Here's another angle: a few years ago, I could have easily bill 100 hrs/week building facilities to feed fuel to nat. gas burning power plants. Millions were spent to beat the competition to get generation plants built so they could capitalize on the favorable electric rates....then everything came to a halt. Some plants were even called off after money had already been spent on preliminary studies. Some plants sat idle for more than 50% of the time (and a lot still do, but they make money during peak periods..Peakers). (Let's not even talk about California...they created their own problems, then when things fell apart looked to point fingers)
The American life style helps boost the cost of things we buy, then when we pause to realize the price increase we scream for federal intervention. The ratio of income to dollars spent on essential goods is probably very favorable for Americans. So much so that a lot of folks can afford to drive around in big luxurious vehicles, pay for multiple cars and Porsches as toys
If you went to another country and told folks that you spent the kind of money we spend on our toys or better yet, the money we spend to play with our toys at the race track; then in the same breath b!tched about the cost of fuel and energy, you'd probably get funny looks.
But what do I know, I've been living the fat, dumb and happy American life style long enough.