BIKE: Article in WSJ regarding SUV gas mileage

[KingLeo1]

> "This is America," wrote Ms. McLeod, a real-estate agent from Livonia, Mich.  "It's an American's right to drive a small car if they choose, just as it's my right to drive an SUV if I choose." <
 
 Ms. McLeod's attitude illustrates the very basic misconception most Americans have about automobilies.  While we as Americans DO have a right to freedom of mobility... the use of an automobile (of any type or size) is not actually not a RIGHT, but a PRIVLEDGE.  
 
 A RIGHT is granted inalienably by a higher authority (be it God, or the Nation, etc).  But a PRIVLEDGE must be earned.  In this situation, the use of an automobile (or SUV) is a priveldge which is earned by 1) being able to afford it, and 2) demonstrating the ability to operate it (ie, the license).
 
 > "We've been working our tails off" to alert drivers, says Ron DeFore, spokesman for the SUV owners' group. He says the proposal "may force people into vehicles that are smaller, less powerful, and not as safe as our current options." <
 
 And here's the other half of the picture.  So long as there's been ample supplies of (relatively) cheap gas, government has stayed pretty much out of the game of telling people what they can drive (other than trying to set fuel economy standards, which the big automakers seem to have many ways of working around).  However, this too could well change in the latter days of King Oil. I think we could very well see the government banning or restricting the use of SUV's (Stupid Useless Vehicles), if the only need is to haul one ordinary person across town.  
 
 It won't be a pretty scene for the motoring public, folks,  It might be good to stock up now on earplugs - the wailing and nashing of teeth from the car addicts could be deafening.