Driving is in a steep decline in America

[Yelnoc]

I wish this was true, but Muon brings up a very good point, which makes me think driving will become more popular as the economy improves. 

I would say IF the economy improves, Yelnoc.  All indications are that the vast majority of Americans will be permanently poorer than their parents, so their driving will doubtless be curtailed for life.

Assuming a stagnation of technology you may well be right.  I'm an optimist though, and I think we're heading towards a future that will not just find a way to get by without oil, but will break down the barriers put in place by oil, creating a more energy rich society.  And when you get right down to it, all of economics relates to energy.

[opebo]

I would say IF the economy improves, Yelnoc.  All indications are that the vast majority of Americans will be permanently poorer than their parents, so their driving will doubtless be curtailed for life.

Assuming a stagnation of technology you may well be right.  I'm an optimist though, and I think we're heading towards a future that will not just find a way to get by without oil, but will break down the barriers put in place by oil, creating a more energy rich society.  And when you get right down to it, all of economics relates to energy.

It is State policy (neoliberalism) which impoverishes the working class and enriches the owning elite.  The focus on energy is an obfuscation.

[Simfan34]

I wish this was true, but Muon brings up a very good point, which makes me think driving will become more popular as the economy improves. 

I would say IF the economy improves, Yelnoc.  All indications are that the vast majority of Americans will be permanently poorer than their parents, so their driving will doubtless be curtailed for life.

Assuming a stagnation of technology you may well be right.  I'm an optimist though, and I think we're heading towards a future that will not just find a way to get by without oil, but will break down the barriers put in place by oil, creating a more energy rich society.  And when you get right down to it, all of economics relates to energy.

If only.

I despise what cars have done to this country. However it's difficult for me to approve a trend brought upon by anything "virtual". Tell me the Internet is making people wear suits more and I might start wearing band shirts.

EDIT: Upon reading the article it is clear the internet has very little to do with this trend. Thus I am excited to see its occurence. But buses suck. It's a great shame that the criminals who destroyed this country's streetcar systems never faced justice for what they did. Bring the streetcars back! To hell with bustitution! One day I'll write a giant polemic against suburbanism.

[Yelnoc]

I would say IF the economy improves, Yelnoc.  All indications are that the vast majority of Americans will be permanently poorer than their parents, so their driving will doubtless be curtailed for life.

Assuming a stagnation of technology you may well be right.  I'm an optimist though, and I think we're heading towards a future that will not just find a way to get by without oil, but will break down the barriers put in place by oil, creating a more energy rich society.  And when you get right down to it, all of economics relates to energy.

It is State policy (neoliberalism) which impoverishes the working class and enriches the owning elite.  The focus on energy is an obfuscation.

Come on now opebo, you know all ideologies are mere tools by the elite to oppress the many.  Call it neoliberalism, call it socialism, call it feudalism.  Each and everyone is used to put into place a new class of rulers and keep them there, regardless of the intentions of the founders.  The scientific approach, focusing on energy, intends not to break the long human tradition of upper and lower classes, but merely to lift everyone's boat.  If the poorest of the poor are energy rich (and rich in everything related to energy), is that not a good thing?

I wish this was true, but Muon brings up a very good point, which makes me think driving will become more popular as the economy improves. 

I would say IF the economy improves, Yelnoc.  All indications are that the vast majority of Americans will be permanently poorer than their parents, so their driving will doubtless be curtailed for life.

Assuming a stagnation of technology you may well be right.  I'm an optimist though, and I think we're heading towards a future that will not just find a way to get by without oil, but will break down the barriers put in place by oil, creating a more energy rich society.  And when you get right down to it, all of economics relates to energy.

If only.

Perhaps you would be interested in Cathcon's Feudalist Party?

[Simfan34]

I wish this was true, but Muon brings up a very good point, which makes me think driving will become more popular as the economy improves. 

I would say IF the economy improves, Yelnoc.  All indications are that the vast majority of Americans will be permanently poorer than their parents, so their driving will doubtless be curtailed for life.

Assuming a stagnation of technology you may well be right.  I'm an optimist though, and I think we're heading towards a future that will not just find a way to get by without oil, but will break down the barriers put in place by oil, creating a more energy rich society.  And when you get right down to it, all of economics relates to energy.

If only.

Perhaps you would be interested in Cathcon's Feudalist Party?

Not economically liberal enough.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I wish this was true, but Muon brings up a very good point, which makes me think driving will become more popular as the economy improves. 

I would say IF the economy improves, Yelnoc.  All indications are that the vast majority of Americans will be permanently poorer than their parents, so their driving will doubtless be curtailed for life.

Assuming a stagnation of technology you may well be right.  I'm an optimist though, and I think we're heading towards a future that will not just find a way to get by without oil, but will break down the barriers put in place by oil, creating a more energy rich society.  And when you get right down to it, all of economics relates to energy.

