Blackout

Today's Topic: A "What If?" Scenario

I was sitting at home the other night, completely annoyed that the power had gone out. Apparently, I wasn't the only one calling Hydro One. The lady on the other end noted that 4700 other homes in the area were out. When I was sitting at home, in the dark, with no appliances buzzing, no radio going or not a even a dead cell phone to charge, it occurred to me that our society has no safety net whatsoever and cannot survive in the modern day world that we have built without electricity. On the contrary, it's something that we can't live without.

So the question comes up, are all of these third world countries further ahead? By not relying on electricity, some would say yes. But, electricity creates the hot water we crave so much. And that hot water also insures that we don't get diseases like malaria. I'm really on the fence with this one. I hate that I have to rely on hydro and have no other option and what a wonderful monopoly Hydro One has set up. I also love that Hydro has a debt retirement charge...a 12 dollar a month charge for mismanagement in the company many years before I started paying my own hydro bill.

With Hollywood always seeming to produce "end of the world" movies, I thought I would take a stab at a "What If?" scenario today, detailing our days following a massive electrical threat. South Park took a stab at this one with their season 12 episode "Over Logging" where they detailed a scenario involving a worldwide shutdown without Internet. It was brilliant.

Imagine if you will a permanent black out. No more light switch. No more fridge, no stove, no heater, etc etc etc. And it would happen on the hottest day of the year. So forget about your air conditioning. Well, break out that canned food at the back of your pantry! But wait, do you have an electric can opener or manual? I'm okay, I have a manual. But hurry and get to the grocery store or Wal Mart because they will be SOLD OUT. While you're at the grocery store, you better stock up and make sure to bring cash because remember; debit and credit are powered by the good folks at hydro one. Next on the to do list is filling up with gas. Expect a long line because that is going to be the next thing on short supply.

Okay, so I'm giving it about three weeks before massive chaos ensues. The generators that you were running only go for so long on the same take of diesel fuel. And its going to be tough to extract any for awhile. Food instantly becomes a massive demand. Tomatoes cost $12. Lettuce costs $15. Grapes are $7. Peaches are $14. Cookies....now those will be at least $25 for a long time. Yes I'm guessing a bit, but would it really be that unrealistic?

I think you have to ask yourself though if this ever happened, would you survive? Are you trapped in a lifestyle where you rely on one device all the time. People make their cell phone their life. Take that away, and most are back in the stone age. Take away your routine and you will realize how much we act like robots. Light on, light off. Click remote on, click remote off. Don't forget that this electrical power, this strong grasp... it controls what you are reading right now, this screen that you're looking at, it controls you. It's an almighty power that is making your hands and eyes sore.

Yes, thousands would die. Life would be in ruins. But as long as the light switch still flicks on, all will be calm. So please, the next time you hear about an alternate way to power up the television, at least perk your ears up and dig your head out of the sand. Without trying to sound too much like we need to "save the world", remember that this electrical power is a gift. Your cozy life that you have wouldn't be able to go without it.