That's the only one of the generalizations in this article that fits him. He works two jobs (and enjoys both), has plenty of friends, goes on trips, and generally seems to be living his life in an adventuresome but responsible fashion. 😀
I'm not sure who developed the equation "cars = FREEDOM," but it's an excellent example of supplier-induced demand.
That's the only one of the generalizations in this article that fits him. He works two jobs (and enjoys both), has plenty of friends, goes on trips, and generally seems to be living his life in an adventuresome but responsible fashion. 😀
I'm not sure who developed the equation "cars = FREEDOM," but it's an excellent example of supplier-induced demand.
When I went to high-school in the late 60s’ “cars=FREEDOM” was simply our reality. Shortly after my friend got his driver’s license, in 1969 we borrowed his parents’ Volkwagen bus and drove from the South Bay up to the Oakland coliseum to hear the Rolling Stones. I guess kids can now listen to that concert on their iphone.
Yeah, I guess kids now just have a lot more options. When I was a kid you had to drive around in a car to have a life; (a car with an 8 track cassette player). It was a very different world. I remember when they announced that the last BART station was going to be in Fremont, CA. But that was built long after I graduated.
Often, he goes to what I would call Destination Concerts. 😀
Like he'll train down to the Big City (which hereabouts is NYC) and then fly to wherever the bands are that he's interested in hearing for a festival event.
My wife and I recently flew to London for the Michael Buble concert! Which is so surreal for me, since when I was a little boy I remember that my Danish Grandma still made her own soap from saved fat drippings. It’s a very different world now.
I will say that arguing that your son doesn’t need a car because he take an airplane to concerts, complicates your “supplier-induced demand” argument a little bit 😊.
But I don't think I was arguing that he doesn't "need" a car. Merely that he doesn't drive but doesn't seem to fit any of the other stereotypes in this article.
And I can assure you I was NOT an over-protective "bubble" parent! 😀 I drive; my other two sons drive; but my youngest does not—and doesn't seem to be suffering in terms of initiative, resilience, or quality of life.
Having cars is a very American thing. Most people in the world don't own cars because their geography and transportation systems don't require cars. But I get the point the author is making. It's less about driving than risk taking.
Not a proxy, an example. 50 years ago it wasn't considered an outsized risk as much as a rite of passage. Now it is considered a risky undertaking, especially when viewed against a backdrop of safety-ism. And kids think self-driving cars and Uber make the whole thing unnecessary to get them wherever they want to go. That misses the point of being free to go wherever, whenever.
I guess the kids I know are very different from the kids a lot of the people on the Free Press message boards know. They take risks from time to time–intelligent risks. And some of them aren't interested in driving. 😀
And if the 2 jobs were 20 miles away, there was no public transportation, and it was 20 below zero???? To the majority of the country, cars DO equal freedom. I think people in major cities live in a bubble and don't recognize the reality of most of the country.
Commuting by car did not become a big thing in the U.S. until the mid-20th century. In fact, many mid-sized cities dismantled perfectly functional public transportation systems because gas was so cheap, and the idea that gas was not an endlessly renewable resource or might become the focal bargaining chip for endless geopolitical conflicts seemed completely alien.
Cars _may_ equal short-term freedom for numerous Americans trapped in an endless cycle of paycheck-to-paycheck commuting. But personally, I don't see being held hostage to soaring gasoline prices and OPEC toadying as any kind of long-term freedom.
Obviously, mileage varies on that one. 😀. (Pun intentional.)
We should not be beholden to OPEC & we should increase domestic energy production. Wall St, as usual, is causing problems b/c they only care about profits for themselves rather than lowering gas prices for everyone:
“Oil and gas companies do not want to drill more,” said Pavel Molchanov, an analyst. “They are under pressure from Wall St to pay more dividends, to do more share buybacks instead of the proverbial ‘drill baby drill,’ which is the way they would have done things 10 years ago. Corporate strategy has fundamentally changed.”
With the amount of environmental degradation and pollution and slave labor that goes into making an EV currently, I will never buy an EV.
They are slowly working on getting more mining/processing done in Canada & Australia, though that will take time. If they are able to do it, and make an EV without all the horrible pollution & slave labor, then at that point, I'll consider it
Hey, _I_ have a car! I live in the country; I couldn't function without a car. Upstate New York, since you're interested. 😀
My youngest son also lives in upstate New York but in a small, university-dominated city. Public transportation system is not great; I think he mostly uses it during the winter since it snows quite a bit there. Most of the time, he bikes.
My youngest son doesn't drive.
That's the only one of the generalizations in this article that fits him. He works two jobs (and enjoys both), has plenty of friends, goes on trips, and generally seems to be living his life in an adventuresome but responsible fashion. 😀
I'm not sure who developed the equation "cars = FREEDOM," but it's an excellent example of supplier-induced demand.
