.."These energy survivalists are not leading some sort of green revolution meant to save the planet. Many of them believe it is too late for that, seeing signs in soaring fuel and food prices and a faltering U.S. economy, and are largely focused on saving themselves."

ed.z.: Pikers! No imagination! I am a peak *everything* preparer ;) I admit though that oil and water are the two biggees. Governments and corporations can try all they want, but you can't just print up or create in a database more oil and water and call it reality. I'll also admit their "carbon credits" created "asset" is an amazing attempt to do just that though, they have created the lack of something*, declared ownership and governance over it, and given it a numerical value of alleged worth so that it can be traded "on the market". It is truly mind boggling, but they are doing it. Like we don't have enough various "bubbles" in the economy already as it is, or more wealth dilution for that matter.

a little sidways drift here*** carbon credits assign so much a ton for released carbon, and conversely, if you do stuff like let the trees grow that were going to grow in the first place you are now worth so much an acre for sucking in carbon.. Well double duh, this is the carbon based planet, we are carbon based life forms, without carbon, "we" as we know us wouldn't exist. There is NO WAY in heck that human civilization proceeds without using carbon. Just ain't happening. So what do they do? Start a war on carbon! We are all supposeed to hold guns to each other's heads and say "You're a bad person, you use carbon!". Ridiculous.

There's a much easier solution, because it is based on simple psychology, and all governments out there can help solve this carbon "problem" with another form of credit called an income tax credit. Give 100% tax credits (or dang close) for those technologies that use carbon a little more wisely and that's it, problem will be solved as much as humans can solve it in short order. The carbon credit approach is the stick, a big heavy stick with nails in it, a form of aggressive and punishing tax and a drag on the economy when it is most unwelcome, whereas most humans appreciate the carrot method much more and it is much more effective. The problem there is, and why governments don't like it is they can't keep holding that stick over you, which is the real goal of carbon credits, a more locked down and less free society, along with the aforementioned created out of thin air bubble/speculator market that does nothing much at all except siphon off mega dollars out of the general population so they can gamble with it.

OK...some theoretical examples. Say they want to reduce use of coal for electricity, and solar PV is one of many alternatives that uses a lot less carbon. Slap an immediate price freeze on solar panels at so much dollars per rated watt or better at such and such a date and time (to stop artificial price inflation and encourage R&D for the companies that make them), then offer 100% tax credits to consumers for them, say up to 10 grand a tax payer over a 5 year period. How many more solar rigs would go up on roofs once it is more or less free, money that was coming out of your wallet already no matter what? Another, too much co2 and co going into the atmosphere, cars that get dismal mileage, etc., too much petroleum use. Joe government offers 50% full purchase credit, again, five years (typical loan period), for any auto that gets better than a true 50 MPG combined, with an outside cap of total purchase price around 15 grand, meaning for the driver he gets a new ride for $7500 that doesn't break the bank at the pump. How fast would dee-troit stop whining they can't even do a fleet average 35 MPG and put cars out there that could do that 50? Sure, maybe not everyone would want one, but I'd wager serious coin that market would be *huge*. You never know until you try it, look at the asus eeepc. Any of the big boys could have built one, but they didn't, now they all are. Look at hybrid cars, any of them could have long ago, the concept is old and in use with locomotives and heavy equipment, but now that the prius is a success, they all are getting into it. Add in a little economic frosting on top of that green cake and it would really go. Look at normal household appliances, they all have energy star ratings now. Suppose they offered a rebate tax credit for any such appliances that did double whatever the top ratings are now? How fast before they turned the engineers and the brains loose? Apply the same sort of deal across the board, housing, buildings, lighting, transportation, etc, all of the above. How about just commuting in general? Why not offer permanent tax breaks both personal and corporate for those that can stay home and work over the net? What is cheaper and greener, moving electrons or humans? Don't *punish* people for being thrifty, clean and green, *reward* them. Carrot or stick, choose.