Posted on 07/17/2005 10:21:51 AM PDT by RightDemocrat
What does the kind of vehicle you drive say about your political views ? An informal survey that I did before the last election found that drivers with foreign cars were more likely to back Kerry while those with American cars were more apt to support Bush.
As a "old school" labor Democrat, I have consistently purchased union-made American vehicles. While conducting my survey matching political bumper stickers with cars, I observed that about 90% of the vehicles with Kerry stickers were on foreign automobiles. The only exceptions were a few middle aged guys driving American trucks with Kerry stickers and some elderly New Deal Democrats in sedans. By and large support for Kerry equated with a desire to drive foreign made vehicles.
In contrast, probably 60% of vehicles with Bush stickers were American made. While often the vehicle was the politically incorrect SUV, I noticed Bush stickers of a wide variety of types of U.S. made cars. I found it ironic that so many progressives claim to support fair trade and pro-labor policies but don't drive union-made American vehicles. Bush voters seem to display greater economic patriotism in terms of their choice of car purchase.
I realize that there is no such thing as a 100% American vehicle due to foreign components and outsourcing, however, buying American still makes a difference for U.S. workers. Our domestic auto manufacturers did err in concentrating so heavily on gas guzzling SUV's, but they are also in trouble due to providing decent working conditions and benefits for their employees. As is often the case, the rhetoric of progressives doesn't match their actions.
Do you like Cheese?
I drive a gas guzzling 8cyl BMW and have never voted for a DemoRat.
And, I believe the BMW insignias are all the political bumper stickers that I need.
So you're a communist trying to teach values to a bunch of sodomites. Sounds like you should channel your energies in a more productive manner. Thats like trying to teach a pig to tell time.
And based on the car I currently drive, the idiots who love polls would get things exactly 180 out of whack.
Volvo huh?
How many Republicans drive a Subaru Forrester. I believe this to be one devisive car.
Subaru Outbacks up here. All women driving Outbacks are lesbian in this area of the country. Athletic lesbians, no lipsticks here.
I have a Toyota that was made in Tenn.
I expect to keep it until it dont work no more, and then will buy the most reliable car out there, which hopefully will be made in the USA.
The only sticker on my car promotes my alma mater's football team.
voted for Bush, drive a Ford, no bumper sticker though...
Interestingly, a study was done over 30 years ago -- I believe it was 1972 Democratic Convention. A sociologist noticed the very large number of foreign-made cars there, versus the American-made that were overrepresented at the Republican convention.
Maybe shows something about loyalty & value system.
I say "nonsense." I see plenty of Kerry stickers on SUV's and I have personally only owned one "American" car that wasn't given me by a parent. I buy what is most dependable and economical.
Yeah, the Volvo driving liberals have been around for a while. Free vs. fair trade was not as much as issue back in '72 though. Most things were still made in the U.S.A. back then.
Don't be a meathead, Archie. Economic populists can fall on the right, left or center of the political spectrum. Many would regard Pat Buchanan as an economic populist. Does that make him a commie or even a liberal ?
I'm waiting...
My next vehicle was a Mazda B2600i pickup. My bad luck with my first American truck made me prejudiced towards Japanese vehicles. The Mazda's done pretty well for me over the last twelve years. I don't trust it as much as I once did, but it does well enough for most of my needs.
A couple of years ago, I bought a little used Saturn for daily use. I still have the truck for going to Home Depot and taking my kayak to the water. Otherwise, I mostly drive the Saturn.
The body style of my Saturn tends to make all bumper stickers look bad, so I tend not to put bumper stickers on it. I think I had a couple on it when I was driving around on election day getting returns for the party. Otherwise, it's free of bumper stickers. The truck holds bumper stickers fairly well, and I usually have one or two during election season. The truck also still has the bumper sticker of a candidate that I supported in '98 in a House election. I was his webmaster, and I was more a part of that campaign than any other in my life. I keep that sticker for sentimental reasons.
Bill
California?
I have a SIL in VT who drives a Subaru Outback. She lives in a very hilly, dirt road part of VT. She is real pretty, married to a guy and very conservative.
She has the car because it best suited her needs, but almost didn't buy it for the political stigma.
She has the car because it best suited her needs, but almost didn't buy it for the political stigma.
To be frank, I have been looking at it because of my driveway....thousands of feet long and uphill...as a replacement for the SUV when the kids get bigger...but I understand it is marketed to lesbians in particular....and I am not sure I want that. So I am looking at all the options.
Your theory is all wet.
It's easy to dispell the myth with a couple good political or NRA bumper stickers.
I own all American cars, but then again I don't typically travel snowy dirt mountain roads. Mud season isn't a factor for me.
Ummmm... whatever. I alternate driving my Toyota Sequoia (family vehicle) and Nissan Sentra (commuting vehicle). Of course, my Toyota is likely to be more American-manufactured than most Ford owner's vehicles...
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