So. Here in Australia, petrol prices are going up faster than iron ore being lifted onto a Chinese freighter, and the cost of putting a roof over our head is moving as fast as natural gas shooting down the pipeline to Japan.

Headlines repeat the IEA warning of a major "Supply Crunch" in the near future (as distinct from what we have right now - which, presumably, is just a minor “Supply Crackle”). Fuel costs and climate problems have driven food prices so high that the most common holiday job for university students this Christmas is likely to be riding shotgun on the Christmas food deliveries.

Oh.... and our politicians are arguing about a five cent fuel excise. Five cents. Petrol is on track to hit $2.00 a litre before Christmas, and politicians are debating a one-off five cent cut as if it was, well, relevant.

Our politicians don’t seem to grasp the nature and magnitude of the problem. Is it a conspiracy? Or are they just stupid? I am going to argue that it is a problem with numbers.