The other thing is the whole issue of energy. It's going to require some very difficult choices. People are going to have to embrace — revel in — the possibilities of a transformed energy economy. Over the long term it will mean a higher standard of living. But in the short term it means doing things we don't like to do — turn off lights, check your tire gauges, replace your light bulbs. Just being conscious of energy usage in ways other cultures, like Japan, have been for a long time because they're an island nation and just didn't have resources.
That can get on people's nerves, because it's not what our traditions are like. Jimmy Carter, you'll recall, had the unfortunate approach of wearing a sweater and telling people to sit in 68-degree rooms. I don't think it has to be an "eat your peas" moment. It just has to be a consciousness — one that young people already have.
There is a generational element to this. You see in young people a much greater awareness and a certain comfort level with having to think about these things. I even see it in my daughters now, age 10 and seven. If you ask them about what issues they're concerned about, the environment immediately comes to mind. It's interesting — that just seeps through the culture in a way that I think bodes well for the future. But one of our challenges is making sure that we can get to that, and stay focused on the future.
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