Easy there, Paul
When I talk of "luxuries" I don't mean fast cars and three foreign holidays a year - though lots of people do want those. I mean larger houses than we need, central heating, cars, computers, washing machines, driving 30 miles to work because we prefer to live somewhere else, all that kind of stuff. Of course there are some folk who turn their backs on all this and live a much more environmentally friendly life. Maybe you are one of them, in which case I salute you.
But, I'll use myself as an example to be as little contentious as possible. I am one of those who support many green initiatives and I try to reduce my own environmental footprint by a number of means. Nevertheless I am "guilty" of much of what I am accusing the average member of the population of - simply taking for granted a level of energy consumption that isn't globally sustainable even now, and certainly won't be when the developing nations get closer to our level of consumption. And if people like me, who do know something about the issues and take an interest, are not willing to do without their constant hot water and personal transport, what of those who don't understand and don't take an interest? In my own experience they are in the majority. And I believe governments are more likely to be swayed by them than me.
BTW I agree with you about the US Government, but I don't think this is the website on which to expose the depth of my feeling there.
I should also say I'm not
advocating a wait and see policy - I'm just saying I think this is largely what
will happen.