Post by xtra on May 21, 2009 6:18:00 GMT -6
Americans need great, big vehicles
by Jeremy Madden, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Thursday, May 21, 2009
On Tuesday, the Obama administration passed new, tougher mileage standards for the auto industry that it now controls. Sadly, the new requirements could spell the end to the wonderful SUVs, pickup trucks and land yachts that so many of us depend on to make it through the day.
After seeing some of the proposed prototypes, I can safely say that I have seen the vehicles of the future and they are lame. Take the PUMA (Personal Urban Mobility & Accessibility) that’s being produced by a partnership between GM and Segway. It is little more than a tiny, two-seated scooter. Please don’t tell me that after winning two world wars and defeating the spread of communism, we, the American people, will now be reduced to a nation of mall cops.
These smaller, weaker vehicles are unsuitable for many Americans and it is unfair to force us into them. More importantly, I dare say that these diminutive driving machines are discriminatory to a large segment of the American public.
Although you can’t tell from my photo, I suffer from an incurable physical condition that affects millions of Americans. Even though it is not quite a handicap, it nonetheless creates great discomfort and hardships for me on a daily basis. Through no fault of my own, I have been cursed with the burden of being what some might call “tall.”
Being vertically unchallenged is more of a pain than you might think. Sure, it may be great on the basketball court, or for changing light bulbs, but beyond that it is literally a pain, especially when it comes to finding comfortable cars. I’m fine when I’m rolling in my spacious 1991 Buick Park Avenue with Dynaglide. But when I drive my girl’s Subaru wagon my head is jammed into the ceiling, the head rest pokes into the top of my back and my knees are up so high I can barely see the road. It’s a good thing it’s so damn dependable.
But it’s not just the tall who will be discriminated against. It is also the aged. Senior citizens demand big autos. When I go to visit my grandfather at the senior center the parking places bulge with Buicks and Caddies. Future generations will think they were called the Greatest Generation because of the cars they drove.
And what of our nation’s criminal element? Would anyone be intimidated if Tony Soprano pulled up in a Smart Car? They’d know they weren’t getting whacked because there’s no place to put the body.
There’s also culture to consider. Without large, American autos we would not have “On the Road” or “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” We would be without Thelma, or Louise. And David Byrne never would have sung, “You may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile.”
Besides, small vehicles are not the answer to reviving our auto industry. Because of cheap labor costs and less regulations, our friends in China, India and Mexico will be able to beat us on smaller, no frills vehicles. We need to maintain our niche of providing large, comfortable cars, trucks, and SUVs. However, there is one thing we need to change. It is time to put an end to inefficient, gas guzzlers. There’s no reason we can’t make big, powerful vehicles with small carbon footprints.
The future of our auto industry lies in finding a new technology that is cheap, clean and efficient. I don’t care whether it’s coal, nuclear, water, hydrogen, petroleum or pee powered — I know we can do it.
In America, we strive for the best. When it comes to the vehicles of the future there’s no reason we can’t have the best of both worlds.
Contact Jeremy Madden at madden@maddenamerica.com.