As far as energy use, we Americans have had a pretty appalling record during the modern era. We use more energy per capita than any nation on earth; we are coming very very late to the conservation, renewables and sustainability party. And Republican candidates for president have lately provided no signs of easing off of their “drill, baby, drill,” use-not-save, red-meat mentality.
A recent survey by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, funded by the Joyce Foundation might show some cause for optimism. The AP reports that:
“…energy, especially in a weak economy, is prominently on people’s minds — and may explain why it’s being talked about in the presidential campaign. Nearly 8 in 10 called energy deeply important to them, trumping concerns about the federal deficit and the environment.”
If true, is this the sign of a positive change in Americans’ consciousness or just a pre-summer, pre-election blip? It’s hard to know, but I’ll remain skeptical as long as I continue to see idiots like this (see below) on the road.
[Thanks to The Bliss Index for posting this photo, as a joke. Hahaha. A truck spewing toxic chemicals into the environment for our kids to breathe. Really funny. Get it?]
Speaking Plainly 
The most recent biannual University of Texas energy poll showed something very similar.
I’m frankly encouraged. It’s been a long time (maybe Jimmy Carter’s “Moral Equivalent of War” speech) since we Americans have paid attention to energy.
Can’t see the license on that truck, since it’s been blanked out, but I believe that in California, as in a lot of other states, any visible exhaust is illegal. But what do I know?
Illegal? That’s a funny one, Ed.