Is It Moral to Drive a Gas-Guzzling Vehicle?

[Frankie Spano]

Here are some peoples opinions on this question, what are yours? (Can't wait to read yours Ray...hehe)

I agree with religious leaders who say it is morally irresponsible to drive an SUV. There are at least three moral issues here: failure to steward the Earth's resources, greed in taking a far larger share of these resources than is equitable, and failure to consider or care about the potential physical harm to others from such a large, heavy, and higher vehicle.

In several places in the Bible, we are told to be stewards of the Earth. Despoiling it with oil rigs and squandering its resources is not stewardship. We are all guilty, but SUV drivers more so because of the SUV's lousy gas mileage.

-- Anne Ambler, Silver Spring


I find it so unbelievable that a group of "religious" people would get so angry about an issue such as this.

My husband and I own two SUVs, not as a matter of choice but out of need. We have five children of our own. We also live in a remote area and own a day-care center in the city. The SUVs help us get to our business in snowy weather because other parents are depending on us to be open.

Have they also thought about all the SUV owners who donate their time to take hospital workers to the hospital in bad weather? I am a volunteer for Prince George's Community Hospital, and this is a vital lifesaving act that many people depend on.

Most SUV owners are not purchasing the vehicles as a novelty or showpiece.

-- Cheryl M. Mack, Upper Marlboro

I walk more than a mile and a half to the Metro each day to commute to work, then another few blocks to the office once I get off the Metro. Gas-guzzlers pass by me with one person in the car. Every day, as a little thank-you for my efforts to reduce traffic, parking problems and pollution by walking, I get lungs full of exhaust from these gigantic cars.

I would venture to guess that most of these SUV owners have fewer than five people in their family and more than one car. I find it hard to believe that all of these people are incapable of walking to mass transit or that they can't find other people in their neighborhood with whom they can carpool.

While we could afford to have two huge vehicles, my husband and I decided to have only one car, and we still manage to work, live and travel in the region.

-- Dana M. Patton, Washington

Religious leaders should understand that everyone isn't able to purchase the vehicle that will give them the best gas mileage. Poor people such as myself have to get from point A to point B the best way possible. If they had a choice, I'm sure they would drive a more fuel-friendly vehicle.

My vehicle is small but old. My son's car does burn a lot of fuel. Due to the economy, he can't afford a better car. So even if we wanted to be more responsible about our choice of vehicles, circumstances make what we must do, very different from what we'd like to do.

-- Joanne Saylor, Leesburg

Judaism stresses respect for the environment even to the extent of allowing fields to remain fallow one year out of every seven, essentially a sabbatical for the land. With that in mind and in light of the greater consumption of natural resources and increased pollution from SUVs and vehicles of similar size, such transportation should be restricted.

However, judicious use of the environment is permitted. If a family is sufficiently large or frequent trips have to be made at a load suitable for a SUV, then the purchase of such a vehicle is permissible. Under these considerations, we would not experience the explosive growth in the number of oversized vehicles but instead a morally correct selection of such transportation where there is an absolute need.

-- Nelson Marans, Silver Spring

Having a need for a spacious vehicle is not a moral issue. Religious leaders should be challenging automakers to develop effective, fuel-efficient engines for SUVs instead of passing moral judgments on the families who prefer to own SUVs.

-- Eric F. Samuda, Corona, Calif.

[MsRay]

I won't go into the morality of SUVs because to do that will bring the question of morality into many, many aspects of American life. But I am against SUVs and have yet to find an acceptable argument for them.

In only a few situations do I need see a need for an SUV and those include situations no where near a city or a suburb. They waste resources and are dangerous to both occupants and more so to others driving on the road. People like Cheryl are the exception rather than the rule and even then I feel the snow excuse is rather specious. If the weather is so bad that you need an SUV do get through it, how many parents will be dropping their kids off at the day care?

SUVs are luxury vehicles and are marketed as such. They are also marketed to those who think they will be off-roading every weekend which is doubtful.

If fuel efficiency were improved dramatically on these vehicles, the issue of safety would still be left opened. I would be more amenable to accepting the vehicle after both these issues were addressed effectively.

[joeyjoey]

I miss my SUV :( It was so much fun speeding all over the place :flickTong

[MsRay]

Originally posted by joeyjoey
I miss my SUV :( It was so much fun speeding all over the place :flickTong I didn't realize you used to have one. Make? Model?

[UNKNOWN2U]

Anyone who says driving a gas guzzling suv is not moral should be shot multiple times...then shot again. Suv's offer advantages which cars cannot, such as improved visibility and increased storage space. The reason they consume so much more gas is because the weigh so much more and so need the extra power to actually move. If anything wastes gas unnecessarily its sports cars, which only use the gas to go fast.

[joeyjoey]

I like SUVs. I had a Jeep Cherokee Sport, 2-door. I totalled it back in '98.

