April 14, 2004: Headlines: COS - Cameroon: Journalism: Speaking Out: SUVs: Madison Capital Times: Cameroon RPCV Margaret Krome says Terror at Home: SUVs

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Cameroon: Special Reports: Camerooon RPCV and Political Columnist Margaret Krome: September 5, 2002: Headlines: COS - Cameroon: Journalism: Speaking Out: Futurism: Agriculture: Madison Capital Times: Cameroon RPCV Margaret Krome says No Rosy Future in Sight : April 14, 2004: Headlines: COS - Cameroon: Journalism: Speaking Out: SUVs: Madison Capital Times: Cameroon RPCV Margaret Krome says Terror at Home: SUVs

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-141-157-13-244.balt.east.verizon.net - 141.157.13.244) on Sunday, January 16, 2005 - 1:46 pm: Edit Post

Cameroon RPCV Margaret Krome says Terror at Home: SUVs

Cameroon RPCV Margaret Krome says Terror at Home: SUVs

Cameroon RPCV Margaret Krome says Terror at Home: SUVs

Terror at Home: SUVs
by Margaret Krome


The next time someone tells a smirking joke about irrational behavior of blondes, adolescents or mothers-in-law, walk them gently out into any parking lot. Point to the sport utility vehicle of your choice, and ask them whatever made them think that adult Americans are rational.

The United States consumes more oil than any other nation, two-thirds of which goes to transportation. For every gallon of gas we consume, we also thrust 24 pounds of greenhouse gas pollutants into the air, not to mention incurring smog, toxic emissions and other additional environmental costs of the drilling, refining and transporting of that fuel.

So the usual socially responsible argument is that in the interests of our nation and the environment, consumers should buy cars that don't consume too much gas. At the least, I would have thought that a serious pocketbook issue would affect people's car purchasing decisions.

Yes, increasing fuel efficiency not only reduces our dependence on foreign oil, cleans up our air and reduces toxic pollutants in the nation's environment, but it also saves money at the gas pump. Wouldn't you think that the increasing gas prices of the winter and spring, and prospects for even higher prices in the summer, would significantly reduce our nation's passion for gas guzzlers?

Oddly, industry reports last week showed no decline whatsoever. In fact, SUVs, pickup trucks and other fuel-inefficient vehicles are more popular than ever.

People buy SUVs because they like the sense of power, the fantasy of living in rugged conditions, the sense of safety. But most owners don't have miles of rugged ranchland to cover, and SUVs have a rotten safety record. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, SUVs roll over in 37 percent of fatal crashes, compared to a 15 percent rollover rate for passenger cars. In tests of how well vehicles protect the driver and passengers in a crash, none of the 13 SUVs tested was rated "good" or better. Five were rated as "acceptable," three as "marginal," and five as "poor." Further, SUVs have been shown to substantially compromise the safety of passengers in other cars on the road.

When consumers' irrational decisions jeopardize the nation's well-being, they shouldn't be left to individual choice. Car manufacturers should be obligated to increase SUVs' fuel efficiency and design them for improved safety.

There was a time when federal standards steadily helped our nation's cars gain fuel efficiency. Those Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards increased new car and truck fuel economy by 70 percent between 1975 and 1988. Since the mid-'80s, when they were left stagnant, the nation's fuel efficiency has ended its promising increase. Car manufacturers don't pursue such efficiencies on their own, and clearly, consumers aren't pursuing them either.

A couple of years ago a bipartisan amendment to the Senate Energy Bill, sponsored by Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and John McCain, R-Ariz., would have reintroduced fuel efficiency standards in cars and light trucks. Unfortunately, it was undercut and sidetracked. The Bush administration has steadfastly avoided supporting such standards, equally matched by congressional unwillingness to insist that car manufacturers take the lead in doing the right thing.

Every horror story I read about people killed in the fight in Iraq raises questions in my mind about more than terrorism and the quality of information informing our military actions. It also illustrates the great cost of our nation's dependence on a resource that is overwhelmingly obtained from other countries. And because it is a national security issue, conservation of that resource should become a national security issue also.

The next time you see an SUV with an American flag waving from its antenna, think of the worst blonde joke you've ever heard. The driver of that SUV deserves a louder snicker than the dopiest blonde for waving a patriotic flag but driving the most anti-social and unpatriotic kind of vehicle on the road.

Margaret Krome of Madison writes a semimonthly column for The Capital Times. E-mail: mkrome@inxpress.net

Copyright 2003 The Capital Times





When this story was posted in December 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Our debt to Bill Moyers Our debt to Bill Moyers
Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia."

December 10, 2004: This Week's Top Stories December 10, 2004: This Week's Top Stories
Dodd says Rumsfeld's answer was unacceptable 9 Dec
RPCV Blake Willeford runs classic movie theatre 9 Dec
RPCV says education is key to curbing AIDS 9 Dec
RPCV Dannielle Tegeder opens exhibition 9 Dec
Shalala 1st Woman In Touchdown Club 9 Dec
"Today we have a new country" says Toledo 9 Dec
DDN wins Investigative Reporting Award 8 Dec
Celeste on Panel to study Colorado finances 8 Dec
RPCV leads Rotary Club medical team to Togo 6 Dec
Vasquez to speak at Hawaii, Wisconsin commencements 6 Dec
Tom Murphy warns Pittsburgh on budget abyss 2 Dec
Venezuela RPCV Martha Egan runs Pachamama imports 30 Nov
more top stories...

RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack
RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia survived Monday's attack on the consulate without injury. Five consular employees and four others were killed. Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman to hold the position, has been an outspoken advocate of rights for Arab women and has met with Saudi reformers despite efforts by Saudi leaders to block the discussions.
Is Gaddi Leaving? Is Gaddi Leaving?
Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.
The Birth of the Peace Corps The Birth of the Peace Corps
UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.
Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes
Take our new poll. NPCA members begin voting this week on bylaw changes to streamline NPCA's Board of Directors. NPCA Chair Ken Hill, the President's Forum and other RPCVs endorse the changes. Mail in your ballot or vote online (after Dec 1), then see on how RPCVs are voting.
Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying
Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.
Your vote makes a difference Your vote makes a difference
Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

Read the stories and leave your comments.






Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: Madison Capital Times

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Cameroon; Journalism; Speaking Out; SUVs

PCOL15360
23

.


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: