He's right, but we're stubborn

I am right there with Michael Maniates and I cannot begin to tell you how much I wish this was the perspective of more Americans, especially more young Americans. What the unfortunate truth is though is that Americans are stubborn and as long as there is someone pushing the ideology of "Consumerism Before All", then they will take that easy way out with a gleeful chant of "This is Just How We Do It Here In the U S of A". So long as there is an immediate connection between patriotism, consumption, and American success then easy-does-it environmentalism is going to be the predominate tone. This is a shame because if we closely examine the tried and true American values, like Michael does in his section on American leaders who lit a fire under the people, we see that ingenuity, perseverance, strength, health, education, and freedom all hinge on a stronger environmental agenda. Yes, freedom. We currently have the freedom to come together as an American people and make choices for future generations and to lead the world by example towards a sustainable way of life. However, if we complacently linger and opt to do the little things only, then we are depriving future generations of the freedom to live healthy, safe lives on this planet. Yes, this might curtail the freedom of consumer power, but do we define our freedom by our purchase power?
My hope is that with Copenhagen on our near horizon international political, environmental, and economic sources can come together and say some honest, blunt, and open things about our future on this planet. Maybe Americans will dismiss this, but if bi-partisan leadership can accept the idea that the future of our environment is NOT red or blue and move forward, then I think their constituents might start to get the message.