[TheHipHopBillGates]

When I get out of grad school I'm going Hummer all the way, H1 has an $85,000 tax credit H2 has a $35,000 tax credit.

[*~Eleni~*]

dont blame the buyers blame the makers :TONGUE

[twilightbee]

Originally posted by Eleni
dont blame the buyers blame the makers :TONGUE

If nobody bought them, they would stop making them :D

Unknown, I feel that people who think there is nothing morally wrong with driving SUV's should be shot and then shot again. Your whole argument is based on how the SUV can make YOU look and feel, but why dont you consider for a minute how the EARTH looks and feels. You fail to realize the economic, environmental and political issues involved with owning these vehicles.

And then Americans wonder why the rest of the world hates us! But they never stop to consider that maybe just maybe its because they are using up more of the world's natural resources than the rest of the world put together!

This country's people have zeroooooooo respect for Mother Earth.

I have so much more to say on this subject, but I dont think this page could fit everything I have to say.

[UNKNOWN2U]

Originally posted by twilightbee


This country's people have zeroooooooo respect for Mother Earth.



Hey i recycle! :teeth

Using of more gas does not equal more polution, if anything recent polution laws have gotten stricter. and as far as ever using up all the oil on the planet, i think that'll happen sometime after the next iceage...

[*~Eleni~*]

Originally posted by twilightbee
If nobody bought them, they would stop making them :D



people will buy anything...take them off the market and they wont even have the choice..

its easier to stop production of SUV's than to begin a boycott of SUV's...the first would undeniably work while the latter would just end up to be 5 people refusing to buy them, and the rest of the population continuing to make purchases

..just look at French products...do you REALLY think enough Americans are going to boycott French products??? probably not
but if the government stopped the import of French products..well now that would be a whole different story...

it seems i have veered off the subject
i do that sometimes
lol

carry on....

[MsRay]

Originally posted by Eleni
people will buy anything...take them off the market and they wont even have the choice..

its easier to stop production of SUV's than to begin a boycott of SUV's...the first would undeniably work while the latter would just end up to be 5 people refusing to buy them, and the rest of the population continuing to make purchases

..just look at French products...do you REALLY think enough Americans are going to boycott French products??? probably not
but if the government stopped the import of French products..well now that would be a whole different story...This sounds like an argument against the people. What you're saying is people are incapable of making decisions for themselves. It's an excuse for everyone to not think about consequences or think beyond themselves.

[TheHipHopBillGates]

Honestly I voted no & then I went and said that I want a hummer, so I guess I'm a weakened by bling hypocrite. It is morally irresponsible, I think the people that say that it's not are nearsighted and it's a waste of natural resources that is going to eventually, probably not in the life time of us or our children going to be a problem for man kind. IMO this type of waste is the same as not recycling, having too many kids or pollution. They effects maybe intangible to you, but they are tangible to the human race. You can also argue that by the time we get to the point that natural resources run out, technology will have solved that problem, but with space shuttles blowing up, war deficits(equaling funding cuts) and weapons of mass destruction, it might not be. Bottom line I feel it is a moral issue.

By the way Ms. Ray I like the Dwight comment, and did you know that he had a theory(which still gets argued academically) that all wars are over natural resources.

[Frankie Spano]

Originally posted by TheHipHopBillGates
Honestly I voted no & then I went and said that I want a hummer, so I guess I'm a weakened by bling hypocrite. It is morally irresponsible, I think the people that say that it's not are nearsighted and it's a waste of natural resources that is going to eventually, probably not in the life time of us or our children going to be a problem for man kind. IMO this type of waste is the same as not recycling, having too many kids or pollution. They effects maybe intangible to you, but they are tangible to the human race. You can also argue that by the time we get to the point that natural resources run out, technology will have solved that problem, but with space shuttles blowing up, war deficits(equaling funding cuts) and weapons of mass destruction, it might not be. Bottom line I feel it is a moral issue.

By the way Ms. Ray I like the Dwight comment, and did you know that he had a theory(which still gets argued academically) that all wars are over natural resources.

I just have to say HiphopWilliamGates that was extremely well put!

[admin]

I dont think its an SUV issue, its a high 8 to 12 cylinder issue. You can have a 6 cylinder Pathfinder SUV which has a Maxima engine. My mom use to have a Benz ML 430 which was a gas guzzler but traded it in for ML320 which is a 6 cylinder but an average person wont know the difference between a 430 and a 320 cause they look alike. A Cadillac or a Vette will use more gas then alot of SUV's out there. SUV's are not the issue, high powered car's with big engines are the issue. Thats why I like German engineering, they build 4 or 6 cylinder(Porche) cars that consume alot less gas and have more horsepower then an American 8 cylinder.

Dmitry

[admin]

Originally posted by MsRay
This sounds like an argument against the people. What you're saying is people are incapable of making decisions for themselves. It's an excuse for everyone to not think about consequences or think beyond themselves.


