Earlier this week, a Gulf of Mexico oil discovery by Chevron Corporation became major news, if not the headline story, in just about every bastion of American journalism. Apparently, people are so incredibly fatigued by this story that newspapers were able to quickly seize an opportunity to profit by presenting hopeful information about how Americans might once again be able to enjoy the exceptionally low gas prices they've come to view as a God-given right.
The relationship between Americans and fossil fuels can be called nothing short of perplexing. Listen in on every conversation in this country and, if any of its participants happen to own motor vehicles, you can pretty much expect to at least hear a slight mention of high gas prices. People in the United States seem to love nothing more than to gripe about paying at the pump and seem to hate nothing more than the fact that little is being done to make this aspect of their lives less painful. Amazingly, however, American attitudes regarding this issue could not possibly contradict their behavioral counterparts more.
It came and went before my time, but even as a kid, I can remember hearing ridicule of the electric car. People were so eager to dismiss the innovation — "I've heard the batteries go dead after two years," "I know a guy who knows a guy who has one, and he says you have to plug it in every 30 minutes," "The engine doesn't work when it's raining" — that their wishes came true. During the latter half of the 1990s, the once-revolutionary idea of an automobile reliant on something other than fossil fuels seemingly subsided in the face of a public unwilling to even accept such a dream as feasible. Meanwhile, the science community regrouped and considered how to next approach solving the U.S. fuel reliance problem — a problem for which, ironically, their previous attempts at a solution had been met with relentless scolding, as if they had done something wrong — that many Americans considered to be the nation's biggest.
While science tirelessly marched on in search of the next big breakthrough, Americans did likewise, and found it: the sport utility vehicle. A new trend began, one in which socioeconomic status could be deciphered by figuring out just how quickly someone's box-on-wheels could burn through a gallon of gas. The race was on and the shortsighted automakers of Detroit, today reeling from their embrace of the gas-price rollercoaster, were all too happy to accommodate, nay, encourage an SUV-crazed nation. Expedition, Excursion, Hummer — American autoworkers could hardly manufacture these monstrosities quickly enough for their compatriots. The U.S. attitude, however, has hardly changed but had simply been dormant during this time of prosperity.
As the economic boom cooled off and gas prices began a slow ascent, there was quick reminder of Americans' feelings about their reliance on fossil fuels. Before long, complaints about gas prices were as loud as they have ever been. The next few years leading up to the present saw a slowdown in SUV sales and the re-emergence of a scientific attempt to end reliance on fossil fuels (hydrogen, ethanol, the hybrid car … to name a few). This time, however, the U.S. populace is seemingly embracing the latter: moving toward acceptance of these viable alternatives to gas guzzling.
But, oh, how that could change.
Americans have short memories. Today, they might hate that SUV they bought four years ago; they might seriously be considering the purchase of a hybrid, and they might cast a vote this November with the advancement of the hydrogen automobile in mind.
On the other hand, if Chevron's discovery materializes, Americans might forget about their gas problems once again and leave their children with bigger ones.
Rob Rossmeissl ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in journalism and political science.
