Originally Posted by Mike-in-Orange
Your exact words were:
And when I look around me every day on the way to and from work, I see large SUVs all around me. With one person in them. I see large, fancy pickup trucks (trucks the owner would NEVER allow anything dirty into the bed). With one person in them. Lifted Hummers, fully decked in chrome. With one person in them. That's the problem - these things are not regularly being used to transport a full load of butts!
I fully understand the concept of "vehicle needs", but these are "vehicle wants". And you can't tell me that all of these people tow boats on the weekend - there just aren't that many boats in the US!
My neighbor did a wonderful job downsizing from a full sized Chevy van to a Ford Transit Connect, and still hauls everything he needs to for his plumbing business while getting 27mpg instead of 15mpg.
Of course, with gas once again at $4/gallon here in California (I paid $4.11/gal for premium in the Crossfire yesterday) I'm sure a lot of folks will be dumping these things once again.
Not trying to make an argument here. But...
You still didn't get the point of all my posts
My exact words reflected an example of when the Minivan was in capacity use. I left no words that suggested this was a constant occupancy rate, which is your false premise here.
Moma is often riding to work in her honking big Escalade. ALONE.
So what,
First she bought it to carry the kids with some room and metal surrounding them.
Second she bought it for the many purposes in her life including the daily commute to work and third,
Now this is the most important.....
Most importantly, she likely earned the money and the right to own it.
She bought it for herself.
Why can't personal choice still be a fundimental right?
This is still America after all.
Or is it?
Who are you, or who is the government to determine what she ought to drive?
When the government starts sending her money, gas stamps or whatever, to support her "unneccesary" vehicle's appetite, to satisfy what she "wants," I'll get on your side of this argument.
You and your neighbors are more than welcome to change
your driving habits to fit
your choices. Leave me and mine alone thank you.