> For me, today's poll is unanswerable. There's no option for "I don't have a car".

Maybe that question was aimed at Americans. In this country, everybody has to have a car. A family with two parents and two teenagers has four cars in the driveway. Poor people drive to the store to spend their food stamps. High school parking lots are crowded to the extent that each student must bring two cars every day. College kids don't start classes until they have a car, a computer, a microwave oven, a cell phone, and a portable sound system.

I know a retired couple that keeps a car, a van, a pickup truck, a motor home, and an antique Chevy. No, they aren't rich.

In America, people drive to the mailbox. They clog highways with big cars carrying only a driver. In most cities, more acres are devoted to parking lots than buildings.

People in New York are considered a little odd because they ride the subway and don't have a car. Maybe they are smarter than the rest of us.

Most Americans spend more money to insure their car than they do to insure themselves. In subdivisions, many houses are dominated by a two car garage and a 16 foot wide driveway. Off to the side you can see a front door and a window and a small square of grass. The cars are out in the drive where everybody can see what make and model you have. The garage is filled with boats, campers, bicycles, and junk. Nobody who has a car rides a bicycle. Bikes just sit there in the garage with flat tires.

Some Americans live in a shack, but they have a nice car. It is rumored that in Los Angeles, the average person spends more time in their car than they do in their house.

In America, people will borrow money and pay high interest just so they can have fancy wheels on their car. They probably owe more on the car than it is worth. Sometimes, the wheels are worth more than the car.

It's enough to make you want to live in Europe.
Howard

PS - Yes, the pot is calling the kettle black. I have a car, a truck, a pop-up camper, a small cargo trailer, and a dozen motor scooters. I'm not rich. I live on a pension. Silly, isn't it?
H