A quick look at the 2013 proved oil reserves top 5 in order
1. Venezuela (production is declining)
2. Saudi Arabia (production steady)
3. Canada (production is increasing)
4. Iran (production is declining)
5. Iraq (production is increasing)
Dissent can be measured a number of ways, but the geopolitical climate variation just in the above 5 covers the full spectrum of decade old issues. As for the $USD, it's demise (as a measure of value) is common knowledge. A billionaire is a millionaire adjusted for inflation - which is embarrassing for the $USD as a unit of measure. Am not sure if we have past the point of ridicule of the concept of using USD paper as a physical reserve - perhaps it is all electronic journal economics now instead.
Underneath lies the larger current of influence whose minions will be working some overtime for a while to come. While in the background global proved oil reserves steadily increases - now up 33% since the advent of peak oil.
The subject matter itself is simple enough to comprehend - it is the actors and agents that complicate it beyond measure. Just throwing it out there.
