"Addicted to Oil" Kurt Vonnegut at The Connecticut Forum

[vidaripollen]

he s done more for usa than many.i respect any country which can produce a great humane genius like kurt.V.

love his tragicomedies too much.

[babbleintooblivion]

"I think the world is ending"

I think this almost every day.... Slowly, very slowly Kurt....

[TheNubbbler]

Cold turkey? Sorry, the market doesn't work that way.

[usanewsreport]

focus on the good things in life

[GaryNull]

There's no more oil left in the well, there's no more oil to buy and sell . . .

Ok, GM, create another Hummer.

I hated that peice of shit when I first saw it, as I do most SUV's.

I loved when they had to go out of business and not even China would buy the company HAHAHAHAHA.

America's don't care about conserving anything. But now they are f**ked. They have no choice. Gas is only going up now.

Shame on all the American car makers for making SUV's and the jerks who bought them.

[unholychunk]

@GaryNull so america is the only country who never eally cared on conserving eh ahhh interesting, wrong but interesting

[oldmanmyers]

he was the Mark Twain of the last half of the 20th century

[DustinKoffman]

So it goes. Has anyone told Kigore Trout that Mr. Vonnegut is deceased?

[AirPickles]

I tried getting drunk on petroleum once. BAD IDEA.

[BitHarmony]

I miss him.

[DustinKoffman]

@BitHarmony Me too.

[sashwap]

i get teary eyed listening to this wise old man speak. the world is very lucky to have had him around so long. he was a font of truth and humanity.

[Matt482942]

All young people should be idealists while they can. Hope in humanity is what pushes it forward.

[grimslider75]

meh, I prefer realism, that's what pushes me forward to figure out one day what the hell a human actually is.....

[FukPosers]

i agree with this guy after seeing the movie collapse, it may not happen in the next few years but definitely in the next 50 oil is going to become to expensive for anyone to buy

[theoriginalmrsm]

Vonnegut was obsessed with death because he spent his entire life cheating it. Anyone who knows anything about his life knows that he survived the Dresden firestorm in WWII and that his experiences there colored his world view for life. It is evident that a lot of people here just have an axe to grind with his politics and will say anything, even when it is ignorant and heartless, to try to discredit his political perspective.

[TomUltranova]

Good. Well put, also. He would have been 89 yesterday. Born on Armistice Day 11/11/22--the closest thing the world ever had to an International Day of Peace back then, so awesome for a man who had learned to despise war. He is missed on this blue-green veil of tears, as he called it. Let us all work for Peace in his Name.

[itsjustme2919]

and smoked pall malls that didnt kill him

[chuggs147]

@theoriginalmrsm Not to mention the fact that his mother committed suicide on mother's day when he came home to see her.

[robman8855]

@theoriginalmrsm

i know right.. I also think its funny when people criticize his stance on war

[georgel19841]

I HAVE THE SAME IDEA ,i dont know why you have

-4points ,you hade -5 before me

[LawrenceTheGreat]

actually lots of conservatives/libertarians have been making a fuss about peak oil-- and they are not old, they are stocking up on water, instant noodles, seeds. no need to bring one man's politics into the debate, buddy.

[KaraBear567]

Only a man thinking about death would wish to change "last" to "most recent."

[sephyr242]

Only a man accepting death wouldn't.

[4Dmetricology]

Mr Vonnegut has been "thinking about death" all of his writing life. His "joke" is typical Vonnegut humor. Beautifully depressing.

And in typical ego shattering fashion he is right, the only difference from the dark ages...

It always felt like he had outclassed the Reaper.

[Wisegeorge]

He still had 500 books inside of him. That's all it was, Kurt rules. He thought the world was ending, it was and it will for us all. Focus on Love, if you can, and you can.

[chokerry]

I love him. I LOVE this man. He sees us from the outside looking in. He always played the alien or outsider in the books. He and his ilk have always been able to predict the future 'cause humans are SO predictable. HAHA!! One has to laugh.

[Ramshobraja]

Guess our fatasses will have to learn how to ride bicycles for long distances.

[LilyMama00]

The world lost a great mind when Vonnegut died.

[skepticoz]

MegaFuckwit

Since you are too deluded to comprehend what is and isn't reality, it seems you have blurted out your prediction that oil will never expire, without the slightest smattering of evidence, or even a speculative reason why. It appears you think the worlds reserves of oil are infinite simply because you say so.

Yelling abuse at your president wont make him go away, those things are decided by things called elections. The last election demonstrated that your country disagrees with you.

[SamzIszHere]

A little than half the country.

skepticoz, were you born and raised in America?

