The Prius is about America, not the environment
Man, some people just don't get it.
I love the environment, though I don't do enough to protect it, but that isn't why I like hybrid cars such as the Toyota Prius.
When it comes to the Prius, un-American corporatism is my inspiration.
Decades ago, when tiny Hondas hit American soil, my father laughed. "Who would want to drive one of those. You'd get killed in an accident."
But the 70's and the early 80's provided a little dose of reality that caused many to realize that maybe fuel efficiency wasn't such a bad idea - gas shortages. For those living paycheck to paycheck, gasoline was causing pain. Something needed to be done.
Something still needs to be done.
In the interim, the U.S. has significantly built up its military and political influence in the Middle East to achieve one end, cheap foreign oil. This has stoked the fire of a growing Arab resentment against the rich West, which has contributed to 911, and both Iraq Wars.
Twenty to thirty years ago, American automotive executives and boards should have realized the dangers that foreign oil dependency could pose to America in the future. Forecasting is an essential business process, but those same shareholders were probably as invested in oil, as they were in automobiles.
Yet, if America is about freedom and independence, how could the American economy be so dependent upon a foreign resource?
Thus, American automakers, in a stroke of brilliance, created the SUV, while spending billions and billions of dollars marketing the idea that an SUV, not some fuel efficient foreign-made rice box, was Americana. Don't worry about the environment or foreign-oil dependency. Any year now, American automakers have said for decades, we'll develop fuel cells.
Decades later it is obvious American automakers shorted the American people and their security for profit. Perhaps you think that is just business. Fine, but I don't.
Sure the environment is important, important enough that the Pentagon considers environmental concerns one of the greatest threats to American security, but it isn't the reason I like hybrids.
I like the Toyota Prius because it epitomizes America better than any American-made car. It's all about freedom.
I love the environment, though I don't do enough to protect it, but that isn't why I like hybrid cars such as the Toyota Prius.
When it comes to the Prius, un-American corporatism is my inspiration.
Decades ago, when tiny Hondas hit American soil, my father laughed. "Who would want to drive one of those. You'd get killed in an accident."
But the 70's and the early 80's provided a little dose of reality that caused many to realize that maybe fuel efficiency wasn't such a bad idea - gas shortages. For those living paycheck to paycheck, gasoline was causing pain. Something needed to be done.
Something still needs to be done.
In the interim, the U.S. has significantly built up its military and political influence in the Middle East to achieve one end, cheap foreign oil. This has stoked the fire of a growing Arab resentment against the rich West, which has contributed to 911, and both Iraq Wars.
Twenty to thirty years ago, American automotive executives and boards should have realized the dangers that foreign oil dependency could pose to America in the future. Forecasting is an essential business process, but those same shareholders were probably as invested in oil, as they were in automobiles.
Yet, if America is about freedom and independence, how could the American economy be so dependent upon a foreign resource?
Thus, American automakers, in a stroke of brilliance, created the SUV, while spending billions and billions of dollars marketing the idea that an SUV, not some fuel efficient foreign-made rice box, was Americana. Don't worry about the environment or foreign-oil dependency. Any year now, American automakers have said for decades, we'll develop fuel cells.
Decades later it is obvious American automakers shorted the American people and their security for profit. Perhaps you think that is just business. Fine, but I don't.
Sure the environment is important, important enough that the Pentagon considers environmental concerns one of the greatest threats to American security, but it isn't the reason I like hybrids.
I like the Toyota Prius because it epitomizes America better than any American-made car. It's all about freedom.
Labels: energy independence, Foreign Oil Dependency, fuel cells, fuel efficiency, Hybrid Vehicles, prius, toyota
posted by Dahcredyns at
7:03 AM
3 Comments:
I count five reasons efficient cars (including hybrids) are good for America, they:
- improve our national security
- improve our national economy
- save us money, as individuals
- reduce agreed polutants (NOx, SOx, etc.)
- and (as a final benefit) reduce CO2 emissions and greenhouse risk.
I imagine most people would buy into at least a few of those ;-).
BTW, did you see the story that most Americans think it is patriotic to get higher MPG?
the article is here
More and more studies seem to show that a majority of Americans, both Democrats and Republicans, conservatives and liberals, would like to reduce foreign oil dependency.
Unfortunately, American auto-makers have continually tried to marginalize this movement, in favor of short term profit.
It is sad that one-time icons of American technology and manufacturing continually choose shareholders over customers. Without customers, what good are shareholders?
Detroit complains excessively about the cost of hybrids, yet they spend more on marketing gas-guzzling SUVs.
It's just plain sad.
More people should learn about electric cars as a solution. It’s amazing how far the technology has come in just a few years. Plus the savings becomes more and more attractive the higher gas prices go. There’s even an EV that will do 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds (source: zapworld.com). Electric is looking more and more like the way to go.
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