… Or, Why We Can’t Find Our Car in our “Green” State
Connecticut is a “blue” state which means that it generally votes democrat. It’s full of “liberals” running around shopping at Trader Joes and farmer’s markets, buying organic and bringing that GREEN hue to every statement they make.
Hence the theme for today’s eco-rant, brought to you in images, for economy’s sake.
So here’s what we saw in the parking lot one day in Mystic, not long after our return to the States.
Look Closer!
So to all you Americans out there who look at this photo and say “What? An empty parking spot?” you should know that all your Euro friends are GOGGLING right now… and here’s why.
Ah HAH! It is NOT, in fact, an empty parking space.
That first photo is merely a trick shot of our adorable Honda Fit (what they call the “Jazz” in other countries), from a peculiarly informative angle.
Just when you think this whole green party is getting a little too wild, you find yourself surrounded by the “I have to drive it! It’s for the safety of my child” brigade.
By the way, you can get two adults, two car seats and ALOT of crap from Costco in that Fit. All for a mere 40 mpg.
Wait a minute – I resemble that remark!
So here is my thought for the day on this. Okay, I see your point. Two car seats fit in ANY car (well, one with a back seat) for a family. AGREED. So why do you need a gas guzzling, 20 mpg minivan or 16 mpg SUV for your two kids, or worse, just TWO of you, or just ONE of you. Well…..the theory behind the BIG vans and cars is to haul MORE than just five people (and seriously, only FOUR comfortably). It’s set to haul seven people – you know, your family and your family’s friends, without having to drag another car down into the mix.
So my question is – what is better, ONE 16 mpg gas guzzling SUV or minivan that can hold 7, or TWO 40 mpg Honda Fits driving down the road? (granted, i believe that there really isn’t that much carpooling going on and that most people just like to be road hogs, but it begs an answer, don’t you think?)
he he – ‘expensive’ gas not making much of a difference over there yet then?
I love hearing Americans complain about how much petrol costs these days and then tell them what it costs over here.
Tam-o, I agree generally… while I await the rare events of seeing a SUVs full of people. I can and have counted so many times when its loner-mobile on the highway.
Days of big families are generally over but I remember them… we HAD 8 people in one station wagon and still managed to get whatever stuff we needed packed in around our feet and elbows or strapped to the top.
For errands. For short trips and one-kid-runs, every family needs to have a little car like the Fit. And when we start counting, almost every drive we make falls in that category. The SUVs should be gathering dust, pulled out only for the winter month trips to Grandmas through the snow.
There is a limited amount of fuel and a limited amount of ozone. Why is that such a difficult equation for people to calculate?
What the hell does ozone have to do with anything?