George,

I probably sound like the last person who should be critical of the automobile, having spent the largest percentage of my adult life in the automobile business; first, as a business manager for the Pontiac Division of General Motors Corporation, and twenty years in a local retail automobile business, both as general manager of Peyton Pontiac, Cadillac, Nissan and, finally as the dealer before selling my franchises and business to the Colonial Automobile Group.

I learned that automobiles represent, to many Americans, and, to no one's surprise, more than a means to get from point A to point B. An automobile often becomes a means of expressing status; what you drive is an expression of what you are. Ridiculous, you say? Take a look at what some of these "machines for conveyance" cost. If airplane manufacturers used the same logic, few could afford to fly!

It also represents, much of what is wrong in our society. Emphasis on the wrong priorities. Some might say, that ever since the earliest days of the horse and rider, individual transportation has been a fundamental right.. but I see it more akin to that other "fundamental right"... owning a gun ... with consequences to the general welfare equally onerous.

Often faddish, as we see with enormous numbers of sport utility vehicles. Most equipped with off-road capability; four wheel drive, for example. But few are ever used for that purpose, and are kept shiny and bright. Often, the owner will rationalize the purchase for use in snow and ice! Possibly in Northern climes...but Florida? Most of the South? Where snow is becoming an heirloom of yesteryear!

Some, if not most, of these "SUVs" border on obscene. They are, in large part above average in fuel consumption, often dangerous on the highways (as evidenced by the Ford "Explorer", for example).. costly to insure, more damaging to other vehicles in a collision and, in comparison to their outlandish size, generally lacking in overall comfort, ease of handling and space efficiency. They take up more space on our highways and in our towns than is sensible. In short, they are just one highly visible example of the wastefulness and selfishness of many Americans when it comes to automobile ownership! Big is the operative word.

SUVs are, of course, a boon to the manufacturers because they are, at base, a glorified truck, and trucks have a higher profit margin than automobiles.Tire manufacturers love them too, because they generally utilize bigger more specialized tires; hence, more expensive to replace. It is easy to understand why the manufacturers lobby hard against higher fuel standards and smaller vehicles!

Since "Come Away With Me, Lucille, in My Merry Oldsmobile" and before; American auto manufacturers have convinced many that the open road in your gas guzzler is as fundamental as "Baseball, Apple Pie and Chevrolet"

So ingrained is the automobile in the psyche of the average American, that no sacrifice is seen as too great to accommodate this modern scourge! We see private and public building sites, high schools stadiums, parks; where the provisions for the automobile exceed the space for the facility.

Since 1940, based on studies made by leading architects, virtually no major architectural design, has not had, as a large part of the decision making, accommodation of the automobile, be it parking lots, access roads or building design.

It is almost as if this infernal machine has become part of our DNA!

Now, we are debating tearing up a local park, bulldozing trees and countryside to further let this intrusive monster have its way.

Some call it "progress". Others see it as destructive and unnecessary.

In the name of convenience, we pollute our environment, destroy our surroundings and spend more and more of our tax dollars on a non-ending desire to make it easier for the automobile.

I am all for calling a halt, right here!

I think tearing a swath through McIntire Park is evil!

Harry Tenney (electronic mail, March 21, 2002)