gas guzzling culture

The NYTimes has a long article on the American Energy Policy, or lack thereof. The title is: "American Energy Policy, Asleep at the Spigot." Apart from highlighting the obvious -i.e. that we have no policy other than to burn more- the article contains some memorable quotes. Take this for example, from Newt Gingrich: " Our culture favors driving long distances in powerful vehicles and the car as a social expression." 

The word culture is especially well chosen in this context. Powerful vehicles? Social expression? Wouldn't it be better to say oversized, overweight, and overstuffed living rooms on wheels?

Newt also thinks we are not like the Japanese or Europeans. That despite the fact that most Americans -or at least those in control- have a European or Asian ancestry. I.e. we are not "natives" to this continent, no matter what anyone says. Our ancestors may have come here because they were poor, underprivileged, or prosecuted in Europe and Asia, but we certainly cannot claim that European or Asian thinking is foreign to us. Maybe some of us have a chip on our shoulder and feel like we need to show the old country how much better off we are. 

The question is are we? And if we are, how much longer will it last. Here is a quote from Pete Domenici in the same article:"We've got to fix it or our standard of living will change within a decade." What we have to fix is our addiction to cheap oil, and "powerful vehicles."

Decades of advertising have warped the American mind. Decades of commercials telling us that we needed big cars, big houses, and big everything to be happy. That greed is not just acceptable but desirable. That shopping is our patriotic duty. That being wasteful is unavoidable and necessary in modern life. That it is an expression of freedom. That it shows we are better than those Europeans and Asians. 

Our standard of living is higher. What that means is that we spend more money. We buy more and consume more. We are not the American citizen, we are the "American consumer." We consume more, ergo we are happier, right?

Research shows otherwise. Europeans are happier than we are, despite $9 gas. Despite living in smaller homes, and driving smaller cars, and taking public transportation, and riding their bikes. Despite their "socialist" systems, and despite having "inferior medical care" and all that other baloney that the advertisers want to make us believe.

Unfortunately, it seems the European middle class is doing better than the American middle class. Granted they have less discretionary income and fewer "toys" than we do. But then again, they are not over their ears in debt. They don't need to work two jobs to make ends meet. They get five weeks of vacation a year. They take long holidays. Their kids get free education. They get free medical care. Their retirement is taken care off. They are not as overweight and not nearly as stressed as we are. Their jobs cannot disappear overnight and cities don't turn into ghost towns over there.

How about those protesters in Paris? And the German strikers? Is that what we see on TV?  TV, our source of information. Our window to the world. Brought to you by Coca-Cola and Exxon-Mobil.

Stay with us. Don't touch that dial, America ! We'll be back after this.