The New American Responsibility

[Buck]

From the story......
"Owning a car has always been a luxury in the Third World, something beyond the pale of the middle class. In countries like Vietnam, Peru and Bangladesh, just to name a few, only the very rich owned cars. When I came here from Vietnam with my family at the end of the war, I remember such delight when my older brother bought his first car. We were still sharing an apartment with my aunt and her children, but as we cruised the streets at night, it felt as if we were becoming Americans.

The automobile, after all, is intrinsically American, and owning one largely determines how we Americans arrange our daily lives -- it is as essential to us as the train and metro are to Japanese or Europeans. Indeed, a car is the first thing a teenager of driving age desires; to drive away from home is an established American rite of passage. Even the working poor are drivers here."

The rest of the story........
http://www.alternet.org/environment/92528/living_without_a_car%3A_my_new_american_responsibi lity/

[CarolAnn]

Riding home from a vacation in Iowa Tuesday - (carpooled with my sister!) - we were both surprised at how empty the freeways were.

I don't think American's are that "addicted" to driving - when the need arises, they soon find ways to cut back. Gas also dropped about 20 cents a gallon here.

That's not to say we don't still drive more than we need to - but we do know how to cut back when prices go up more than we like. I really don't know how Canadians and Europeans get by paying so much more then we do!

I also think I spotted a few of the local chapter of "Hells Geezers" enjoying the empty roads on their Harleys! ;D ;D ;D

[walls0stone]

I don't know, it seems that in the most populated areas of the country, many people do not own a car. NYC is not the same as middle of no place USA.

if you have a subway, taxi or train..why have a car? Needless to say, in large Cities, they have other costs to cover so they don't need the extra cost of a car.

[Cutter]

Living in No Calif having a car is not a luxury it's a necessity. No rapid transit, no bus, not even a taxi and thats the way we like it. I know those in charge would like it if we all lived in a small tenement on the site of the factory we work in and we could be good little slaves but some of us will never live by those rules. I don't ever want to be one of the huddeled mass, No big cities, FEMA camps, and no Government control over my movements no matter what it cost

[chloe3388]

Comparisons to other countries in the article seem to try to attach guilt to our way of life.. Why the guilt trip? Our way of transport has worked for a long time, it will probably change just like anything that finds a better way. I kinda take pride in the fact that this country has been prosperous.

But the fact is one size does not fit all and as long as this country has its freedoms intact there will be different needs for different people.

[walls0stone]

the article seem to try to attach guilt to our way of life.. Why the guilt trip? *

Why do we get a total guilt trip? a self inflicted guilt trip at that.. I'm to feel bad becouse I've done somthing proffitable and I can afford an SUV, or Land, or a nice suit ? ? ?

and it's not just in the money...if I didn't have a mother on drugs of a father that beat me I should feel bad to...or so I'm told.

[Cil]

I quit driving around '90, basically because I suck at it. But I'm thinking of taking lessons again and getting my DL, because my dad has gotten really bad at driving and he does have some health issues. I just want to be ready just in case.

[MNMOM]

Living in No Calif having a car is not a luxury it's a necessity. No rapid transit, no bus, not even a taxi and thats the way we like it. I know those in charge would like it if we all lived in a small tenement on the site of the factory we work in and we could be good little slaves but some of us will never live by those rules. I don't ever want to be one of the huddeled mass, No big cities, FEMA camps, and no Government control over my movements no matter what it cost


I live out in the middle of nowhere and it is a necessity that I own a vehicle. I do combine all my running to one day or sometimes two. There's just no other way and I will not apologize for it. I do try to conserve the best way I know how and I do set my cruise control to 50, boy, do people get pi--ed at me though.

[Katrina-Sisu]

First of all I don't buy carp from a guy who quotes freaking Al Gore. That hypocrite's mansion's electric bill last year was what some people earn for a yearly income.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/national_world&id=5072659

Not to mention The Inconvenient Truth gave me one heck of a convenient nap. I seriously think I almost went into a coma listeing to that show lol.

I wish the person who wrote the article would visit rural America. You're pretty much stranded unless you have a vehicle if you're in the boondocks (like everyone said above me).

Kat

[Katrina-Sisu]

I live out in the middle of nowhere and it is a necessity that I own a vehicle. I do combine all my running to one day or sometimes two. There's just no other way and I will not apologize for it. I do try to conserve the best way I know how and I do set my cruise control to 50, boy, do people get pi--ed at me though.

:D I drive 55mph tops, 60 mph on the interstate. I've had grannies drive by and flip me off for driving slow LOL!

Kat

[Cutter]

And I can not get through the 8" of snow in my driveway in a prius. If I am to go to work in the winter I have to get out and my 4wd truck can do it. A 40mpg car is worthless if you can't get to the road.

[Drawbar]

And I can not get through the 8" of snow in my driveway in a prius. If I am to go to work in the winter I have to get out and my 4wd truck can do it. A 40mpg car is worthless if you can't get to the road.

Hey cutter,I am not quoting you just to argue with you, but I wanted a chance to show you and others,another side of this equation because I used to feel this way as well.

I live farther out then most people on here and I live in Maine, a tough state to drive in the winter. Still for gas reasons I got rid of my 4 x 4 truck and got a Ford Focus. Interestingly enough it pretty darn good in the winter. Good tires, careful driving and picking state highways when I could, all helped.

That's easy to understand, but what may not be is the fact that if its too bad outside. I just don't go to work. There are only a few days a year its so bad out that I can't realistically make it to work, and with the gas money I save throughout the year on my commute (19 mpg with my truck compared to 37 mpg with my car) I can afford a few days off a year even if vacation time and paid time off doesn't cover it.

