Dayuhan, your point about public perceptions of oil economics is right-on.
Public perception is fundamental to the public's (un)willingness to cooperate during a fuel crisis.
I would loosely define a fuel crisis as a situation where a significant number of citizens are unable to obtain affordable fuel, so there is both a price aspect and a physical supply aspect.
Our entire North American society has now become rooted in affordable (preferably cheap) fossil fuel, and it is hard to imagine a more inflammatory situation (domestically) than a widespread inability to obtain affordable fuel.

Apart from a month or so post-Hurricanes, most North Americans have never experienced a significant fuel crisis. Therefore most of us have given little thought to how a fuel crisis could rapidly affect our agri-food system, essential services, employment and the overall economy.
Such a situation would be a severe test of our ability to cooperate, sacrifice and share, to improvise & adapt.

Meanwhile, we have a public which perceives cheap fuel as a birthright.
Should anything deprive North Americans from their entitlement, public order would be subject to unprecedented strain.

Your final point about the need for public education is absolutely correct.
Unfortunately, our media and politicians have little interest in reminding the public that fossil fuels are indeed finite, and that the fuel we squander in drive-throughs will not be available to our grandkids for more vital uses.

At least you Americans have veteran Congressman Roscoe Bartlett:
http://video.energypolicytv.com/disp...93&channel=Oil

Please note his reference to senior military at 3:45 and to Admiral Rickover's warning at 9:15.

Here in Canada, we have no such voice in Parliament.