THIS HAS JUST BEEN EDITED BY ELENI..I WROTE THIS NOT DMITRY...LMFAO..FIX THIS ISSUE ALREADY WITH THE SIGNING OFF!!!!!! xoxoxoxo


I know...ugh...it's so sad but true (IMO)
MOST people are capable of making their own decisions..but unfortunately a large percentage seem to have a hard time with the follow-thru...they forget so easily

Do you really think the theory of the boycott works in America???
Not I kiddies...in order to properly boycott something you must first be completely aware of it, educated on the subject etc.
People say they will boycott French products..but are Americans fully aware of what products are imported from France??? I dont think so...I can test it if you'd like..do a poll..and see if people are aware that certain products are direct imports from France....
Evian is obvious...but Hermes? Louis Vuitton? Christian Dior? Grey Goose?

Bee..you missed my point I think..I speak theoretically...and in theory halting the maufacturing of products will result in more success than a boycott...

I think people that have as much time to make an issue out of a car need to be dragged into the street and fucking shot with rubber bullets for 6 hours.

Of course coming from religous leaders they have any room to talk about whats immoral. These are the same guys that are sodomizing 7 yr old kids, living and eating free and never pay taxes. personally, i think thats immoral.

Of course then you can go into issues of celebrities buying 6 or 7 25 bedroom houses. Isn't this immoral? Trees are a living thing. NoBody complains about this and technically theyre a plant so
they give off Oxygen. Isnt it immoral to not let kids into an adult movie by themselves but still make them pay as an adult for a Pg film? Isnt it immoral the way America aids Foreigners coming into this country but they dont give a shit about who lives here? WHo really cares about petty shit like this. Its so rediculous. Live your fucking life to the fullest and do what makes you happy.

[TheHipHopBillGates]

Originally posted by Dmitry




Bee..you missed my point I think..I speak theoretically...and in theory halting the maufacturing of products will result in more success than a boycott...

Well A/ I didn't realize we still manufacturer things in the US anymore and B/Dmitry have you ever gotten into an SUV with a 6 cylinder? They are crap. They need bigger engines or better engineering, and I don't think it's really compare American cars with a Porshe. Of course it's quicker it weighs like 5lbs and if you a NYC pothole your dead.

[MsRay]

Originally posted by TheHipHopBillGates
By the way Ms. Ray I like the Dwight comment, and did you know that he had a theory(which still gets argued academically) that all wars are over natural resources. Thank you ... the three presented themselves to me thru Craigslist at I would say the correct time. They best express what I'm feeling.

As for the theory, I'm not familiar and will look it up, but it makes sense to me. He who controls the river, controls who drinks.

Alot of 6 cylander Suv's are better than 8 Cylinders.

[TheHipHopBillGates]

Originally posted by PhuckU
Alot of 6 cylander Suv's are better than 8 Cylinders.

stay off the crack, my brother both have them, they're junk.

[*~Eleni~*]

Originally posted by TheHipHopBillGates
Well A/ I didn't realize we still manufacturer things in the US anymore and

lmfao..wiseass...the THEORY..THEORY behind it

forget it i give up :banghead :giveup

Originally posted by TheHipHopBillGates
stay off the crack, my brother both have them, they're junk.

Just cause your bruthagot a shit one doesnt mean alot of 6 cylanders are shit......look at the 4 runner great ride.

[James Maxx]

If pollution is such an issue the government and transportation authorities should figure out a way to make their 18-wheelers, buses, taxis and construction trucks run on clean fuel. Those alone spew more pollution in the air than an SUV, which most have regular car engines anyway.

[TheHipHopBillGates]

yeah 18 wheelers run on diesel which creates less pollution then, gasoline.

[twilightbee]

Originally posted by James Maxx
If pollution is such an issue the government and transportation authorities should figure out a way to make their 18-wheelers, buses, taxis and construction trucks run on clean fuel. Those alone spew more pollution in the air than an SUV, which most have regular car engines anyway.

Its much more conservative to have 50 people riding a bus than 50 people each riding thier own car dont ya think?

[twilightbee]

Originally posted by James Maxx
If pollution is such an issue the government and transportation authorities should figure out a way to make their 18-wheelers, buses, taxis and construction trucks run on clean fuel. Those alone spew more pollution in the air than an SUV, which most have regular car engines anyway.

Read this... (http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2003/04/15/epa_diesel/index.html)

[MsRay]

Originally posted by twilightbee
Read this... (http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2003/04/15/epa_diesel/index.html) Ag! LOL, I just read that story this morning and was about to respond to this thread with it. :buck

[James Maxx]

Originally posted by twilightbee
Its much more conservative to have 50 people riding a bus than 50 people each riding thier own car dont ya think?

Buses and even some taxis are now moving to methane which is good. Yes it is more conservative too bad the buses in the city are unreliable and never on time.