The public does not need to become experts on an issue in order to fully participate in decision making. That’s not possible, and it’s not necessary either. Americans don’t need to be economists in order to set priorities for health care reform or hold a doctorate in education to realize what’s needed in their local schools. But the public does need enough information so it can understand the basic elements of the problem and wrestle with the implications of different choices.

A report from Public Agenda examined “the public’s attitudes, values and concerns about the tangle of policy challenges, business choices and personal habits that come under the catch-all heading of ‘energy.’” The report is interesting, and it investigated a multitude of energy-related issues by analyzing the American public’s perception or knowledge of key energy issues (download the report, “Energy Learning Curve” as a PDF). Interestingly, although 4 in 10 Americans cannot name a fossil fuel, a majority of Americans do worry about fuel costs and believe the U.S. economy is too dependent on oil. From the report:

Even though energy prices have fallen since the oil price spike of 2008, public concern over cost remains both strong and intense. An overwhelming 9 in 10 Americans (89 percent) say they worry about the cost of gas and fuel. Even more important is the intensity of that concern, with 57 percent saying they worry “a lot.”

Eight in ten (83 percent) worry that the U.S. economy is too dependent on oil, with 47 percent saying they worry “a lot.” Nearly three quarters of the public (73 percent) disagrees with the statement that “if we get gas prices to drop and stay low, we don’t need to be worried about finding alternative sources of energy.” Fully 53 percent of the public strongly disagrees with that statement, showing this is a firmly held belief.

This may be because the public believes there’s a long-term trend at work here. Seven in ten say that “over the long run, the price of oil will go up” because “supplies are decreasing and demand continues to rise.” Despite the high number, the public still has some contradictory views on this trend. Nearly as many (68 percent) also blame “speculators who drive up the price of oil” for cost increases.

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