Expensive Fuel Is Good?
Written by: Aaron Katsman | June 1, 2009
In one of the most inane/insane op-ed’s I have ever read, Ynet’s Tani Goldstein sets out to prove why expensive fuel is good. In his first killer point he says, “Making fuel more expensive will prompt some of us to use our cars a little less, and cars (including mine) are, simply put, humanity’s enemy. Cars are an enemy because they kill people: Since World War II, road accidents are the leading cause of unnatural death in the world.”
Last time I looked out at the parking lot behind my office I saw no cars attacking anyone. Alert: People who drive cars kill people! I also wonder how many people have been saved or born because of cars? Millions of pregnant women in labor were brought to hospitals in cars, and delivered babies. A lot more than were killed by unnatural deaths since WWII. I can see it now, some woman with contractions 5 minutes apart, and her husband sticks her in a wagon ties to his 10-speed and starts peddling to the hospital. Oh, I forgot, I am sure that the author only allows home-births.
In another truly compelling argument, Goldstein says, “By the way, there is no certainty that a car truly improves the quality of life of all motorists.” Uh Huh. So we need a 100% satisfaction guarantee in order to have any convenience?
After all, without vehicles, how are we to get all of Goldstein’s organic fruits and vegetables to market?
Finally for the finale, “Yet life is not a communist utopia, and the pleasures of life will never be divided fairly. Residents of peripheral towns will be inconvenienced to a greater extent.” No need to even respond to that gem.
Regarding peripheral towns, I think that without cars, they will be a thing of the past. How are these residents going to be able to get anywhere without a car? If Goldstein had his way, everyone would need to move to a big city. That does not sound so ‘environmental”, does it?
The fact is that automobiles are one of the greatest sources of freedom for individuals, and source of commerce the economy. By wanting to limit their use, he is trying to create a ‘Communist utopia”.
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