Buying SUV sends wrong message to children (Barf)

Bozeman Chronicle ^ | 12/21/03 | Stewart Mitchell

[Holly_P]

Last week's article about SUVs (Dec. 9), Hummers and the tax law for 6,000-pound vehicles raises some serious concerns. As the owner of a day care center, what does Vicki Greenwood and other Hummer owners teach their children about what they drive and why? How do they justify buying such an impractical and inefficient vehicle while soldiers are being killed in an oil war? How do they justify the unnecessary pollution and energy consumption from driving a vehicle they don't need? Hummers were designed for combat, not commuting. There are many other vehicles that would carry more children, get better mileage and cost less than a military jeep.

As a kid I was taught to recognize and respect the intended spirit of rules and not contort the letter of the law for my own purposes. The spirit of the heavy vehicle tax break is to allow a small business to make a capital investment in a piece of equipment that will grow the business and make it more competitive. Not so child care providers, architects and others can drive a Hummer to the grocery store. Maybe Hummer owners should pay an extra tax to help pay for our $87 billion war, instead of scheming ways to consume more resources and pay less taxes.

Civilian Hummers and H2s are the icon of greedy Americans who have no comprehension of how lucky they are to be American. Yes, it's a free country, but I am ashamed that more and more Americans view their freedoms as justifications for their own selfish wants and teach these values to their children.

Stewart Mitchell

705 S. Tracy Ave.

Bozeman

[dixiechick2000]

"THE BEST THING IS THAT SEVERAL OF THEIR NEIGHBORS HAVE PROMINANT "SUPPORT BUSH AND OUR TROOPS" YARD SIGNS..LOL"

It's nice to see there's a happy ending to this story. ;o)

[dixiechick2000]

Get Out of wardaddy's state!
Get Out of wardaddy's state!
Get Out of wardaddy's state!

ROTFLOL! Say it loud, and say it proud!

[Travis McGee]

I think as long as you leave off the addrss you're okay. Even posting a picture that's not area specific. Particularly of his fleet of green house gas spewing SUVs.

[William Tell]

Caipirabob said: " ... I am compelled to buy something my wife and children have a moderate chance of survival in ..."

My oldest daughter drives a Honda Civic and loves the efficiency.

But her first car was a used Chrysler New Yorker I bought her for Christmas. She mistakenly pulled out from a driveway and was broadsided by a truck. The car was spun around 360 degrees and all the glass was blown out. The car was totalled but she came away with just a few light scratches. Best purchase I have ever made.

[Xenalyte]

Buying SUV sends wrong message to children

I take it we're not talking about the message they're learning in kindergarten about coloring inside the lines? 'Cause buying an SUV sure tells your kids that staying inside the lines isn't important.

(Now go forth and try to take up one lane and one parking space!)

[KevinDavis]

Thanks to weenies like him, I'm leaning towards to buy a suv.

[wardaddy]

It's actually a decent home but he grossly overpaid. I saw an old college gothic tudor of roughly the same size a few doors down go for 850K 2 years ago.

It's one of America's lovliest neighborhood/hamlets especially in so close to a metro center.

I have a weakness for the old gothic tudors and would love to own one myself....unfortunately Belle Meade property is appreciating faster than my income....not to mention how to furnish such a home....I told my wife..."yeah we can move uptown and live on the floor and eat raman noodle soup 24/7"...lol....and take the bus.

oh yes....it is an Excursion not an Expedition ....my bad.

I will try for a pic soon...maybe a crappy sprint pcs phone pic will do?

[At _War_With_Liberals]

People who own 4 mansions with 20 heating units and 20 central A/C units, private jets, limos, 20 cars, etc are never targeted. But a middle class SUV owner is fair game.

[Travis McGee]

Nah, buy a 6MPixel Canon just for this picture. (Just kidding.)

[wardaddy]

My wife wants me to get a digital camera. I don't know squat about them.

Do some actually hold a mini disc or do you have to hook them up to a particular UBS port....which I doubt I have installed on my homemade PCs.

[Travis McGee]

I have not taken the plunge, but I'm about to. I think everything plugs to everything pretty easily today. All I know is 3.5MP is considered the minimum for high res images.

[the invisib1e hand]

this is warped.

[wardaddy]

thanks....Best Buy here I come...after we get a new Fridge.

[Travis McGee]

BTW, check your freepmail when you get a chance.

[onyx]

THE BEST THING IS THAT SEVERAL OF THEIR NEIGHBORS HAVE PROMINANT "SUPPORT BUSH AND OUR TROOPS" YARD SIGNS..LOL

Oh, that is delicious. algore slammed in his own neighborhood.

[wardaddy]

I got it and will respond in depth asap.

Got a house full of kinfolks tonight and I'm just doing FR drivebys.

[wardaddy]

I do need to get some pics.

[Papabear47]

"Really,what's the basis of your sarcasm?, I am no intellectual as you have obviously surmised,however you saw my point rather clearly,"Better chance than in a Yugo,yes?",though I would have written it as a statement not a question....Point,Mike is in my estimation a fool,and why should I waste my time in a point by point debate when you are so willing to do so.Go get him.

[Travis McGee]

Take your time Poppa!

[Onelifetogive]

On Frday, my wife turned in front of a Full-sized chevy work truck. The guy was coming down a hill, through a green light (My wife turned on red.) He never had a chance to hit the brakes. He hit her Ford Expedition square in the passenger door. My two daughters (8 and 10 years old) were in the middle row of seats. The vehicles the smashed into a guard rail moving it 10 feet or so back.

Neither my wife or either daughter was hurt at all (One minor seatbelt bruise).

The people who oppose SUV's can kiss my tail!