“In the United States and Canada, a sense of energy birthright is deeply entrenched in our mind-sets. We want our energy cheap, clean, secure, and discreet. We want to fill our gas tanks and our furnaces without undue concern, drive long distances without worrying over gas prices, and live comfortably in our temperature-controlled home, sheltered from the heat or cold outside. We don’t want to feel vulnerable to the tensions and conflicts of the Middle East, and we would prefer to reduce or eliminate our reliance on foreign oil. We don’t trust big oil companies and don’t want them to make exorbitant profits. We fear nuclear power and don’t want to see it return to prominence after unforgettable incidents like Three Mile Island in the United States, Chernobyl in Ukraine, and Taiko-Mura in Japan. We treasure clean air and a clean environment, and we don’t want to see a return to the heavy use of coal. We certainly don’t want unsightly pipelines, refineries, or other energy supply infrastructure anywhere near where we live. We simply want energy available to us, at a cheap price, out of sight, whenever we need it.” From: “A THOUSAND BARRELS A SECOND” by Peter Tertzakian on p. 147-148
