Those who refuse to learn history...

as true as it is, I always hated that quote. even though progess can be made in whatever field as time passes, technology is created, improved upon, etc. inevitable cycles can be observed throughout history, as well as the minutae of everyday living.
One example just occurred to me as I was half-paying attention to the midday news. GWB was making a statement during a press conference about the conservation of gasoline, urging consumers not to drive when unnecessary (I find this interesting as he has close ties to the oil industry). While it shouldnt have, the next image that was shown kind of shocked me. While its becoming more frequent, there was a run to gas stations by consumers: cars lined up by the mile in order to obtain the oh-so crucial necessity of runnning your car. The last time I had seen or noticed an image of this sort was during the 60s/70s when there were gas shortages due to the price gouging of OPEC. Though it seems that petroleum has become the new "drug of choice", that people cannot survive without it, this situation has been around for quite some time; anyone that has taken an economics course can explain the law of scarcity. Until new technology (some of which already exist) is accepted and developed, oil will remain a big industry, pollution will continue to rise, and the US dependence on foreign petroleum distributors will continue to yoke the government to take brash actions (like the Persian Gulf Wars.)
I wish I could be teaching right now. of course, the discussion would be a little less one-sided.