Gentlepersons-
...As I recall it, the loopholes that the SUV's drive
through were originally
intended to protect American made trucks (as in pickups loaded with farm
equipment),
from furrin invaders. This included pollution standards and inclusion in CAFE
estimates.
Back in the dark ages (Hmmm, California?), there was a "fuel crisis" that
sent sales of
gas guzzlers plummeting and brought American cars more in line with European
and Jap-
anese car sizes and fuel economy. It also introduced the idea of conservation
in other
energy-dependant areas (Thermo-pane windows, insulated houses, etc.), instead
of big-
ger boilers/furnaces. Now, the taps are open again (at a price, at a price),
but I tend
to regard (my opinion, remember?), the SUV, and by extension, the
proliferation of big-
ger engines across the automotive board, as a return to unenlightened ;-),
thinking.
The vehicles are being marketed in a fiendishly clever
manner...The one showing
a guy being "outed" at the gym for owning a "beige minivan" comes to mind,
readily. I
checked my H.S. Biology book and cars/trucks/minivans would appear to be
genderless.
And wilderness-less too...Here in NE NJ/NY, there aren't many places that
mimic the SUV
ads. I really wonder how much of those things are computer-generated, to show
lone
SUV's driving into endless sunsets...
Tony in NJ ...with an everyday driver, '71 Sport Utility VW transporter
W.A.S.T.E.
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