Are Americans too dependent on the automobile? discuss.?
459813
Yes, 50 years ago there were lots of good buses in all the cities and suburbs. Most families owned one car. The wife would drop the husband at the bus or train and have the car. The kids took buses or biked. There were very few fat people because people walked to and from public transportation. There were a lot more buses and trollies than there are now and there were trains that were later discontinued. I love NYC because you don't need a car. You can get from one end to the other very quickly by subway. We should be subsidizing public transportation instead of sending oil money to terrorists.
308876
yes.  think of all the benefits for the hard working, tax paying, law abiding citizens like you and i!  lower gas prices (less demand), less cars on the road means quicker commute times and less accidents!  lower car insurance premiums!  less un-insured drivers causing accidents!  drop the un-employment rate! \n\nDont let those liberal politicians play on your emotions!  the benefits out-weigh just leaving them there to continue to suck off the govt system and raise your bills!.
166
From this article:\nhttp://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/04/A01-369542.htm\n\n"Their [U.S. automakers] combined share of the U.S. market shrank to a new low of 52.4 percent last month from 57 percent a year ago and 70 percent in 1999 when American consumers were snapping up light trucks and SUVs."\n\nIt fluctuates more than you would think, but right now (a 7-year low) it is a little over 50%
562923
The President of the U.S., upon being elected, places all of his financial interests into a "blind trust" which means that he does not know where his interests lie.  This prevents him from making executive decisions based on personal financial interests.  As I understand it, Clinton was the only president who did not do this.\n\nI think the bigger problem is that we as consumers are too selfish.  We want someone else to fix the problem we created.  How many gas-guzzling SUV's are sold in America every day?  How many unnecessary trips do we make around town or across the state?  How many people drive to work when they could walk?\n\nIt's basic economics.  If we decrease our demand for fuel, the price will decline.  Am I the only person who passed Econ 101?
337234
The answer to most of the US's problems is our dependency on oil.  Not only for automotive fuel but also for energy generation and heating.  We need to find cheaper and more efficient ways to handle these issues and soon.
539833
no,just that the space is needed for "ITS" transportation.\nenglish people have small cars becausevery small d...s.ok?\ni'm french so there.nudge nudge wink wink to you too!
354696
People need to conserve energy, like not drive gas guzzling cars and SUV's.  People in Europe do not drive SUV's for the most part so the "I need the extra room" argument does not actually hold true.  Now days oil is not just gasoline like everyone thinks, oil is a key ingredient in: CD's, computers, deodorant, DVD's, dyes, furniture, paint, shampoo, clothing, toothpaste and on and on.  We went through this in the 1970's and nobody learned the lesson then.  Back then they drove gas guzzling cars the energy crunch hit, people bought small cars.  Prices went back down over time then everyone forgot...  Nobody want to drill offshore California, or the east coast or Alaska, all this would help bring on more production so now we have to buy our oil from overseas in unstable countries.  Lets look at refining, nobody wants a refinery in their back yard so those to have been going overseas, meaning we are at other counties mercy there too.  Oil companies are not to blame, we are.  We need to quit thinking we have a right to cheap energy and that it will always be there.  We need to develop alternative sources of energy.\n\nThis country imports over 50% of it oil from other countries.  They have us by the #@*&'s!\n\nLastly, most of what is in the price of gasoline is tax.  Yes that's right tax you can thank your state and the federal govt.  see http://api-ec.api.org/filelibrary/Gasoline-taxes.
127995
Too low. \nBush may be wrong on a lot of things, but he does have a point regarding our dependence on fossil fuels. \nAs you increase prices, more and more people will take alternative transportation. Bicycles, public transport, hybrid cars are all viable means to reduce dependence on oil. This means healthier environments, healthier people and in the long run, a better way of life.
1157228
americans are lazy, spoiled brats living the good life even if theyre on a street\n\ngo to Zimbabway,South America
194083
Ford, hands down, there American too. Who cares about Honda and Toyota, if your not buying American then in my opinion your not American. When you buy a foreign car your money goes over seas, sure they have manufacturing facilities here, however, let's not make another country rich from our hard work.
