As someone once observed, the Stone Age did not end because we ran out of stones, and the Petroleum Age is not going to end because we ran out of petroleum. Rather, needs and technologies will change. In fact, they are already changing, or have changed, because of the unintended consequences — that is to say, your friends “energy dependence” and “climate change”.
The way out of our troubles? One option is to become modern Stone Age families. Yes, we’re the Flintstones, or might be. And Bedrock may well be the destination toward which our culture is marching. Let me explain.