Raging Cynic

Just caught a commercial for the latest generation of Subaru SUV. Seems fantastic. Just not in that “wow that’s swell” way; more in the “are they serious?” way. The only thing they say in the whole 30-second spot is that it’s bigger. A bigger SUV; great. Now, it may have a better MPG, may have more safety options, maybe it’s a resigned interior or drive-line to make it safer and more reliable. But they don’t say anything on that; it’s just bigger.

Are we still wallowing in the era of monster-SUVs? Now, among my California urbanite circle, taking plastic bags instead of a canvas tote out of the supermarket is looked down upon (not that it stops people).

All the same, it can’t be denied that high-gas prices aren’t keeping the gas-guzzlers and mammoth SUVs off the road. Dealerships, even here in California’s Bay Area which boasts some of the nation’s highest gas prices, keep lining SUVs at the front of their lots.

Is there a solution? Several years after Ireland passed laws forcing supermarkets to charge customers for a plastic bag, nearly everyone’s switched to canvas bags and walking out with a  plastic bag has become shameful. Taxes on autos and gasoline in Asia seems to be keeping auto purchases from ballooning even more than they might be want to. So what would it take for Americans to wake up to the fact that we’re addicted to a practice that’s making our lives shorter, our environment more toxic, our economy weak, even our government subject to gross manipulation.

By the way, May 15th is bike to work day here in the Bay Area. Even if you don’t have a bike, give mass transit a shot. Google maps does a good job of offering directions using public transit.