Short-term energy relief isn’t enough

The surge in gasoline prices apparently has turned many Americans into shorter-sighted, less idealistic thinkers.

A poll released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center shows that Americans are more likely now to favor finding more fuel and less likely to favor energy conservation.

Drilling for oil and building new power plants have suddenly become more popular. Saving energy and protecting the environment are less so.

This situation is no surprise. People are hurting. The price of fuel — and of other products and services that are fuel-sensitive — is forcing us to make unpleasant financial decisions, to do without some things that we want or need.

The trend seems to favor traditional Republican positions in this election year. People aren’t listening to Democrats’ arguments that more drilling won’t solve our energy crisis. Even Democrats, independents, women and young people are embracing more energy development as opposed to conservation.

The people’s change of attitude gives Democrats and Republicans a mandate to work together, but they should provide leadership — not simply pander to current public opinion.

Our leaders must do several things: provide citizens some short-term financial relief, encourage energy production that stops short of damaging the environment, and also stimulate conservation and development of alternative fuels.

All these steps are needed in order to get the nation out of its dependence on fossil fuels and Mideast oil politics. Easing the immediate burdens won’t be enough to avoid a future cycle of crisis and relief.