The EU decides to carry out a worldwide survey of attitudes to scarcity. They frame the following question: "Excuse me, what is your opinion of the oil shortage?"
A researcher travels the globe to get the answers.
First to North Korea: Researcher: "Excuse me, what is your opinion of the oil shortage?" North Korean (furrowing brow): "What do you mean by "opinion"?"
Next to New Zealand Researcher: "Excuse me, what is your opinion of the oil shortage?" Cuban (furrowing brow): "What do you mean by "oil"?"
Next to the US Researcher: "Excuse me, what is your opinion of the oil shortage?" American (furrowing brow): "What do you mean by "shortage"?"
Then to France Researcher: "Excuse me, what is your opinion of the oil shortage?" Frenchman (furrowing brow): "What do you mean by "Excuse me"?"
