Car as Weapon

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David P. on November 18, 2013 at 5:24pm

You seem to be confusing "car culture" with "commuting culture"; the first has many, many varieties and has nothing at all to do with the second. As for the romanticization of the car, certainly autmakers encouraged that and facilitated it with their advertising campaigns, but the American public has been all too happy to romanticize it itself over much of the 20th century. I love car cultures but hate commuting culture, which is why I still have three cars (two of which are hobby/project cars) yet want to (and do) live in an environment where I do not have to drive if I don't want to. The auto dominance of American cities and suburbs has been the product of many factors, but could not have happened to the degree with it did without the assent of so many Americans, even granted the effect of urban-planning decisions that foreclosed certain options from public consideration in the first place.

Steve Courtright said:

I agree with you both, Skip and Michelle. 

But in addition to the slow desensitization regarding the dangers of driving autos, there has been a concerted effort by the car manufacturers in romanticizing car culture.  This has resulted in a culture where the auto is dominant.  There are several generations of folks who have only romanticized ideas about automobiles.  That seems to be changing among the "millennials" many of whom will be making less money than their parents and have reduced expectations regarding stable jobs and single path careers.  Cars are now viewed by some as a serious liability in the cities with respect to high cost, serious health consequences and lack of convenience compared to bikes.

(http://www.amazon.com/The-Geography-Nowhere-Americas-Landscape/dp/0...)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steve Courtright on November 19, 2013 at 9:05am

In my view, David, the two "cultures" are highly overlapping although I see the difference. 

It's not just advertizing that caused the shift to cars.  It is well known that the car companies purchased much of the eastern railways and simply shuttered them a long time ago (see Geography cited above).  After that, everyone living in the burbs and working in the cities had to drive.  We assented to cars and permitted their dominance at least in part because it was the only option.  This did not happen in Europe and that is why there is a difference in commuting and car culture over there - this seems to be prima facia evidence that the difference in culture is the absence or presence of commuting options.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on November 19, 2013 at 9:32am

Don't forget that the government highly encouraged development of the suburbs in the years following WWII though tax incentives, highway building and other programs; while simultaneously ignoring inner cities. This was not just a product of the free market, as many claim.

David P. said:

You seem to be confusing "car culture" with "commuting culture"; the first has many, many varieties and has nothing at all to do with the second. As for the romanticization of the car, certainly autmakers encouraged that and facilitated it with their advertising campaigns, but the American public has been all too happy to romanticize it itself over much of the 20th century. I love car cultures but hate commuting culture, which is why I still have three cars (two of which are hobby/project cars) yet want to (and do) live in an environment where I do not have to drive if I don't want to. The auto dominance of American cities and suburbs has been the product of many factors, but could not have happened to the degree with it did without the assent of so many Americans, even granted the effect of urban-planning decisions that foreclosed certain options from public consideration in the first place.

Steve Courtright said:

I agree with you both, Skip and Michelle. 

But in addition to the slow desensitization regarding the dangers of driving autos, there has been a concerted effort by the car manufacturers in romanticizing car culture.  This has resulted in a culture where the auto is dominant.  There are several generations of folks who have only romanticized ideas about automobiles.  That seems to be changing among the "millennials" many of whom will be making less money than their parents and have reduced expectations regarding stable jobs and single path careers.  Cars are now viewed by some as a serious liability in the cities with respect to high cost, serious health consequences and lack of convenience compared to bikes.

(http://www.amazon.com/The-Geography-Nowhere-Americas-Landscape/dp/0...)

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page