by Stephanie Brail

Here in America, we live in a consumerist society that depends on people spending money to keep the economy going. And with a recession looming, it's often portrayed as downright anti-American not to spend.

Yet, with concerns over global warming building, many Americans are calling for a new kind of patriotism: voluntary simplicity.

The movement for voluntary simplicity (or simple living) is still somewhat under the radar, but it is growing in strength. The basic philosophy is to “downshift” from a high-pressure, high-cost lifestyle to one that is more spiritual, humble, and less materialistic.

by Stephanie Brail

The mainstream media has dropped the ball on this one, but the big story is this: Gas prices are going higher because we are running out of oil. That's it. There's no conspiracy among the oil companies to gouge you - oil is more expensive because the demand is high but the supply is dwindling. Basic Econ 101.

Please read this Peak Oil Primer to understand what is going on.

There is no easy solution to this issue. We can try to drill for new sources of oil, but those types of drilling are expensive, not just cost-wise, but environmentally. America has already hit its oil peak; this is why we are so concerned with securing the Middle East because we are indeed dependent on them to secure our lifestyles. No alternative exists (yet) that can be mass-produced and cheap enough to replace oil.