The United States isn't 64 million people stuck on an island like the UK (93,000 sq. miles). We are 309 million in population, in an area of 3.79 million sq. miles. There are very different lifestyles at hand, especially when it comes to consumption of certain commodities.
Taxing fuels is definitely not the way to go, and a very slippery slope. What's next taxing McDonalds and Oreo cookies? The way everything works is through the consumer. If consumers wanted small efficient cars, auto makers would have no problems producing them, and in fact they are some what popular. However, the fact of the matter is that for the last few years the two most popular vehicles in the United States have been full size pickups. Limited buyers into certain products that 'some people' want is definitely not cool. In fact, it starts with an "S" and ends with an "ism." If you want to change purchasing habits, educate them. Apparently that hasn't happened enough to warrant a change. And deservedly so.
About the oil spill, I am torn as well. The US consumes 24% of the world's oil supply, yet the US is only producing 3%. So one rig going down, and the costs associated with the clean up effort, shouldn't affect pump prices much. On that same coin, since we are only producing 3%, would an more restrictive approach to drilling for oil in the US, necessarily be a bad thing and really affect much? Not saying to abandon drilling, but take a more indepth look at what might be affected in a worst case scenario.
