BIKE: Article in WSJ regarding SUV gas mileage

[Chuck_Thomas]

I'd rather tax gasoline to cover the true costs of its use and let
people be free to make their own choice of vehicles.  If you want to
drive around in a Mack trunk, fill it with $3 a gallon gas, pay huge
road taxes, and insurance premiums, have at it.

http://www.lp.org
'let freedom ring'

-----Original Message-----
From: forum-bicycleaustin.info-bounces
[mailto:forum-bicycleaustin.info-bounces] On
Behalf Of KingLeo1
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2004 3:34 PM
To: forum
Subject: Re: BIKE: Article in WSJ regarding SUV gas mileage



> "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.  
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