1167210
I totally agree with kyle w....  \nThis country has never been "dependent on no one", unless you want to count the time before the Brits came over here to found a new country.  The native American indians were dependent on no one but themselves.  America, as a country has always traded, imported, and exported with other countries.\n\nYou definitely need to do some research.
1080301
Even Americans are mortified to see themselves and their neighbors be so huge. Check out WalMart sometime. Criminy. \n\nI think that people tend to do what they have seen done before them. Look at the impossibility of the 4 minute mile. Once the barrier was broken, there were many more that came right after. \n\nWhen one sees truly huge people, it is easy to think of ones self as "not too fat." I'm not as big as "that" person, so I am not so bad. \n\nAmericans don't all do things as a group. We live in an enormous country. We tend to do things that our families and neighbors do. There is very little true necessary activity in this nation anymore. Farming is done with machines, clothes are washed in machines, dishes are washed similarly, no ironing is truly necessary, food is microwavable and served up instantly in fast food restaurants. \n\nOur lifestyle, in general, seems to be one of needing more hours in the day. Most people are working couples, kids get second place to the parents' jobs. There isn't much time for family life, and for personal recreation, much let alone kayaking, cycling, mountain hiking, and volksmarching. \n\nThe hectic lives many Americans lead does not lend itself to healthful living. \n\nAnother thing to consider is that most Americans are not rich. Most Americans work very hard to try to "keep up with the Joneses." There are images of monied perfection that we try to attain, and it takes 2 jobs and not much time for anything else. The people who you see as jetsetters, ski bunnies, and driving great cars and living in fantastic homes are the top of the economic pile. Most of us are not as well heeled, and can't afford the gym, or even find time for a nice walk. \n\nYou talk about how the rest of the world views Americans. Sorry that the fat slobs here are ruining our world image. Sometimes it might be impossible, but a nice dream, to think that others might check in their own backyards before judging the rest of the world. \n\nI know that Americans are not the favorites of the world. But again, the great majority of us are decent, caring, well-balanced individuals, with open minds and hearts. Even the very fattest of us all might surprise the rest of the svelte world population with intelligence, dignity, inner grace, and kindness. \n\nSorry America doesn't present the best picture for you or the "rest of the world." Sorry about the starving folks in other countries. Truly I am. But to be angry with us because of a weight issue is to be small-minded and ignorant of the real factors facing transglobal relations. \n\nWe're fat because we have access to unhealthy foods, live an unhealthy lifestyle, and are caught in a rut of modern living. Habits are hard to break, and no one is eating extra calories to cause international hardship. Perhaps the next time I consider putting that second serving of Cheerios into my cereal bowl, I'll remember how it'll look to the rest of the world, and be ashamed.
662478
If you got one of those cheesy japanese cars (honda, toyota...) not very big - like the size of a pea.  A hearty American car can withstand much more abuse. \n\nCheers!
567648
Someone already did invent an engine that ran on something other than gas.  It was covered up years ago and set on a shelf.  Because of the "financial repercussions of putting so many people out of business", so the excuse was at the time.\n\nObviously we should be spending more on becoming less dependent on oil and I certainly think the health care crisis in this nation is more important than seeing how much money they can possibly waste in the space program...good program, but other pressing needs are being ignored!
493980
Yes, oil.  It's the easy thing to do.  After we found it, it was a gold mine because of the easy energy.  Later on, we'll pay for that dependence.  Humans have almost always gone for short-term gains over long-term common sense.\n\nMany Americans are dependent on Social Security/welfare and aren't saving for retirement.\n\nWe are probably too dependent on electronics and computers these days.  If there was a nuclear bomb dropped and it knocked out electronics, the world wouldn't be happy at all.
267801
Anything we can do in this country to reduce our dependence on oil and the middle east in general, is OK with me.\n\nIf tax incentives motivate today's American consumer to buy a hybrid, then I support the concept.
182391
SUVs are teh sux0rz. Only 5% of the people that actually drive them really need them.