[skepticoz]

I am an Aussie, but even from over here we can tell what the result of your elections were.

[SonofBlacula]

Obvious troll is obvious....but still delightfully obtuse. Kudos, and thumbs +

[jspro100]

Fuck yeah! Fuck the environment! I'm gonna take a shit in the water school children drink!

[BaileyLush]

Your shit is biodegradable... Lmao wow.

[macspectrum]

funny how "paying your fair share" is never applied by republicans when it comes to income taxes for rich individuals and corporations so that "regular people" can get national health care

[SkaterSam9]

You're the perfect example of vonnegut's topic.

ADDICTED TO OIL.

[thedaddy9000]

lol

[kushtravels23]

I want to live to at least 100 (centenarian). I'm 25 now. Just to see how things play out-living through history is interesting.

I don't think things will change that much. Someone tell me how things will change. Sometimes I agree with Glenn Beck on global warming.

[bIZAROsPRMN11]

INFORMATION CONTROL = MIND CONTROL

99% of Americans do not know when peak oil production will occur in U.S..

that is an astounding level of mind control.

THOUGHT CONTROL = MIND CONTROL

another PHENOMENAL level of mind control is that nearly 100% of Americans deny their minds are conditioned even after an entire lifetime of television 'programming'.

[Laramas]

We miss you, Kurt. :(

[robotichivemind]

It is more than likely that the government will move to take any remaining sources of fuel in order to act as an effective guardian (no vehicles = no army; troop mobilization is the most basic necessity for an effective military). Seizing those petroleum interests means a restriction on capitalist freedom (can't have free trade interfering with government when civilization is on the line) and bada bing bada boom, fascism.

[biggunsid]

Nicely put. Very succinct.

But wait...that means Obama ISN'T the answer to EVERYTHING.

Great. Now I'm scared.

Jerk.

[mrqateen]

Nobody thinks Obama is the answer to everything. Morons like you just say that about people who voted for him because your suck ass party didn't get elected, because nobody believes the horseshit your candidates spew anymore. "Hope" isn't a guarantee, it was just a motto telling you that you might want to give something else a try. What he does might work if you pull your head out of your ass and look at other options.

[biggunsid]

Yeah, there's this device in the English language I think you need to become acquainted with...

IT'S CALLED SARCASM, YOU MORON.

Jesus. You should be ashamed to go out of doors with that brain. And that's NOT sarcasm.

[robotichivemind]

Imagine if all plastic production ended (which is what the removal of petroleum products would cause). That means no safe packaging for food, or effective means of shipping said food. Ditto for medical supplies, heat, troop deployment, and power.

So what we're looking at (based on the laws of supply and demand) is a huge increase in the demand for petroleum based products, as it serves as the force which sustains modern western culture.

(See Following Comment)

[robotichivemind]

Directed at andysnadden:

I think saying "The world is going to end" is a comment on modern civilization. And yes, when we run out of fossil fuels, that will go right out the window. We don't have any kind of viable fuel replacement, despite having had years to figure something out, not because solutions don't exist, but because we are unwilling to use them.

And honestly, we haven't survived worse in this culture. (See Following comment)

[ColdRoses]

uh, what?

[peterharanas]

I quickly looked down and saw people taking shots at the greatest observer of the 20th century; not to mention a war hero. It is a lifetime's worth of information and extreme intelligence, if you don't agree you're probably related to a college dropout like Mr. Limbaugh.

[lhogdk69]

Ya, a college drop out who is proven right more than any media corespondent, professor, and expert that is show on news channels. Oh, and he lots more wealthy than them too. Not bad for a drop out :)

[peterharanas]

I really don't think you can back up him being "proven right" more than the hundreds of people you reference. And if you think wealth is an indicator of intelligence, then you are probably 'stupid rich.'

[lhogdk69]

Calm down...simple proves that you do not need to be called an "expert" by who knows who to really know what is going on. It is called " common sense"...yeah, that one that you probably lack of...sorry but...I have no idea what you are talking about. Where did you find that relation between wealth as an indicator of intelligence?...hummm! , you need some help here! Good luck next time...

[AuroraBoredom]

Please take a few philosophy classes and read up on critical thinking because all your false validation is making me even more remorseful at my own tragic species.

[DirtyYogurt]

i honestly can't understand why a single person would try to talk down about this man. just on this first page of comments its nothing but douches trying to act smarter than this man, and a few good people coming to his defense.

[lhogdk69]

um, because he is wrong and does not know what he is talking about.

