The Oil Drum asks

What do we do without all of the things that are made from petroleum?.

"How do we make a transition to getting along without hydrocarbons?" That strikes me as an irresponsible question. Even if petroleum is at a peak, no one can say that the decline is a cliff or a slope. The only thing is certain is that is might (yes that's about as certain as we are) get more expensive in the near term and that portable fuel may even get cheaper in the longer term. You yourself suggest a "transition" so it's alarmist to talking about "getting along" as if we will have none. All those folks who are hopeful that "western civilization" may collapse may also be mistaken. Does that mean that we have serious issues? Of course, Yes!Of course! But the blanket assumption that we will be "getting along without hydrocarbons" is not founded on fact or even educated guess.