Bazz,
So, can you give a summation? Also, is the book imported?

Vanna,
Rubin's central point in his book is that as oil prices rise the
effect on freight costs will gradually increase the cost of international
freight. This can already be seen in the US in the re-establishment of
furniture and steel manufacturing. First products to be affected are
lower value bulky and heavy products.

I don't know if we have seen any affect here yet.
I did read just a few days ago that container ships are running at
reduced speeds to save fuel. If a voyage from China to Europe takes
an extra week that must add to cost.
I have only seen a couple of books on sale in Australia on this subject.
This is the link to the page on Amazon.
http://tinyurl.com/2flxkkj

Do a search on Utube, there are several talks he has given at various
conferences.
Everything, especially food, will become increasingly local.
As they say, the days of the 2000Km salad are coming to an end.

Yes, but some US data I have for 2009 suggests that the cost of shipping a tv across continents was down to $10 each. The cost would have to increase a fair bit before tv production in the West became more attractive in a world of open trade.

Bazza,
I don’t think rising oil prices will stop the mentality of import, import, import in this country. That mentality is now so deeply entrenched.

Jeff Rubin’s book, Amazon and Utube are all US based, and through importation, our culture is now becoming American culture.

Is that a good thing?

Well, one of the funniest things I see, is when I see a longhaired, bearded, tattooed bicky riding around on a Harley Davidson. They seem to think it tough to ride on a bike imported from the US.

Why don’t they build an Australian bike and ride around on it?

Because they’re too sooky.

*Why don’t they build an Australian bike and ride around on it?*

Why would they want to do that Vanna? Why reinvent the wheel?

If you think they should, you are free to invest your hard earned
savings and do exactly that. But I can't see a good reason for
doing so. Best to stick to things where we have a comparative
advantage

Yabby,
The longhaired, bearded, tattooed bickies riding around in Australia on Harley Davidsons, are now more American than they are Australian.

Maybe they should live in America.