1. US is the largest consumer of fossil fuels in the world. The US economy depends on cheap oil/gas.
2. Growing demand for oil products in Asia, esp. China & India
3. Strong evidence of global warming linked to human activity
4. Most energy (Oil/Gas) producers - countries with authoritarian ruling regimes with internal instabilities.
5. Bush & Co traditionally affiliated with oil/gas interests ( mental models)
6. "War on terrorism".
7. War in Iraq
8. Growing budget and trade deficits.
9. Low incentives for science education, esp. in K-12
10. Globalization of the economy.