Too many liberals are too fast in condeming light trucks as vechicles without a purpose, and as fuel hogs. Yes, these vechicles don't fewer miles per gallon v. a compact car, but they have many additional benifits to the driver.

If your 6'5" and around 300 lbs (like me), it would be tough to get into a compact car, and a midsize car like I drive, still isn't exactly comfortable for one my size. So that leaves full size, luxury or truck. I like to do outdoors things, like so many other people—I'm not taking an expensive, low-riding fullsize car into the woods. Not to mention an SUV or truck has more verticle height, which makes it more comfortable for somebody of my height.

Not to even mention the benifits of a truck. Towing capcities. You can put shit (literally, I guess) in the bed of it. Or almost anything else you want to carry in it.

Worst Case Senarios

Anti-truck people are too quick to point out the largest, most inefficent vechicles out there—typically the heavy duty pickups and SUVs, which are meant to be used exactly for that. But thanks to remarkable improvements in technology, even the biggest trucks and SUVs get around 12-14 MPG (worst case). Many get in the 20 MPG range, which is normal for older cars to get.

Today's engines are more efficent and cleaner then 10 years ago, and far better then 20 years ago. The popularity of trucks has made them bigger, but put out less toxins into the air, and only a fraction of the gas is used today, then would have been used if as many people drove those older vechicles in the same propotorion of size.

Making Things Better

Trucks have gotten better over the years. They use far less gas then they did in past years, yet offer more power, more reliablity, more comfort, and generally a better experience. In general, they have reduced fuel consumption by about 30% over the past 5-10 years. They are all now low or ultra-low emissions vechicles, which release only low levels of dangerous pollutants.

With Hybrids and Alternative fuels, things are only going to get better. Less pollution. More power. More utility. Don't forget improved roads, which will move traffic at a more constant speed with less waiting—a sure way to reduce pollution.

So don't blame vechicles for the problems. Think of how they are improving, and how we as a society can help them get better.