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There is a legitimate argument about the right versus the left when it comes to petroleum and conservation though.
The right has historically ridiculed the left for calling for conservation, and this round of politics is no different.
Jimmy Carter was thoroughly ridiculed for his energy policies even though he faced an energy crisis that was 2-4 times as severe as the current energy crisis. A lot of people here might not remember 1977, I do. If this were 1977 gas would cost $8 a gallon and most gas stations would be out of gas.
Let's review his energy policy "failures" that made his Presidency to be widely considered a failure by the right.
He said that the spike in oil prices was temporary and the reduction of oil consumption by the US would drive the cost back down. He was right. That happened back then and is happening now.
He said that military action in the Middle East would only drive oil prices higher. He was right. Both Iraq wars have lead to higher oil prices.
Here is what "hung" him. He said that the American people should turn their thermostats down 2 degrees in order to conserve energy and reduce demand for foreign oil. That was blasphemy at the time.
We had won WW2 but had lost Korea and Vietnam and we were still in denial. America still thought that we could fix this problem militarily. America still thinks this way even though we can't control Iraq or Afghanistan much less the other 90% of the Middle East.
He said that the way to relieve our dependence on foreign countries beyond our control was to require 30mpg cars, double pane windows and flourescent light bulbs. At that point he became a laughing stock - a joke. That joke doesn't seem so funny anymore, does it?
Of course Al Gore is a joke too and should be ridiculed as well. The future and the past is only 4-8 years long and it is blasphemy to cast a longer gaze on our country and our history and our future.
Preaching conservation is a rocky road in America. The right doesn't like it and they will ridicule and dismiss anyone who does so - even though time is historically on their side.
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