Kevin G,

Let's face it and be honest...we consume oil/petroleum based products because business wants us to - no, it demands we do.  If this country wanted to get away from our oil dependence it could in a minute, however, the powerful interests demand we do not.

For example, exactly why do we drive cars made of steel?  Because our car engines need such bodies to carry oil combustiable motors.  If motors were made differently there would be no need for metal cars. 

Several years ago The Atlantic had a wonderful article on motor vehicles.  Vehicles can be made of products such as fiberglass and travel as fast as they do now and are even safer in collisions (mass, inertia and all that other shit beyond my scientific mind). 

Or look at solar panels.  Does anyone disagree that the technology has not advanced because of cost?  The cost is kept artifically high because of cheap oil. 

Not to sound hippy like, but our Earth provides us with all the energy we need, however, industrial capitalism prevents such changes.  Think of it...how much time is wasted on living lives of little meaning because we have to support what industry feeds us?  Why are we so driven to buy the latest Brittney Spears cd or go see the latest tech thriller instead of sitting down and talking with our neighbors or developing our minds?  Because industrial capitalism does not what us to be more than mere cogs in the machine. 

We all want to believe we live fulfilling and lives full of meaning, but America does not encourage people to strive for a full and meaningful life.   If it did, then why are there so many self-help books around out there? 

(And before someone calls me a communist or some other bullshit inflammatory word, let me say this - I do not like predatory capitalism, but do believe well regulated capitalism offers the best opportunity for a democracy to thrive, however, in America, we live in a system of predatory capitalism that impedes this progress).