This will only get worse and worse and worse.

"Commutes just get longer, transportation survey finds - Congestion estimated to add 79 million more hours in 2003"

Updated: 12:45 p.m. ET May 9, 2005
WASHINGTON - "If getting stuck in traffic makes you want to roll down your car window and scream, a new national survey released Monday has bad news: Gridlock is getting worse."

Except for the American political system which cannot and will not confront this issue even the least bit proactively, there is a lot of good reason to wean folks away from the private automobile.

The balance of payments, the reliance upon foreign oil, the pollution, the impending demise of the US car industry, and the fact that in many areas of the heaviest population it just doesn't work any more. Very well. And it getting worse.

We've changed society's attitude toward smoking, are starting to do so with obesity, and could with the car.

One problem is the oil industry, which is powerful enough to elect a complete maroon to the Presidency of the US. Another is individual egos, who glory in identifying with their vehicles. And another is that many folks have created lifestyles which demand they travel by vehicle to work, school, etc.

I can't help but think that a Hummer on the road is positively anti-American, not only symbolizing the worst this great nation has to offer, but being useless.

I know, I know. Conservatives think that if one can afford it, one should do it. Sad to see adults like that, really.

What brought this to mind was driving through Seattle the other day. And, yes, I was part of the problem. What a mess. Anyone who would live there and drive is nuts. Crazy. They should have people on the freeway entrances handing out Prozac and Valium instead of begging.

That was a great rant. I feel better.