by Mark Hammerschmidt

Created on: October 06, 2008

It's easy to blame the current energy crisis on SUVs and American greed. And it's not wrong to do so. Certainly, these are part of the larger issue. Or more accurately, these are the core of the larger issue. But so much more is at work that switching to a hybrid can solve. Not that driving a hybrid won't help, it just isn't the cure.

The American consumer isn't the only contributor to soaring oil prices. But the American way is. The biggest problem is that underdeveloped countries are being liberated by democracy and capitalism. The occupants of these poverty-ridden countries can smell what Americans are cooking and can't wait to get a middle-class meal on their tables. Unfortunately, this comes at a cost. Energy.

As we've worked to make sure the world knows the awesomeness of capitalism, we've also ensured that the world depends on oil just as much, if not more, than we do. Countries in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa that once contained oppressive governments and forced their citizens to live in squalor, are now building cities that require more power (and the addition of power plants). People are driving more cars, heating their homes, and producing more food. The availabilities of these amenities also serves as a conduit to population growth, which demands even more from the capitalist machine.

So what is the solution? Surely, Americans won't demand that other nations go back to their old ways, as modern living is only for us.

You won't find a quick or easy solution. But one thing is certain, as America has set the stage and stood as an example for what human beings can accomplish and deserve, we must also set the example for responsible living. Simply drilling won't solve the problem at large. It just shows the world that we are committed to continuing down the same path together. We have to show the world that it is possible to live in a green system and still enjoy the comforts of the twenty-first century.

It won't be easy. While most of the environmental changes we implement now are offset by the consumption of newly developing nations, we mustn't lose sight of the big picture. As cohabitants of a planet, we as human beings are many years away from righting this sinking ship. We must set aside our pride as the big consumer and work to undo some of the damages we've done here in our own country. No matter the timeframe.

In time, not only will we realize, but the world will also see, that the American way of life can still be maintained even at the cost of less consumption. We must be the pioneers of cleaner forms of energy and less parasitic means of living. We not only have to develop new, cleaner technologies, we must export them and teach the world how to implement the same programs. We must be the benefactor of our planet and lead the way into a sustainable future.

Leading the way into the green future isn't only an idealistic fantasy of environmentalists. It's also the only way we as American consumers can afford the lifestyles we've become accustomed to. If the rest of the world continues to consume energy at growing percentages and their growth rates continue, Americans will never see breaks in our own energy costs. And as Americans, the world looks to us. It imitates us like we're an older sibling. It goes the way we go. It finds triumphs in our victories and it steps back in our defeats. The American dream is still possible. We just have to alter the path around oil.

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