We have to STOP supporting O.P.E.C

Why, oh why do people need to commute in the biggest noisiest V8 Truck or SUV to an office job with an empty bed and single occupant? Then at lunch time, start the heap of junk up and make as much noise as possible blowing pure pollution through an exhaust system that has had the catalytic converter removed, so it sounds cool. All this to sit with the big lump of iron idling at a drive through restaurant. O.P.E.C. loves you, they also love the concept of the drive through restaurant. What are you, too lazy to walk a few steps into the building? Then while the food is still steaming hot, drive down the freeway eating and drinking. That is up there with texting at 75 mph.

Trucks are for people in construction or people who use their vehicles as a way of making a living every day. They have a bed full of tools, equipment, they haul stuff, they need a truck and God bless them. Do the rest have a truck to try and hoodwink everyone into thinking that they are tough or macho? For me, to be tough and macho, is to take care of your family, and try to gain the respect of everyone around you, and be a good neighbor, and don't make so much noise coming and going that the cups and saucers in your neighbors house rattle and shake.

It is a mindset that is unique in the civilized world. I have lived on 4 continents and not come across this mindset anywhere else. Remember that while we have so many people living in a bygone era thinking this way, we are all in trouble. All they are doing is creating pollution and giving a lot of money to some O.P.E.C members who are going to fund terror against us. In other words we, through them, are supporting terrorists. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife are great role models in their Cadillac "Enchiladas" burning lots of gas.

As we evolve automotively ,this mindset will become extinct but we cannot afford it right now. The war is now not 10 years away. Our enemies can't wage war without revenue. Cut them short, make it difficult for them, and put OPEC out of business. Make the oil lobbyists get a real job.

The "Cash for Clunkers" ended up a disaster, with people taking in an old V8 clunker and coming home with a new V8 or V10 clunker. Don't they get it? The heavier a clunker, the more energy it needs to move forward, therefore the more energy, the more gas it is going to burn and the more money goes directly into the bank accounts of O.P.E.C. members.

Most of these people are struggling every month to keep this persona going. Conservatively the truck payment is $500 per month, the 24" shiny "look at me" wheels are $150 per month. the gas at 15,000 miles per year is 84 gallons per month @ $3 per gallon = $249 per month, the insurance is at least $250 per month, wear and tear is $100 per month equaling a total of $999 per month. This is a big ego that O.P.E.C. loves you to have. As I say, a tough person in my eyes would have a small 4 cylinder stick shift, without the "look at me" wheels for a total every month of $355. I know I have one. The $644 p.m cash saving, is for the family to use for education etc. "Now that is a real tough guy". O.P.E.C. hates him and me, we are not good for their cause. The neighbors love this person and respect them. Their families prosper the terrorists suffer and we all prosper. I know that they feel that it is their right to have this unfortunate antiquated attitude, al-Qaeda and a hundred other terrorist groups will agree with their ridiculous right to burn as much gas as they can as quickly as they can-- forget the 5 liter, get a 7 liter motor. Hey! at least someone loves them and their dinosaurs.

There are thousands of truck guys who are going to disagree with this article, in their typical style, however when it comes to trading the brontosaurus in or trying to sell it, the penny will finally drop.

There is hope! Today, the fastest cars in the world at the 24 Hours of Le Mans are all Blue Diesels.  These cars fly past all the old V8, V10 and V12 beaters as though they're standing still and at the end of 24 hours of racing, the Audis, Porsches, and Peugots are the winners. They have used a fraction of the clean diesel, with virtually no emission, getting about 30 miles to the gallon, while the beaters are getting 7 miles to the gallon and blowing out who knows what into the atmosphere.  The gas guzzler guys, sooner or later, are going to realize that technology is flying by them.  Not everybody can afford a blue diesel racing car that can run day and night at 240 miles an hour, but they can afford a VW blue diesel, or a Hybrid or even better, in the very near future, a plug-in electric Toyota Prius that will be available in 2011 and supposedly, will give 105 miles to the gallon.  Right now, Dodge and Mercedes have blue diesel vans that are available in the U.S. using this technology and one could use old fry oil from one of the popular drive through restaurants in place of diesel.

Our friends in the Middle East and North Africa do not want to hear about these vehicles. They like the 7 liter V8 SUV because that is the source of their revenue.