MasterPI

I would compare (most) modern development to repairing a car engine.

You don't need to know the concepts of material engineering or thermodynamics to be able to repair it. You just learn the functioning of an engine and the tools you need.

> It's also difficult (impossible) to curb demand for housing if housing is far and away the best investment you can possibly make, both in the short, medium, and long-term.

With the population numbers in decline in the west (especially Europe), will there be enough demand in the medium and long-term for housing?

I doubt the world would have been able to enjoy such a technological progress in general without oil to even have computers and be able to post comments on here for example.

Not denying that the oil industry hasn't got any sins.

I think this had more to do with the Iron Curtain than poverty.

I think it has to do with the humidity of the air.

Exaclty. I just made a similar comment down below saying that some people choose a car with their heart not their head.

It's not all just status. There are people that appreciate the handling and the performance they get driving a BMW. I bought a second hand BMW because I wanted a car that I'd enjoy driving, didn't care about the social status at all.

:) Please specify when you talk about small diesels. Non of that 0-40 acceleration is true for the 535 I mentioned in my previous comment.

> pervasive pea soup of diesel smog

How do you know it's smog caused by diesel? LA has suffered (don't know how is it today) for years from smog and the majority of the vehicles there are petrol. I mean you can't blame it all on diesel.