[Dumnut415]

stop being a pretentious ass

[TrooperRaven]

I do not understand the urge, that plagues many liberals, to repeatedly employ the ellipsis in comments.

[cclayton6]

I... urge... liberals, to repeatedly comment....

OK! Great suggestion T...Rave....

I gather that the only error in Mr. Vonnegut's comments was regarding whether this was his most recent book or his last book.

His message to the future generations is classic Vonnegut--"Please accept our apologies." This gentle man has *always* had messages for future generations. That is who he was, and I am grateful for the insights he has given me over the years.

[TrooperRaven]

Those on the Left, including self-loathing Jews, like to use the term 'neo-con' as code for one whom they consider to be a 'turncoat Jew'. In the Leftist mind, such a Jew is guilty of treason against the Left, much as a black is accused of being an 'Uncle Tom' for adopting conservative views.

The mind of the Left (since it is a collective mind) is a tortuous thing.

[TrooperRaven]

I liked Vonnegut's writing when I was a kid, but then I grew up. His constant hand wringing over Dresden made me nauseous.

Terminally ill at the time this video was made, and with little more than two months left to live, this embittered old man could find nothing else to occupy his mind than America's dependency on oil?

Typical unrepentant Leftist screed. Like Josef Stalin, he shakes his fist at the heavens as he draws his final breath. Pathetic.

[rvwatch]

Please... You let us know when you have a thought in that clearly retarded mind of yours that is anywhere near as insightful as a fart that Vonnegut let out while laughing about fools like you... Sad.

[gug1970]

I thought i'd heard a few idiots in my time. Thats one more i guess.

[jerandai]

jackass,

he was talking about america's dependency on oil because he was *asked* about it.

[TrooperRaven]

Exactly. And it was toward the content of Vonnegut's answer that I directed my comment.

[flagsandstaff]

I hope those other authors on stage realize how immensely fortunate they were to share space with Kurt Vonnegut. I think the one to Mr. Vonnegut's left di, I'm not so sure about the lady to his right.

[andysnadden]

Kurt proves you can be a great writer while still not being particularly smart. Yes we're addicted to oil, and no the world is not going to end. And yes, we will discover new sourses of energy. And even if we don't, the world will simply change, it wont end. We have survived much worse things. Kurt is an extremist with his statements, which makes for compelling prose, but it's not so good when trying to discuss factual reality.

[TrooperRaven]

Well said.

[zakkmiester]

Kurt's up in heaven now.

[whatiwasgoingtosay]

Haha... Oh, how I miss that man.

[jpl7777]

Holy shit you people who are getting on here... you should know who this guy is. He's not just another pundit... this is Kurt Vonnegut, and he's written some of the greatest books of the 20th century. Slaughterhouse-5, his book, is about the bombing of Dresden in WW2, in which 60,000 people burned alive and which he saw first hand.

Hold off on the insults, this guy is owed some respect... big time.

[zakkmiester]

Vonnegut is the bomb!

What's your favorite book by him?

Mine's Breakfast of Champions

[vicepresidentfru1tly]

The world will sorely miss his wisdom...

[MezzwidMe22]

God Bless u Kurt !!

[IBERJEN]

Addicted to oil? Addicted to drugs/gay-sex flag- burning/food/the internet/.......anything else?

[euphoria2890]

ignorance...thats wat u're addicted to IBERJEN

[IBERJEN]

Yes.....and you're soooooo enlightened at your advanced age.Another teenage SAGE on the internet.

[euphoria2890]

While I do agree that with age comes wisdom, I have to also point out a fact to you, my dear friend. As you probably may know, from viewing my profile, I live in the United States of America. From this you may concur that I am informed about what goes on in my country. I attend school here, I read the newspapers and from this I infer that the United States seems to be indeed addicted to oil.

[euphoria2890]

Why else would there be needless bombings of daycares and schools in a foreign country that happens to be swimming in oil. Sure.weapons of mass destruction but to my understanding, following the events of 911, 935 false statements on Iraqs threat to the United States were made by the Bush administration. How many people have died needlessly? So it goes. Ill let you do the math. I dont know if you are astute enough to understand what I mean.

[euphoria2890]

By all means, continue to swim in ignorance, but really, all it takes is a little awareness

[IBERJEN]

I'll swim in my ignoranceinstead of the "FILTH" you swim in But-fucker!

[SocialAutism]

Lol. Sounds like we have a neo-con on our hands.

[IBERJEN]

Wow...Neo-con....another word for Jew.What a Nazi!

[SocialAutism]

Actually, I don't see how neo-con explicitly applies to Jews, or implies Jewish heritage at all. Lol, apparently, you're the one spouting racist advocation.

