*** The fact is, petroleum-based society is facing a sure decline, and unless we revitalise our economy with real investments in our own future, we and our children certainly face a world of less and less opportunity, and could in fact be facing a civilisation-threatening collapse.  ***

Amen. But unfortunately as long as oil continues to flow freely, and relatively inexpensively, there will be little demand from individuals demanding an alternative. We both know Exxon is in no big rush to invest any of their enormous profits into such a venture without the hope of additional profits in the not too distant future. You're right. We do have the brainpower in this country to develope an alternative energy source but, today, we just don't have the motivation or the desire. We've become fat, comfortable and complacent. In the past, we've always come through when we've been backed up against the wall. But right now OPEC has us backed up against the wall and blindfolded; and we don't even know it. Necessity is the mother of invention and until OPEC turns off the spigot, we'll be content to just sit on our hands and wait for the inevitable.