It’s a bit heavy to read, but basically it helps show why peak oil is such a difficult concept for people to acknowledge – difficult enough for the public, even more so for politicians who have always been successful on the basis of promising more prosperity (however that is defined), in the future. Reasons given – translated into simpler English – are:
We’ve never had anything like peak oil before (people have no experience of anything like this so are reluctant to believe in it);
We need to take avoiding action before bad effects of peak oil are anywhere to be seen (why take action which can mean inconvenience and cost when there is no visible need);
The variability in the predicted date of peak oil (why do anything now, why not wait);
“The predicted aversiveness of peak oil� (effects of doing nothing in advance, may be very bad or they may not);
We’ve had no previous opportunity to lean how to avoid the consequences of peak oil.