So the Huffington Post does a story on the nine worst polluted areas in the world. China’s coal region, the Niger delta for oil spills, London which is highly industrialized, two Russian sites where chemical or nuclear waste were dumped, a river in Indonesia where pollution floats on the surface like the Death Star’s trash compactor, and a mine in Peru round out the most infamous and dangerous suspects. Los Angeles and Phoenix are the only two American areas on the list, and they are there because of urban congestion caused by exorbitant prices that drive most employees to commute. The rest of the sites result from risky industries closely coupled to civilization. America doesn’t do that. Most of our mines, power plants, industry, and oil is located far from the populace, which is part of why we all drive cars, so that the pollution isn’t in our back yards or water basins.
Prius is a status symbol for most of those who drive it. Although they think they’re saving the planet, it doesn’t make a difference whether you drive a Prius or not. China will compensate with a coal power plant, Russia will dump Chemical or Nuclear waste, Nigerian oil will spil, and industries in European centers of manufacture will still churn out nitrates, sulfates, and oxides. It lets you feel good about yourself to drive a Prius, like you’re doing something to save the planet.
If you’re driving it for the energy efficiency, fine, but if that was really what it was about, what’s wrong with a Saturn? It’s all about image, which is why people buy cars that attract attention. I get a kick out of those who buy cars with amazing performance capability at the expense of economy. What is the point? It’s largely illegal in this nation to drive over 80mph, and even my Saturn will hit that (just not on a 6% incline), and so there’s no advantage other than aesthetic to own some kind of performance automobile. Add to that, the electric engine usually only operates at low speed, and how much time do people who drive the Prius spend at low speed? It’s great in town or stop and go traffic, but not any better on the freeway than my Saturn at 37-40mpg.
I know someone who drives a Prius. They’re not as cheap to maintain as people assume. Granted, I’m involved in a major engine overhaul, but I’m not sure a regular Joe could overhaul a Prius. At least my car is one on which I can do basic maintenance myself.
Prius is a status symbol for most of those who drive it. Although they think they’re saving the planet, it doesn’t make a difference whether you drive a Prius or not. China will compensate with a coal power plant, Russia will dump Chemical or Nuclear waste, Nigerian oil will spil, and industries in European centers of manufacture will still churn out nitrates, sulfates, and oxides. It lets you feel good about yourself to drive a Prius, like you’re doing something to save the planet.
If you’re driving it for the energy efficiency, fine, but if that was really what it was about, what’s wrong with a Saturn? It’s all about image, which is why people buy cars that attract attention. I get a kick out of those who buy cars with amazing performance capability at the expense of economy. What is the point? It’s largely illegal in this nation to drive over 80mph, and even my Saturn will hit that (just not on a 6% incline), and so there’s no advantage other than aesthetic to own some kind of performance automobile. Add to that, the electric engine usually only operates at low speed, and how much time do people who drive the Prius spend at low speed? It’s great in town or stop and go traffic, but not any better on the freeway than my Saturn at 37-40mpg.
I know someone who drives a Prius. They’re not as cheap to maintain as people assume. Granted, I’m involved in a major engine overhaul, but I’m not sure a regular Joe could overhaul a Prius. At least my car is one on which I can do basic maintenance myself.
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