If only.

Perhaps you would be interested in Cathcon's Feudalist Party?

Not economically liberal enough.

What do you mean? The Feudalist Party embraces all ideologies and people from all walks of life. Unlike the Democrats, we favor a meritocratic system that encourages innovation, just in the confines of the Feudal enterprise, however.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

"The service is bad and I have to wait a long time" is not an adequate excuse to purchase a vehicle and have to pay monthly charges, gas, repairs, parking, and others. If anything, it's an excuse to reform and appropriate fund the public transit system further. If you don't want to wait an hour to get to a location that's four miles away, walk, bike or even carpool.

That would be a lot more expensive for an individual than buying a car.

Is this a joke?

Don't you see the humor in someone being expected to fix the public transit system instead of buying a car?

No I don't, there is nothing humorous about a destructive and non-sustainable system being perpetuated by selfish dicks.

Okay, you've convinced me. With the $4K I get selling my car I'll go out and solve my region's transit deficiencies (hopefully before I have to get somewhere important in a hurry). However, I'm a bit short on the naive sense of moral superiority required for this endeavor so maybe you can loan me some.

[TheDeadFlagBlues]

"The service is bad and I have to wait a long time" is not an adequate excuse to purchase a vehicle and have to pay monthly charges, gas, repairs, parking, and others. If anything, it's an excuse to reform and appropriate fund the public transit system further. If you don't want to wait an hour to get to a location that's four miles away, walk, bike or even carpool.

That would be a lot more expensive for an individual than buying a car.

Is this a joke?

Don't you see the humor in someone being expected to fix the public transit system instead of buying a car?

No I don't, there is nothing humorous about a destructive and non-sustainable system being perpetuated by selfish dicks.

Okay, you've convinced me. With the $4K I get selling my car I'll go out and solve my region's transit deficiencies (hopefully before I have to get somewhere important in a hurry). However, I'm a bit short on the naive sense of moral superiority required for this endeavor so maybe you can loan me some.

Selfish dicks: people who are unwilling to pay a small increase in taxes to accommodate those who can't easily afford to purchase cars or who don't want to purchase cars to save money. This has nothing to do with drivers of cars inherently being selfish fossil fuel users, it has to do with a suburban mentality that says that everyone needs to own a car and that car ownership is the only way to structure society.

tl;dr version: you either misread my post or an asinine fool.

[Associate Justice PiT]

"The service is bad and I have to wait a long time" is not an adequate excuse to purchase a vehicle and have to pay monthly charges, gas, repairs, parking, and others. If anything, it's an excuse to reform and appropriate fund the public transit system further. If you don't want to wait an hour to get to a location that's four miles away, walk, bike or even carpool.

That would be a lot more expensive for an individual than buying a car.

Is this a joke?

Don't you see the humor in someone being expected to fix the public transit system instead of buying a car?

No I don't, there is nothing humorous about a destructive and non-sustainable system being perpetuated by selfish dicks.

Okay, you've convinced me. With the $4K I get selling my car I'll go out and solve my region's transit deficiencies (hopefully before I have to get somewhere important in a hurry). However, I'm a bit short on the naive sense of moral superiority required for this endeavor so maybe you can loan me some.

Selfish dicks: people who are unwilling to pay a small increase in taxes to accommodate those who can't easily afford to purchase cars or who don't want to purchase cars to save money. This has nothing to do with drivers of cars inherently being selfish fossil fuel users, it has to do with a suburban mentality that says that everyone needs to own a car and that car ownership is the only way to structure society.

tl;dr version: you either misread my post or an asinine fool.

     Re-read Holmes's post & you'll see what shua meant...or maybe you won't. I thought it was pretty funny, myself.

[Eraserhead]

I drive as little as possible. It's not really something I enjoy doing.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Driving and car ownership in general is one of those issues that make me feel like the American Right is motivated more by petty contrarianism (What, you want us to bike? Like Europeans?) and outright selfishness (I don't want no government man telling me I can't own a fast car!) more than any sort of interest in actual problem solving.

Like King once said in a thread awhile back, it's as if being on the Right has to be some sort of through-and-through lifestyle.

[Simfan34]

Agreed.

[Tender Branson]

I drive as little as possible. It's not really something I enjoy doing.

I would not enjoy it either - in NYC.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Driving and car ownership in general is one of those issues that make me feel like the American Right is motivated more by petty contrarianism (What, you want us to bike? Like Europeans?) and outright selfishness (I don't want no government man telling me I can't own a fast car!) more than any sort of interest in actual problem solving.

Like King once said in a thread awhile back, it's as if being on the Right has to be some sort of through-and-through lifestyle.

That, I think, is the whole Raison d'etre of the American Right. At least, everything makes more sense when you look at it that way.