Quote:
Originally Posted by Olympiadis
Am I wrong in how I'm judging my observations here?
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Possibly, and here is why:
I would say 99% (hyperbole) of the fuel consumption in the United States is by people who are doing absolutely nothing the fix, change, overhaul, or upgrade the infrastructure. They have fallen into a lazy lifestyle that seems safe and stable. Let me outline this in terms of time:
Some of the youngest members on this forum may not remember what it was like to use a typewriter, a rotary phone, or possibly even a land line. They might not remember a time when there were no cellphones and no internet.
Some slightly older members might remember a time before digital cable, VCRs, microwave ovens, etc.
Some even older members might have actually grown up without a TV, and possibly without electricity or running water.
However, it is unlikely that any members on this forum were alive before fossil-fuel vehicles were almost ubiquitous.
In fact, most of those things that we, today, enjoy as a society were brought to us and made possible by fossil fuel. Very few people alive today can image a life without fossil fuels. The members of this forum, as a community, are FAR more knowledgeable than the average American, and I'd dare say that the members of this forum might be more knowledgeable than professionals who actually work in and advise on energy consumption and regulation.
Basically, what I am saying is that most Americans can't even comprehend what life would be like if fuel became a luxury item; if cars were no longer a viable option for getting from point A to point B; and if electricity alone cost a quarter to half of their paychecks. Humans, by their nature, are reactive, not proactive. One day, very soon, people are going to wake up to $10, $15, and $20 per gallon gas prices, and I'm not sure how the general public is going to react. Most likely, they will play the part of the victim, scream out loud about "Why is this happening!?!", and wonder why they didn't see it coming sooner. Well, they could have, but they chose ignorance instead. And these same ignorant people are burning through the cheap, easy fuel faster than the infrastructure to replace fossil fuels can be put in place.