Let's take a quick look at the situation in North America, as an example (and because that's where most of you live). We use quite a bit of gasoline - more per capita than anyone else in the world, and by a good margin.
North America is always vulnerable to changes in the oil- producing nations, which is probably one reason why our military and intelligence spending is so high. Let us suppose that, one day, we may be surprised by, say, Saudi Arabia the same way we were surprised by Iran. If the price of oil goes up, our economy crashes, because it depends on cheap energy.
Oil is not just used by cars. Since the Reagan presidency, we have placed very little money (relatively) in research for alternative sources of energy. Therefore, we still use quite a bit of oil and natural gas for heating and electricity generation.At the moment, our high oil consumption is supported by a foreign policy that we should hardly be proud of. We prop up corrupt dictators and let their subjects live in squalor, so we can continue to drive our Lincoln Navigators. We talk about other countries reducing their production of greenhouse gases, yet we are the largest producer of these gases, in sum and per capita. Our hypocrisy is not likely to win us any friends -- or any respect.
There is no reason for us to be so sanguine about the possiblity
of real fuel shortages. For the moment, the world's supply is in fine shape,
but that is just for the moment. Eventually, we will run short. When we
do, what will happen to airplanes and their voracious appetites? What about
the military - all those advanced jets, and the tanks that drink it down
by the gallon? A serious fuel shortage could cripple our military power,
and with it, our ability to protect our interests around the world. That's
a pretty high price to pay just so some people can feel dominant, drive
a V-8, maintain an "image", or occassionally be able to haul something
or go off-road.