When I went to high-school in the late 60s’ “cars=FREEDOM” was simply our reality. Shortly after my friend got his driver’s license, in 1969 we borrowed his parents’ Volkwagen bus and drove from the South Bay up to the Oakland coliseum to hear the Rolling Stones. I guess kids can now listen to that concert on their iphone.
My non-driving son goes to plenty of concerts. 😀
Yeah, I guess kids now just have a lot more options. When I was a kid you had to drive around in a car to have a life; (a car with an 8 track cassette player). It was a very different world. I remember when they announced that the last BART station was going to be in Fremont, CA. But that was built long after I graduated.
Does your son take uber to his concerts?
Often, he goes to what I would call Destination Concerts. 😀
Like he'll train down to the Big City (which hereabouts is NYC) and then fly to wherever the bands are that he's interested in hearing for a festival event.
My wife and I recently flew to London for the Michael Buble concert! Which is so surreal for me, since when I was a little boy I remember that my Danish Grandma still made her own soap from saved fat drippings. It’s a very different world now.
I will say that arguing that your son doesn’t need a car because he take an airplane to concerts, complicates your “supplier-induced demand” argument a little bit 😊.
Ha, ha, ha. Yes, you're right about that one. 😀
But I don't think I was arguing that he doesn't "need" a car. Merely that he doesn't drive but doesn't seem to fit any of the other stereotypes in this article.
And I can assure you I was NOT an over-protective "bubble" parent! 😀 I drive; my other two sons drive; but my youngest does not—and doesn't seem to be suffering in terms of initiative, resilience, or quality of life.
Having cars is a very American thing. Most people in the world don't own cars because their geography and transportation systems don't require cars. But I get the point the author is making. It's less about driving than risk taking.
I think you're right.
But I don't think driving is a particularly good proxy variable for risk-taking.
Not a proxy, an example. 50 years ago it wasn't considered an outsized risk as much as a rite of passage. Now it is considered a risky undertaking, especially when viewed against a backdrop of safety-ism. And kids think self-driving cars and Uber make the whole thing unnecessary to get them wherever they want to go. That misses the point of being free to go wherever, whenever.
I guess the kids I know are very different from the kids a lot of the people on the Free Press message boards know. They take risks from time to time–intelligent risks. And some of them aren't interested in driving. 😀
How does your son get to work and school?
He bikes or takes public transportation.
If public transportation is available, its a much better option than driving. so totally makes sense for your son's situation
And if the 2 jobs were 20 miles away, there was no public transportation, and it was 20 below zero???? To the majority of the country, cars DO equal freedom. I think people in major cities live in a bubble and don't recognize the reality of most of the country.
Commuting by car did not become a big thing in the U.S. until the mid-20th century. In fact, many mid-sized cities dismantled perfectly functional public transportation systems because gas was so cheap, and the idea that gas was not an endlessly renewable resource or might become the focal bargaining chip for endless geopolitical conflicts seemed completely alien.
Cars _may_ equal short-term freedom for numerous Americans trapped in an endless cycle of paycheck-to-paycheck commuting. But personally, I don't see being held hostage to soaring gasoline prices and OPEC toadying as any kind of long-term freedom.
Obviously, mileage varies on that one. 😀. (Pun intentional.)
"many mid-sized cities dismantled perfectly functional public transportation systems because gas was so cheap"
True & also General Motors streetcar conspiracy is fascinating:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_streetcar_conspiracy
"OPEC toadying"
We should not be beholden to OPEC & we should increase domestic energy production. Wall St, as usual, is causing problems b/c they only care about profits for themselves rather than lowering gas prices for everyone:
https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/02/energy/us-oil-production/index.html
“Oil and gas companies do not want to drill more,” said Pavel Molchanov, an analyst. “They are under pressure from Wall St to pay more dividends, to do more share buybacks instead of the proverbial ‘drill baby drill,’ which is the way they would have done things 10 years ago. Corporate strategy has fundamentally changed.”
https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2021/public-transportation-commuters.html
Is toadying to China is better than toadying to OPEC? After reading Red Cobalt, I will never buy an EV.
Read the Census article -- I asked what city you live in (wondering if it's on the East Coast).
With the amount of environmental degradation and pollution and slave labor that goes into making an EV currently, I will never buy an EV.
They are slowly working on getting more mining/processing done in Canada & Australia, though that will take time. If they are able to do it, and make an EV without all the horrible pollution & slave labor, then at that point, I'll consider it
Hey, _I_ have a car! I live in the country; I couldn't function without a car. Upstate New York, since you're interested. 😀
My youngest son also lives in upstate New York but in a small, university-dominated city. Public transportation system is not great; I think he mostly uses it during the winter since it snows quite a bit there. Most of the time, he bikes.