This planet will survive us, and has been through much much worse many times over. We may work to save our planet or we won't, and the Yellowstone Caldera will erupt again. Lake Michigan itself is a temporary puddle left after the last glacial sheet covered Michigan just 10,000 years ago. With or without us, it likely won't be here much longer on a geological timescale. Every age is the end of one and the beginning of another. That's not to say that these things don't matter. They do as much as anything else does. However, I think it's worth understanding that the value that we put on our natural environment only resides within us. There's a lot of good in this world, but it isn't expressed well on a global scale. If you want to feel better about how the natural environment fairs in the US, visit China or India.
I understand that on geologic or stellar time, none of it matters. I also understand that China and India are screwing their environment worse than we are, but I just get this feeling that because we have so much more, because there are so many of us that are directly aware of it, because we have the capability to be better than millions of gallons of oil in one of the most important bodies of fresh water, we should BE better. If people want to believe in American Exceptionalism, hold Americans, specifically American corporations to higher standards.
It's a slow process, but it happens. However, I would argue that the most stable advancements are those that are technologically enabled, not politically. If the efficiency of solar panels far outstrips natural gas, it's tough to find investment for fracking. Political change is often an adjustment made to keep up with reality. IMO much of our exceptionalism stems from material, not moral, advantage.If people want to believe in American Exceptionalism, hold Americans, specifically American corporations to higher standards.
Don't underestimate the capacity of people to be complete dopes, especially in large groups. I suggest reading some social and I/O psychology.
An entire biology degree, including being about to finish an invertebrate paleontology class, has taught me that the Earth will inevitably survive us too. Plenty of species won't, of course, which is the problem.