Paint, computer and television screens, mobile phones, light bulbs, cushions, paper, mattresses, car seats, carpets, steering wheels and polyesters are all made with materials derived from refined oil and natural gas. They’re all going to cost twice as much. If oil was $30 a few years ago and now it’s more than four times as much, well, there will be a lag and some belt tightening, but eventually the costs will be passed on.
This sounds depressing and ominous, but I sense that one’s quality of life is not actually tied to these goods, and is certainly not tied to the automobile and all the roads and services it’s demanded for almost a century. US commuters, for example, will probably blame the Arab world, but will also look for alternate solutions, like decent public transportation, and living closer to their place of work, which is also a good thing.
In fact, after some very nasty times we could — if we don’t let our anger and pain get the better of us — emerge with a better quality of life than what we have now.
“I know a lot of people who sit on the sidelines and complain about how everything goes down and they’re not willing to stick their neck out and get involved in process,” Fairey said. “It’s easy to criticise, but I saw Obama give a speech at the 2004 democratic convention and thought this is a politician who is saying something I want to hear.” Fairey’s poster is part of Artists for Obama, described by the campaign as “art and merchandise donated to the campaign by the artists to help us raise money and grow our movement”. Although his poster is currently sold out, this one by Scott Hansen is still available.
