Why are the majority of Americans deny that there is an energy problem?

Question

I mean Americans live and breath the essence of inefficiency. Sure there's the select few that are efficient in their consumption of everything in life and such but for the most part most people that I know are very very inefficient (leaving the TV on for hours on end, light bulbs never getting turned off etc the list goes on). I'm American but have lived overseas where either we have had to use Solar electricity (makes you energy conservative reaaaal fast haha) or the electricity is really expensive so you have to be conservative also.

But why is it that so many americans are so very inefficient? Is it that there is so much electricity and energy at hand theres no reason to be efficient? Lack of education? False sense of security?

Maybe I'm wrong haha just general impressions want to hear your thoughts on it.

Answer 1

I'd say a big part is lack of education! Some teens and college students are learning about being GREEN...I just finished high school a year ago...it wasnt until my senior year that we got an environmental science course...

Also we're so used to having things are way! It's easy to get and there are no SERIOUS cosequences NOW...

Answer 2

your right it is the lack of education, and a false sense of security, plus energy is so cheap especially fuel so they don't give a toss

Answer 3

Most Americans are living the good life.  They never experience being poor.  Even the poorest are better off than most third world countries.  But they are the most giving bunch of people you will ever meet.  When there's a world crises the Americans are there to help.  No other country is like us.

Answer 4

I mean Americans live and breath the essence of inefficiency. Sure there's the select few that are efficient in their consumption of everything in life.they denied that there is a energy problem because they alot of energy source..they continue inventing more things to be more efficient and some of them are not.

Answer 5

It's as if excess is an American birthright. I'm also blessed by spending time overseas. I was young and energy conservation wasn't on my radar at the time. I did see how much closer the families seemed to be and how people had roots and new their neighbors.

I believe we fall victim to propoganda. We have been told most of our lives that we are the best nation on the planet, that our way of life is the envy of the globe. Our government goes around unseating leaders of othe countries, and we let them do it. For a nation that was built on for the people by the people, many of the people don't bother voting.

We have been told whatever the problem the Government will solve it. We have lost personal responsibility and accountability. Just look at the foreclosure crisis. Your elected officials want to go help people who purchased $750K homes get a better mortgage. Don't you think someone with an income that would qualify them for that kind of loan would know better?

I always laugh when people talk about poverty in other countries like Mexico. Look at those poor people, they live in shack. The funny thing is, they own their shack and when they have the money for improvements they'll make them, until then, they make due.

I think many Americans don't think about wasting resources, because they don't actually pay for what they use. We have become a nation of debt. We are encouraged to use credit cards so we don't make the connection of spending and cost.

I think for many that is about to change. With the gas prices going up and food prices to follow then add no equity in houses and people taking paycuts or losing jobs we are about to see many people having to cut back. For many families they will have to learn what they can do without and how to conserve what they need. I believe for many this may lead them to "Green" practices and a healthier way of life.

Answer 6

Cheap oil led, like our President said, to an "oil addiction" and you can imagine how hard it is to break a long term, or a lifelong, drug addiction, our oil addiction, like many drugs, also distorts our sense of reality and keeps us from making the necessary changes, and our children will pay for it either by the much greater sacrifices that will be necessary to  survive, or by their failure to survive.

Next time you read about someone that took an overdose, it could be that, like Pogo said, "the enemy is us."