As already repeatedly pointed out by other posters, while it’s appropriate to be outraged with BP, it’s even more appropriate to be outraged with ourselves, and our inability to develop a sustainable long-term energy policy in the U.S. Even something simple like a $1-a-gallon gas tax (whose revenues could go to developing alternative energy, paying down our federal debt, and offsetting the economic burden on low-income drivers) is a political non-starter. We are a nation of self-centered, self-absorbed consumers who do not understand the concept of personal sacrifice for anything bigger than ourselves.

But even a sustainable energy policy is undercut by population. As long as the U.S. and the global population continue to grow, any progress made in reducing per-capita energy consumption will be erased within a decade or two by more capita. We need to face up to some inconvenient truths. I’m afraid I’m not optimistic.
Stephanie Mcnealy