The Gulf of Mexico oil spill was bad enough for BP to change its chief executive. It was not bad enough for the US to change its energy policy. Last month Barack Obama, US president, used the spill to call for a new push on clean energy. But weak follow-through, a divided Democratic caucus and a unified Republican opposition saw meaningful US energy legislation shelved last week. Now, the reality of a high oil price may be about to change America's petroleum habits, even if policymakers cannot.
墨西哥湾漏油事件糟得足以使英国石油(BP)换掉首席执行官，但却不足以让美国改变能源政策。美国总统巴拉克•奥巴马(Barack Obama)上月借漏油事件呼吁发展清洁能源。但奥巴马在这方面的虎头蛇尾，加之民主党核心成员意见分歧、共和党人一致反对，导致上周美国一项富有意义的能源立法遭到搁置。如今，高油价的现实或许将改变美国的石油消费习惯，完成政策制定者所做不到的事情。
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