All I am saying is this...maybe we should not look at the car as bad, but rather prioritize the use of the car. While many may argue "hey Drawbar I got no choice, I got to get to work," I wonder if that is really true? If its really nasty outside, do we REALLY, TRULY need to be at work? I am betting most of the time that's not the case.

[Drawbar]

Now as far as the original poster on here, this kind of stuff kind of gets me upset. So many times the Europeans are cited as being so great because they don't have cars and use high speed trains. Well that's great when you live in a small area, but as a railroader,I know the truth about high speed trains...

This county is just too darn big to be spending several million dollars per mile to build high speed commuter trains. Europe and Japan did it because they could. They are small in size, heck France is the size of Texas. Big deal,who couldn't build a high speed railroad in that amount of acreage.

We are making strides in railroads though, just not in the areas of high speed. last month Maine's Amtrak line was expanded into Brunswick and it boasted the largest ridership increase in the US on any Amtrak run. That's good because Maine is VERY car dependent.

The best way to help American in RR travel is not to waste money on expensive commuter trains but to simply re-regulate the railroad industry.I am not a fan of big government, but in this case it has to be done. As Manager for a major railroad I will just say that I am privy to info most of you are not. We need a government watch dog for the railroads.

[walls0stone]

I bet they know how to handle winter in your world..most people who come out to the sticks..see a skiff and freak out. I also think many of the cars they bring are not cut out for sliding into a snow bank or dodge'n a deer.

If it were just about gas I'd agree..but it's the cars that are good for the sticks..are just as poor on gas as SUVs

[Katrina-Sisu]

You all need this highly efficent Lada 4x4!! :D (page is in Finnish)

http://www.lada.fi/?p=388

Includes two cylinder engine, and goes from 0-60 mph in 19 seconds :D.

Communism not included :D.

Kat

[walls0stone]

threw my experence with the equipment business, the first thing I ask myself when I get a car, truck or loader is how quick can I get parts. In our area someone had was selling russian built tractors. They were far cheeper than the other brands made in the mid west...but people got them and then could not get parts....or help.

I've had some customers who started play'n farm, found great deals on line..but would not have had a place to service the investment.

I'm not agensts that little car..but I do fear not being able to keep up with it. Another factor, wile on the subject is that my mecanic drives the same car I do..and he's old school.. just like they used to be. every month he checks over my truck and treats the our car like his own. keeping up on them is the best way to get the most out of them.

[HockeyFan]

We'll probably never have enough passenger train service, just because currently, there is too much of the country currently being taxed (federal) to subsidize train service in the larger cities. They're not going to take those dollars and give them to smaller areas just so they can have trains too. So unless the rest of us want to be double-taxed (which we don't) must of us are not going to have passenger train service unless we have it now.

I do hope that more freight is done via train, and that the big truck rigs will be used more regionally and locally, than to be driving loads cross country (which I think trains can do so much more efficiently).

[bookwormom]

quote
I really don't know how Canadians and Europeans get by paying so much more then we do!

I don't think they pay more, first of all they drive small, energy efficient cars and second, they don't go far. when I go shopping here I have to go three times as far. I think I may be spending more on gas here, though it is cheaper, have not figured it out.

8" of snow cutter? I used to drive a VW bug long time ago, when they were still the real thing. I was the paper lady and got out really early, before the snowplow. Never missed a paper. Good milage and went anywhere. (those were the days)

[MooseToo]

quote
I really don't know how Canadians and Europeans get by paying so much more then we do! *

I don't think they pay more, *first of all they drive small, energy efficient cars and second, they don't go far. *when I go shopping here I have to go three times as far. *I think I may be spending more on gas here, though it is cheaper, have not figured it out.

8" of snow cutter? I used to drive a VW bug long time ago, when they were still the real thing. I was the paper lady and got out really early, before the snowplow. *Never missed a paper. *Good milage and went anywhere. *(those were the days)
remember those old print ads - a lone beetle moving off in the distance leaving two deep ruts in the snowed-in highway - and the caption "every wonder how the snowplow driver gets to work?"

[Funkhouser]

I had a 1970 Beetle that would tear up some snow. Amazing what those little 1600 cc engines could accomplish. Picked it up for $200, drove it for about three years and sold it for scrap (got my $200 back!)

I personally would not want a vehicle that costs $150 to $200 to fill up. But if you drive OTR or haul gravel or operate a farm, you have little choice (other than brewing and burning your own biodiesel - feasible for some but not all).

[Cutter]

You know Drawbar maybe a Ford Focus could work if it weren't for that 6'7" 260 lb body I've got. Most small cars won't let me in.

[Drawbar]

I think you guys are full of crap. This woman's VW didn't go very good in the snow. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTPBjfA3zTM

[Katrina-Sisu]

I think you guys are full of crap. This woman's VW didn't go very good in the snow. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTPBjfA3zTM

LMAO LOL, I think that's some kind of ~adult~ video lol. Read the comments lol :D.

Kat

[EarthMother]

Okay let me jump in here with my tall boots on ::)
I'm wondering if we aren't reading too much into the original post. I've been to several of the places spoken of. This group is correct in seeing this won't work for the USA, we are too big. About the best we could do is have a couple of major cities in each state for Amtrak and for shipping. We did have it that way long ago. I thought the guy sounded proud to be an American. Perhaps with him being from another country he just isn't explaining or understanding very well.

I am a died in the wool Republican and all, however di you see what the chap was quoting? What part of becoming independant by going solar, wind, geo thermal did you not like? But then again perhaps I'm the one who missed the point. I have been certified as somewhat different. 8)