The idiotic American car-centric culture (controversial, claims, taxes, socialist)
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The last census in the Northeastern states showed that the exurbs are dying and the older suburbs are booming next to the stable cities which are also growing like Philly , Newark , Baltimore , DC...
Gee, the one area in the country where the population density is close to Europe's.
The only reason people don't have more cars in the EU is because the Socialist government won't let them. Everyone loves have a car.
And then, a nut job appears... What parallel universe do you hail from?
Even in the US, younger generations have been turning away from cars because they no longer hold the "status" that they once had... Many Europeans don't need a car because they can rely on other means of transportation. Others don't want one because of costs. Still others don't want one because it is a nightmare to find parking in many densely populated cities.
I used to own a car in Manhattan. Parking it was super expensive and/or a logistical nightmare. Not one of my friends had a car - and not because the socialist NYC government wouldn't let them.
When gas reaches $10 a gallon, I think you will see more people moving closer to where they work and riding bicycles.
That's the usual scare-tactic used as a mantra by the chronic Lefties here, but I wouldn't hold my breath. The problem isn't so much the increasing price as the growing unreliability of a steady supply. That's why rebuilding the public transport system, as an emergency alterntaive if nothing more, in areas that formerly had a good one makes more sense than expensive High Speed Rail (HSR) pipe dreams (eagerly lapped up by the aforementioned Lefties like so much cream soda).
You can also educate the public as to the benefits of park-and-ride, which is growing in areas like Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, where I commute to work on a weekly basis. If you have a safe place to leave the car outside the city, most people are as happy about the congestion and hassle avoided as they are about the fuel saved. And a short bus ride to New York or Philly allows me to connect to anywhere between Portland (Me), and Norfolk without a car -- just don't get to fussy about the time involved and the connections at the other end of the journey.
Finally, it needs to be recognized that every rise in the price of easily extractable petroleum moves alternatives such as ethanol, tar sands and oil shale closer to sustinability. The North Dakota field has been common knowledge for well over fity years -- it just wasn't profitable until the global petroleum price rose. The market will take care of itself, without any help from Al Gore and similar would-be influence peddlers.
Last edited by 2nd trick op; 09-30-2012 at 05:02 PM..
And then, a nut job appears... What parallel universe do you hail from?
Even in the US, younger generations have been turning away from cars because they no longer hold the "status" that they once had...
Just because you say something like this does not make it so.
Quote:
I used to own a car in Manhattan. Parking it was super expensive and/or a logistical nightmare. Not one of my friends had a car - and not because the socialist NYC government wouldn't let them.
It has been noted by just about everyone that they understand why someone in Manhattan would not want to own a car. Not everyone lives in Manhattan. Even when I was in NYC there were cars everywhere. If I didn't have to fight the traffic through the tunnel I most certainly wouldn't either.
If horses expel carbon dioxide while peacefully grazing in a field or resting in a paddock then they should be exterminated. To reduce global warming.
Yeah, people might get fat if they are resting, but they probably expel less carbon dioxide than while they are riding bikes.
Something to think about.
All mammals exhale CO2 CO2 is good for plants..... All plants that are based on the CARBON SYSTEM OF LIFE WHICH WE ALL ARE TOO.
There is also sulfur based life on earth, but is rather limited to deep ocean hot springs and assorted other places like in Yellow Stone.
There is no problem with CO2.
Now there is another gas that may be a problem, methane, which we fart out, all other mammals fart out, and flooding valleys full of vegetation for hydro electric will gas out.
Burning things creates a toxic gas as carbon monoxide which is another gas that could be a problem, but it comes from burning most anything.
I don't believe in MMGW, however the Earth is at the end of normal warming cycle IMO. As Earth becomes colder weather patterns will be screwed up a while then mellow, but get colder and colder until ice pushes mankind into the sea. That won't be next year or the year after so no need to panic.
Earth has been a big snow ball before and will be again.. IF man is still around That will be a big problem.
If i am wrong and NYC goes under 2 to 4 feet of water it really isn't that big of a deal. IF Canada becomes the grain belt that also isn't that big of a deal, but I am not too sure that anyone will want English wine.
If there is one thing about this country that makes absolutely no sense is this stupid, lazy, car-centric culture.
After having spent sometime in Europe, it is really hard to become one of the sheep- so I ride my bicycle to work everyday and there is nothing better!
I was comparing obesity rates in countries like Germany and the Netherlands-where walking and riding a bicycle is widespread and they are about 10%. The United States will have obesity rate of 75% by the year 2020.
Something has definitely gone wrong here!
I love cars, especially fast cars with powerful engines. I only own 3, but if I had a bigger garage I would own more. Nothing is better than a high powered sports car.
I've been to Europe and pity those poor people who drive those dinky little underpowered cars. So there is no way I will become one of the European sheep.
And I'm not obese.
NOTHING has gone wrong with our cars except excessive regulation.
And then, a nut job appears... What parallel universe do you hail from?
Even in the US, younger generations have been turning away from cars because they no longer hold the "status" that they once had... Many Europeans don't need a car because they can rely on other means of transportation. Others don't want one because of costs. Still others don't want one because it is a nightmare to find parking in many densely populated cities.
I used to own a car in Manhattan. Parking it was super expensive and/or a logistical nightmare. Not one of my friends had a car - and not because the socialist NYC government wouldn't let them.
I wouldn't own a car in Manhattan either. In fact, I wouldn't live there either. I wouldn't live any place where parking is hard to find.
But you are totally out of touch with most young people. They still love cars.
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That will be a big problem.
