But let’s face it, we need to ladle plenty of that blame for our energy policy right into our own laps. There was a time, in the late 1970s, after the 1973 oil embargo, when Jimmy Carter tried to wake us up to the need for a more prudent and rational energy policy. I remember how impressed I was to see the US president actually go on television to ask us to drive less, turn down our thermostats, put on our sweaters. It was an era of 55 mph speed limits on our interstates, lots of VW Beetles and little Toyotas and Datsuns (now Nissan) and our roads; Americans trying to make a difference, to leave a smaller footprint. Sensible stuff. Rational stuff.

Then came the 80s and 90s. Reagan came in (and, we all said, America could now “stand proud.” The price of oil came down, Detroit revved up the horsepower again, Jeeps and 4-wheel drives were suddenly cool. Then it was minivans for the American family – but they were soon way uncool, so then came the SUVs, then bigger SUVs, then the 1991 Desert Storm war made the humvee cool – so, GM decides, let’s make a Hummer for the standin’-proud US macho-male consumer. And so it went. You tell me the US sucks up 25% of the world’s oil supply? Hey, dude, so what? Besides, it’s our culture! We’re the nation of Richard Petty, and St. Dale of NASCAR! Besides, why should we give a sh*t about what the rest of the world says? C’mon, we saved all their asses in World War II, and then we won the Cold War and kicked the commies’ butts, right? Screw em! They owe us!

And so it’s gone. And here we are, where we are. Ford and GM are getting knee-capped, and with them thousands of autoworkers and their families, including kids whose families won’t be able to come up with college tuition. (Say, maybe our energy policy has solved the military’s recruitment dilemma!) Meanwhile, the asphalt in our used-car lots is crumbling under the weight of all those unsellable Ford Expeditions and Chevy pickups, sitting there (shall I say it? OK, cue Bob Seger!) “like a rock.”