Why Is It In America Some People Are Convinced Having A Car Is A Basic Human Need?
Posted by IT CommentatorSep 26
Car culture or not, “basic human needs” are things absolutely essential for survival (e.g., water, food source, clean shelter, breathable air, sleep), and fundamentally they don’t differ for humans in any location on the planet. Yet, in America, it appears some people believe that if you live in a certain location a car should be called a “basic human need.” (6 out of 9 answers said a car is a basic human need. See here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;… ) A “need” is something that is absolutely essential, but in the U.S. nobody “needs” to live so far from resources for survival that the only option to get there is having your own car. People choose to create such circumstances. Even when they claim they “had no choice” but to live miles away from a grocery store, etc., it was still a choice they made to put themselves in a precarious circumstance. These people think whether a car is a basic human need “depends on where you live,” but the truth is to live in such a way that you’ve become dependant on a car for your survival is also a choice, and arguably it’s part maladapted. Why?–Because if your way of life habitually demands a “tool” that allows you to survive, once it’s broken you’re dead. If there are other ways to live without the tool, and you’ve never integrated those ways into your way of life, you have less flexability for survival. Your strategy was to focus on the car as the means of your survival rather than doing something like living within walking distance of resources or your job. You are also more likely to be out of shape physically (i.e., another form of being maladapted) compared to the person routinely walking or riding a bike to get to resources. So, why is it that some Americans have convinced themselves that having a car is so essential that it deserves to be called a “basic human need,” (which it is definately not)?
Your arguments are reasonable and your thinking is solid. Too bad you represent less than ten percent of the American public in your philosophy concerning automobiles.
We love cars, enjoy traveling in them, and I really like to drive.
The freedom to move about here in America is just outstanding. Bring on cars that get much better gas mileage. Just don’t expect us to stay put.
I go Metro.
Look at it this way: a car is not a basic human need, HOWEVER, because of our infrastructure, you cannot obtain your basic human needs without a car.
Work is essential for survival. If you do not work you do not eat. Therefore you need transportation to get to work. Especially if you have a 35-40 min drive to commute.
For people in the suburban and rural areas the car is a basic need.
We cannot get food or go to work without a car.
a car is needed in most of the western u.s.
Everybody doesn’t want to live in a large city. If you live in a small town or in the country you need a car to get to work.
My town doesn’t even have a taxi, let alone buses.
If you don’t need a car good for you but don’t bash others for not having the same lifestyle you do.
It might not be a basic human need but neither is a toothbrush and I’m not giving that up either.
In most of America no car means no job.
One spouses job might be close but it isn’t likely that both spouses jobs will be.
If you live near your work and work at an industrial area it isn’t likely that schools or shops will be nearby.
You have lived a sheltered life my friend.