[IBERJEN]

Neo-Con is synonymous with conservative Jew in today's political climate.....

[andysnadden]

Tough shit. If you support that agenda then you deal with the stigma attached to it. Its a negative term because of the the attibutes of its policy positions and beliefs, not for any racial reasons.

[IBERJEN]

Piss- off but-fucking self-loatheing commie!

[Moonunit02]

This is Kurt Vonnegut, perhaps the greatest writer of the 20th century, you quick-judging twit. Read his work before making bold accusations, please.

[spooner2020]

@Moonunit02 You said 'perhaps' which is fair enough. But consider, James Joyce, George Orwell, H G Wells, D H Lawrence, G.B. Shaw, Wilfred Owen and Virginia Woolf.

[irnmaidendan]

you better not be talking about vonnegut, he is the greatest writer ever you aret the fag

[jayaism]

I was THERE. It was amazing.

[kerednotsdib]

I agree with an earlier poster. You Americans had a real national treasure in Kurt Vonnegut. I am English so divided from you by a common language ;) Vonnegut was my inspiration as a teenager. RIP you are sorely missed on this side of "the pond" too.

[SzGabor80]

Kurt is in heaven now ;)

[ds1w]

we're here on earth to fart around and don't let anyone tell you any different

[sharktribe]

oh please

[DFkilljoy]

i just started reading this book this week im a quarter of the way in and i must say i dont really get what hes trying to say about bokonon.

what is bokonon can anyine help me out here

[m4lvolio]

niggers

[Bremerxxx]

Vonnegut was a brilliant man. Please, if anyone has the opportunity: read A Man Without A Country. Kurt expands on his thoughts, dealing with society, humanity, morality, and so on.

[MattieCooper]

A brilliant artist!!!

[fantagor]

Kurt was right. Our addiction will end the world, as we know it. Think of it as world v12334433.0. The earth is very old and unlike humans, it has no prejudice against change. More likely than not, it has BIG plans which exclude humans. The earth is a forward thinking entity. Humans, no so much.

Randy

[lovetrumpshate]

Kurt Vonnegut is my hero. RIP.

[rpetty]

what a crank

[cosmusical]

It's so much easier to put a single, primitive, meaningless word on somebody that to make any effort at understanding them, isn't it?

Expand your mind or hold your tongue, comrade.

[rpetty]

whatever

[cosmusical]

And so my head explodes...

[socaslimjim13]

ah indifference. sweet, sweet indifference.

[m4lvolio]

Well, as long as the internets hold out...

[youtert]

We'll drive battery-powered cars run on nukes if we have to. Things might get worse but the world isn't ending.

[grosucelmic]

good one... "Things might get worse but the world isn't ending." - quite possible. The thing is, are you willing to see how bad is it going to get?

[Shipskeel]

Atheists and agnostics are probably in a better position to know God because they have questioned what God is. They have seen the truth that God is not some great father figure in the sky to fear. They have seen the trouble such a nonsensical notion has caused for the world and have renounced all of it. What happens? They are more loving and accepting of the greater whole, and ironically, they are more Godlike than God-fearing people will ever understand.

[ColdRoses]

Ya know, not all atheists are nice people, many are complete assholes. Similarly not all Christians are quacks who have latched onto an adult fairy tale. Stop generalizing

[maynz911]

pretty sure evryone at some point in their lives questions God, even if they are devoted to him, its normal

[NGS712]

They just don't make writers like they used to. Another valuable resource that has run out.

[VinceDfromNYC]

Kurt Vonnegut, God bless 'em.

[SilentHobo]

Kurt is up in heaven now.

[johnnyfatsac]

Sorry SilentHobo, Kurt is an atheist, but maybe your comment was tongue-in-cheek.

"And if I ever die, God forbid, I hope you will say, "Kurt is up in heaven now", that's my favorite joke." Kurt Vonnegut 1922 - 2007

[Guns1in9er]

I was just about to post that as well.

[meganluke]

"-- I think the world is ending"

[billionbucks]

Very good

[calicatty123]

So it goes.

[CTFORUM]

The Connecticut Forum is saddened by the loss of former panelist and American literary giant, Kurt Vonnegut.  The Forum extends its thoughts to Vonnegut's family and fans.

[Marahdance]

so it goes

[laceup1967]

God bless you Mr. Vonnegut. Good bye and give my regards to you know who!

[herbdade]

rest in peace Kurt!

[kcali009]

We americans never sufficiently realized what a national treausre you were.  I hope the next generation's mainstream will appreciate you too.