Editor,
I am glad I have no car. I would not keep a car if you gave me one for free.
I have owned no car since 1979, and I enjoy the freedom of having no car. I save money and many resources, including oil, various metals and rubber. I avoid parking and traffic tickets, repairs, insurance costs, flat tires, theft, accidents, road rage and the hassle of finding a parking space.
I walk most places in town. Our legs are great doctors. Walking strengthens the heart and bones, prevents diabetes, stimulates blood circulation and clears the mind. Cars spoil people, making their bodies fat, lazy and sick.
The United States is the world's worst in terms of air pollution produced per person from cars, gasoline consumption per person and lack of public transportation. Less than 10 percent of the world's people can afford to own cars. Imagine how sick our earth would be if everyone in the world drove cars like most Americans. A large percentage of American energy resources go into making and operating cars.
Cars vomit poison, causing lung damage, cancer and deficient immune systems. I hate that car crashes have paralyzed, crippled and killed millions. I hate how cars isolate people from others and from nature, how highways and parking lots smother millions of acres of fertile soil. Cars are a major cause of global climate change.
Most Americans are addicted to driving their cars as much as their dollars and time allow. Most Americans are drunk on gasoline and have no conscience about hogging the world's resources and poisoning the earth for future generations. Most Americans regard this insane addiction as their absolute right - far more important than freedom of speech.
They hold this right to be more precious than the lives and homelands of Iraqis, Nigerians, Colombians and other nations destroyed in the United States' mad pursuit of oil. The gas you buy is mixed with the blood and tears of the multitudes exploited and murdered so spoiled Americans can drive their cars as they please.
I had a driver's license for 36 years but did not renew it in December 2000. I pledge never to own a car for the rest of my life. I have not ridden in a car since April 7, 2001 - four years. We borrow the Earth from those who come after us, and we can change our stupid ways.
Don Schrader
UNM community member
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
