When I grew up, cars were more than utilitarian machines, they represented freedom. I wonder what my son will be driving when he turns 16?

When did someone decide that cars are bad? Because from the time I was a kid, I always dreamed of having a car. It wasn't so much the car itself that I desired, but the freedom it represented. Of course restoring and personalizing a car is a healthy form of self-expression for a teenager, far less permanent than piercings or tatoos, but that's only secondary to the real reason I wanted a car, for the freedom.

With a car, I was able to go places I liked to go, without my parents having to take me. Instead of dating a girl from my neighborhood, a car allowed me to consider girls from nearby towns as well. My first car also made me feel more productive, as I could run errands, drive my younger sister to appointments, and didn't have to inconvenience my parents by asking for a ride. Once in college, I could go home on the weekends to visit family and do laundry, again, thanks to my car. The car also improved my work ethic. Since I wanted my car to be nice, and fixing it up and driving it cost money, I had no problem working part time jobs when in school with the motivation being a new carburetor, a new paint job, or just gas money for my car. 

So what are we teaching our children now? That cars are bad because they pollute the environment? That unless we all drive a tiny plastic car with zero emmissions that we're killing our planet? Nonsense. Despite what the media reports, cars really don't have that great an impact on our huge atmosphere. One good volcano eruption can produce more emmisions and greenhouse gasses than all the cars in the world ever have, or ever will (can Obama restrict volcano emmissions?). 

The fact is, even the most efficient cars still create emmissions that nobody talks about. From the factories that produce them, to the coal burning powerplants that provide electricity to recharge them, to the hazzardous waste produced by their gigantic nickel-cadmium or lead-acid batteries, even electric cars and hybrids have a larger impact on the environment than you may think, making them only marginally more efficient than gas-guzzling sport utilities.

In this country of freedom, I enjoy being able to purchase a car I want, not just one that will get me from A to B. I realize that cars can be fun, and enjoy the stability, safety, and acceleration a high performance car provides. I also enjoy being able to express myself by adding stripes, wheels, and performance accessories to my vehicle. When my kids are old enough to drive, I'll encourage them to enjoy and personalize their vehicles as well, and while they may not choose to restore or race their vehicles like I do, they'll certainly appreciate the freedom their cars provide. I'd much rather them be complimented on their cool car than their eyebrow piercings.   

So as the new administration mandates all the fun out of the automobile industry with new 39mpg standards, what will our kids be left with? A second-hand Toyota Prius? While I can't argue that a hybrid or elcetric car isn't right for some people, I will argue that it's not right for everyone, and freedom to choose is what seperates (or used to separate) this country from most others in the world. Hopefully, enough enthusiasts feel this way and the politicians will get the message. If not, I guess I need to go buy my 7 year old son his first car while I can still get one with a V-8.