistic system simply cannot survive a long period of negative growth. And not preparing in advance for the global PO means that the scenario of hard landing (=crush) is most likely, very abrupt and violent changes ahead, especially in the US because it drops from the highest position.

So after the crush, after the end of Capitalism, what are them stocks things you are talking about? ;)

Social security starts at communal level, people working for the good of the community and taking care of each other, providing for all the members. Same as it ever was.

[izzie]

6. Where are the Am. who thought up new things?

Like how to live with out cheap oil? Germans and Fr. have been working on it for years. Also what to do with the waste in the world. Have we just got to love money so we can not think any more. Think about it. That is where the money will be for our grand children. What to do with the waste we produce and to save the world we live on.

[demgrrrll]

8. Wolcott has a fascinating link in one of his very recent posts about

what the world will be like without all the oil we have today. It is fascinating and scary too. I have to get going or I would link the article myself but it is a great read if you are interested in what may happen.

[neonplaque]

9. This article?

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/7203633?rnd=1111860430596

Excerpt from "The Long Emergency" - What's going to happen as we start running out of cheap gas to guzzle? By JAMES HOWARD KUNSTLER

I had read that article, and several others on the subject -- which lead to my posting this thread...

Specificly, forgetting all other arguments, is investing SS in private accounts going to be a huge losing gamble given this coming energy crisis?

[demgrrrll]

10. Yes that is the one. I wondered what it might be like when we run out of

oil. Scary stuff. Thanks for the link.