Hopefully we will come to our senses and demand renewable energy sources from our government, even if it means sacrificing many conveniences that we have deemed necessities. We will be well on our way to breaking our addiction to foreign oil and living more modest lifestyles that are fueled in large part by solar, wind or biomass energy. Realizing the foolishness of our consumer-driven lifestyles, we will drive smaller hybrid cars, live in modest homes and recycle as much as possible.

On one hand, a country's wellbeing and progress economic status are measured in terms of the goods and services the people in these countries are able to enjoy, often the poor countries are compared with the rich countries. On the other hand, countries like India and China are accused of driving up the prices of oil and other commodities. As long as the people in the poor countries are made to feel unequal just because they do not adapt the Western lifestyle (huge houses, large cars) people in these countries will try to acquire these status symbols, which will cause the world's resources to be depleted faster and faster. Things can only get better when societies like the US are ready and willing to give up their wasteful and extravagant lifestyle. But successive US governments have vowed never to give up the American way of life, which, when imitated by the rest of the world, causes the losing game of plundering resources to continue.