There’s still a debate about Easter Island. Aside from the fact, it has as much to do with Passover as Easter; which is nothing other than the time yet another European claimed to have "discovered" it.

The island is famous for its statuary reflecting gigantic, rather emotionless, heads. But the causes of it’s being barren except for these statues is the real debate. The current en vogue theory is that the past civilization got on such a kick building the statues that they stripped the island of its forestry (used to move the statues) and had to abandon the island having completely destroyed its ecosystem.

If that was the case, then we haven’t learned much have we? For example, who could currently propose this and get a bump politically?

For all the griping about spiking gas prices, there’s no clamor for the return of the little-lamented 55 mph speed limit of the ’70s and ’80s — though most agree it reduces consumption and saves money.

"It’s not that people haven’t thought of it — just no one is even close to discussing implementing it," said Therese Langer, speaking for the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. "It’s not high on anyone’s list."

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the cost of driving rises faster above 60 mph — adding nearly 20 cents per gallon for each additional 5 mph. The Alliance to Save Energy, in Washington, estimates that restricting speeds to 55 mph could reduce the use of oil imported from the Persian Gulf by up to 20 percent a day.

Even so, "there doesn’t appear to be any eagerness on Capitol Hill to revisit the issue," said Ronnie Kweller of the alliance.

No, indeed. Paul Hesse, a spokesman for the U.S. Energy Information Administration, said his agency willingly would analyze the value of a 55 mph speed limit if asked by a congressman. None has asked.

But then again, are we even capable of thinking of saving ourselves? There isn’t exactly a demand for mass transit — no we have to spend that money on Iraq, the land of perpetual, never defined, declarations of victory – ask desperate war whore Fred Hiatt. And when we started building more efficient cars, people decided the best way to use the improved technology was by demanding we not build them:

Congress pressed automakers to increase fuel efficiency, and the average mileage nearly doubled, to 27.5 miles a gallon by 1987. Automakers also began to experiment with hybrids.

Even so, Americans fell in love with sport utility vehicles and big trucks — and fuel efficiency took a back seat again.

Howard Dickinson, a spokesman for Kansas Highway Patrol Troop A in Olathe, Kan., outside Kansas City, said troopers have not seen a whit of change in how fast people drive — nor in the number of tickets handed out.

"There’s no slow up there," Dickinson said, laughing.

"When cars started getting better gas mileage, we just built bigger cars," he said, adding, "People are still in a hurry — but the only reason they’d slow down again is if we lowered the speed limit again."

But if the speed limit was required to be lowered to 55 mph as it was in 1973 (by Nixon, not Carter as often claimed) we would hear howls of indignation similar to the NRA hearing about gun registration from all manner of people.

We’re just that foolish a people.

(picture from chris best)

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