good post now what.I can imagine the various howls of protest...

good post now what.
I can imagine the various howls of protest from quite a few oil dependant economies if the major wastage and price driver of hydrocarbon derived products, transportation by automobile/truck, has some real comptetitive alternatives.

Israel seems to be on the forefront of the development a number of new techonolgies. I remember reading an article a while ago about how many ex-military Israelis were spawning many extremely succesful technology startups.
Their success was attributed, at least in part, to the outstanding training, discipline and can-do attitude that apparently seems to be common in at least some sections of the Israeli military.
I guess there is probably also significant government support for such entrepreneuralism as well.

When you compare the level of development in nearby countries, it is hard not to be both astounded and worried by how easily all of us could slide back into the middle ages if the various loonies have even part of their way.