Doing right thing isn't easy, even for those who want to

A USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds that more Americans than ever — 60%, up from 48% a decade ago — believe that global warming has begun to affect the climate. A slightly larger percentage think it will cause major or extreme changes in climate and weather during the next 50 years.
And in a reflection of the impact the environmental movement has had on Americans' attitudes in the nearly four decades since the first Earth Day celebration, most people now believe that they should take more steps as individuals — such as riding mass transit and making their homes more energy efficient — to help reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere.
Even so, most people are wary of any government effort to protect the environment by imposing restrictions on how they live, work or get around. A majority of those surveyed in the poll, conducted March 23-25, said they wouldn't want a surcharge added to their utility bill if their homes exceeded certain energy-use levels. And most Americans would oppose any laws requiring cars sold in the USA to dramatically improve their gas mileage or restrictions on development to try to limit suburban sprawl.

[Link: USATODAY.com]

I believe in the reality of Peak Oil. I believe that the consequences of excessive oil use has permanently altered the earth's climate. I believe that there will be dire consequences for all living things resulting from the climactic superposition of these two unprecedented events. I did not participate in USA Today's poll(see link) but if I had I am not sure whether I would have answered much differently than the people who did. I am a victim of my times like everyone else. I was raised on the leading edge of the oil age and it encompasses the entirety of my world view. I have very little to work with in building a new reality. It is intellectually easy for me to say that the problem we all face is eliminating excessive consumption. It is emotionally difficult, in the extreme, to make a list of things I am willing to throw out or, in a way even worse, things that I will newly adopt to take the place of the things that I have thrown out. I am retired. A lot of my reticence can probably be attributed to the fact that I fit the "old horse not being able to learn new tricks" model. But not all of it. The oil age is a pretty strong addiction.