Why can't we americans get it together to try and slow global warming?

It is simple economics. It would nice if most people just desided to use less fuel because it tis the right thing to do but it is not going to happen. We need to increase the the gas tax be $2-$3 dollar a gallon over the next few years. People will then use less fuel. The problem is most people will not vote for a some one who is honest about this (John Andersen, Ross Perot). The Presidential canadate I see with a decent energy policy in Bill Richardson and his does not incude a gas tax. People want to stick there head in the sand and drive their massive SUVs and pretend the sceince is wrong. My car get 30 miles per gallon and I have a rule when I by a car that it must get better gas milage than the one it replaces.

Deragon:

I think there are a few factors contributing to that slowness... In government you have different lobbies working against each other to protect their almighty campaign contributions and profit sheets. Greed and political favors hinder true progress on a political level. And there are other factors such as ideology and seeming only to do what is popular in lieu of doing what is right. And that is where citizens in a Democracy should then step in... however, in this country yes, some have become lazy, apathetic, and dumbed down by a media more concerned with entertaining them than educating and empowering them. And you also have the "fear" factor spewed by politicians afraid of truth that seek to make people act on emotion rather than reason in questioning what they are told. And also regarding many, their lifestyles for years have been centered around their own comfort and they are not prepared to let that go as they have the false impression that they would have to sacrifice it all in order to make a better world. I don't know if there is magic bullet for all of this to bring it to the point where people in the country on the whole will connect the dots, but I do believe it also has to do with a moral wall people put up. They know if they admit there is a problem that they are a part of causing, they are morally bound to do something about it... and unfortunately, in this country of late it would appear that fear and intimidation has stifled voices that may otherwise be heard. That is why this medium, Current is so very important regarding that dialogue. And yes, talking to people. Don't give up on that. I do it everyday and people do react to it.The big question for me is, will there now be enough time to take the evasive action we must take now in comparison to how slow this system moves after not having to move any faster on it? The melting ice in the Arctic is faster than any scientific models, and I do believe it is now happening faster than we can keep up with it and faster than many species can adapt to it, which is why they are going extinct.That is why the people are the key to this and why they need to be informed and empowered now. Al Gore is doing a superlative job of awakening the world to this, and we now must also help him with that. The next couple of years will be crucial to mitigatng the effects of this crisis, so I hope if we keep persevering and doing all we can to push for an international treaty to start this now we may be able to mitigate some of the worst effects or at the very least push them back. Hope that was helpful, and sorry for my modem running away on me again. I tend to go on about this topic. ;-).

Yes, I agree that we need to JUST DO IT. Certainly we know that Canada and most European countries are far ahead of the US,
and those of us who know our Planet IS CHANGING FOR THE WORSE, are very interested in doing our part to fix the planet.
Won't you all JOIN US? Thanks for caring.

Lizanne