Well, like many liberal Americans, I have been considering for some time the possibility of leaving the country. The U.S. is in a precarious economic situation, where we are dependent on foreign lending to maintain our way of life. Clearly this cannot be sustained indefinitely, and I fear the resulting economic crash could set off a number of ugly trends, from increasing intolerance and racism to religious fundamentalism.

What's more, I agree wholeheartedly with Jerome on the realities and dangers of peak oil. Sadly, it has become obvious that the U.S. is completely unprepared for the end of the oil era, and at this point it may simply be too late for the country to prepare itself.

So to sum this up, I'm looking to move to Europe, where I feel that countries are better suited to handle the transition to a new energy regime. Don't get me wrong, from reading this site and others I realize that the EU is no paradise, and there are many serious political battles to be fought in the future. But at least in Europe I can believe that there is hope for a better life.

NOTE: This diary is also posted at Greenstate, a community blog made up of Kossacks who wish to discuss environmental issues and policy goals. Check us out!

Under the Bush Administration, the U.S. has completely abandoned its leadership role on environmental issues, ranging from international treaties like Kyoto to developing renewable energy sources here at home. That's the bad news. But the good news is that we no longer have to look to the federal government for action on environmental problems, as city governments are increasingly leading the way in advancing a sustainable way of life.