Maybe the 126% growth v. 30% increase in consuption (a dubious figure) is due to mandatory emission controls and fleet mileage standards, programs such as "Energy Star" (which the Bush administration abandoned) that raised consumer awareness, and a number of other conservation and awareness efforts. Even Richard Nixon understood this when he established the EPA.

These are things that we as Americans should be proud of, not something that should divide us or that we should use as an excuse to consume more or dismiss environmental and geopolitical energy policy concerns out of hand.

Conservation, environment, and a sane, independent energy policy are things that Democrats and Republicans should agree on.

As typical, you credit government programs and government regulation, but the stats Armey cites are due in large part to the competitive forces of a market economy. It is industry's best interests financially to become more energy efficient, even absent regulation, because it makes them more profitable. Left alone, the American economy will ALWAYS and INCREASINGLY become more energy-efficient, leading to a cleaner environment AND a higher standard of living.

The most centrally planned economy in the world - the Soviet Union - produced the worst environmental conditions of any major industrialized nation, produced a pitiful standard of living, and was not energy efficient.