The American Dream The American car is not just about transportation, it's about freedom. The automobile is likely the biggest symbol of personal material freedom in our nation's history. It provides opportunity for people to choose where they want to live, work and play, plus allows people to find jobs in places without which they wouldn't be able to work, short of moving. The personal car allows people to live the American Dream however they wish. |
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After the family dog, the car just may be your next best friend. Like the dog, it's loyal too, and the one vehicle that will get you exactly where you want to go, exactly when you want to go, in any kind of weather.
For 90% of us, light rail can never even get us close, buses closer, but not nearly close enough. Bikes are nice but can't pack the kids and groceries, and worse when it's wet and cold.
The contributions of the automobile to the greatness and wealth of America is immeasurable. Some economists attribute as much as 30-40% of America's untold prosperity to the car.
Trains settled the region and the horse took them home. The car replaced the horse and our world grew exponentially.
The attack taking place in recent years on the private automobile is an attack on freedom itself. But, is the assault on the car really about the environment, or is it about changing the people's behavior for a political objective? We think it's the latter.
Demonizing the car began during the 1960's with the theory that the car was the great enemy of the environment. While at one time the car was a polluter, that's no longer true today, with the new clean air technology in most cars on the road. Moreover, there is a technology already in place that could almost entirely eliminate the car's dependence on fossil fuels. American ingenuity kicked in once again, and has all but solved the problem, but somehow the press has forgotten to give you the good news about today's automobile.
Stop and think for a moment what the car does for you and your loved ones. What is there about the car you do not like? What will it take to keep you from driving it? What would your life be like without it?
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RESOURCE LINKS
The Necessity of Initiative 1125 READ MORE |
How Automobiles Made America Great The automobile has been widely criticized for its social costs, including accidents, pollution, and changes to urban form. But few of the critics consider the many |
Future Car Technology
Future car technology will most likely involve a whole host of choices in regard to the fuel of choice.
Right now many automakers are gearing up for offering vehicles that are able to run on ethanol or other biofuels (such as biodiesel), which is the path of least resistance for the near future.
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In fact, in 1958 the first nuclear automobile was pioneered and called the Ford Nucleon. The Ford Nucleon was a concept vehicle that was supposed to be powered by a small nuclear reactor at the rear of the vehicle fueled by radioactive material. No working prototypes were ever built, however. READ MORE |
| CONCEPTUAL ILLUSTRATION OF A FUTURE |
LEARN MORE ABOUT INITIATIVE 1125 AT:
CITIZENS' GUIDE TO INITIATIVE 1125 pdf by Michael Ennis Director, WPC’s Center for Transportation Sept. 2011
THE WASINGTON POLICY CENTER Learn more about Initiative 1125
ELECTIONS AND VOTING Initiative 1125: Washington Secretary of State - Sam Reed
BALLOTPEDIA - INITIATIVE 1125 Washington Transportation - Initiative 1125
VOTERS WANT MORE CHOICES Learn more about Initiative 1125
THE NECESSITY OF INITIATIVE 1125 Washington State Impolite