05-21-2007, 05:07 PM
Quote: So why are we arguing? :)
Because this is the lounge, and people that post here generally like arguing.
I agree with you that this should not be an America vs. Europe thing.
I just think that many people (everywhere in the first world) have a bigger car than they need, spend more fuel as they should (by driving like a maniac) or use the car too much in general.
I don't want to make this a discussion about examples like 'I have a friend that needs this car...blabla'. I know, I know that there are people that need the big car, that need to drive a lot, or that can absolutely not live without a car. That is in Europe so, so for sure it is like that in the US as well.
My problem is with the other group. Of course changing habits are not fun, and traveling by public transport is not always as comfortable as by car (although it very often is), but we should understand that we need to change our habits. Anyway, we will finish the worlds oil reserves before most of our African friends ever had the pleasure to drive a car, of course, but let's not overdo it. Unless spectacular new solar energy engines are invented, in the near future we will not be able to travel so much as we do now.
We should now start making a basis for our lives in 50 years. Think about teleworking, using products that are made locally etc. Now these are novelties but in the future it might be the only option.