In sum, we took energy for granted, assuming when we flipped the switch, the lights would go on and assuming that there would always be plenty of cheap fuel for our vehicles.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
If it weren't for electricity, we'd all be watching television by candlelight.
We often take for granted that our lights will come on when we flip the light switch, but the reality is that our reliability standards and the current state of the transmission grid leave us all vulnerable to blackouts.
However, it may occur that we will find ourselves using a variety of fuel sources to give us the energy we need support our lifestyles and boost our economy.
Our problem right now is that we're so specialized that if the lights go out, there are a huge number of people who are not going to know what to do. But within every dystopia there's a little utopia.
I think the American people in many cases want to transform our energy system.
I had my electricity turned off three times because I never had time to pay my bills. It was a joke. I'm making a ton of money, and I'm walking around my apartment with flashlights.
We had no electricity, no gas. Food was probably our greatest entertainment - the most fun thing that we could do was food.
Today, we're very dependent on cheap energy. We just take it for granted - all the things you have in the house, the way industry works.
I switch off lights like a maniac. I drive at reasonable speeds so that I don't waste petrol.
Utilities get out of the way. Can you imagine if you flipped a light switch and had to watch an ad before you got electricity? Can you imagine if you turned on a faucet and had to watch an ad before the water came out?