[harikb]

Energy independence (from Middle East) was once unthinkable, but we did it, and also included a speech. Sure, not the same level.

Climate change is also a similarly difficult problem, but neither of this gives a Hollywood movie style ending in a capsule format the “we are the greatest” crowd really wants - not just America though . Humility, empathy, and non-military-gained peace doesn’t give a movie style ending.

This is also why the mass public doesn’t give credit to leaders for solving issues though diplomatic means

[BlueTemplar]

Shale oil isn't going to last long, and then what? (And probably shouldn't have been extracted in the first place considering the low energy return and climate change...)

[kortilla]

Energy independence is a huge obvious prize in itself. It was very easy to get people to agree that it would be something good to have.

The point about JFK’s moon speech is that it was justifying an endeavor that was a hard challenge without any particularly useful outcome. Nobody thought it was going to solve world hunger or prevent an energy crisis.

It would be like Trump giving a speech to justify sending astronauts on a trip around Venus. It’s super difficult and mostly useless scientifically.