One of our basic freedoms is our ability to go where we want, when we want. Our society would be completely redifined if we lost the this ability. We just have to come up with more environmentally friendly cars.

What kind of question is this? Hard to believe people still buy into the environment bullshit about cars.

Uh without vehicles we are pretty much fucked unless we force animals to do all the work and I'll be fucking damned if I go back to those days!

That is my business

the worlds to far under, for a few vehicles to be a significant problem.

I guess one can say that it has been somewhat beneficial to society, albeit something we all may take for granted (hence four stars rather than five). We have definitely been spoiled, and some people sadly would not know what to do without one. People more than 100 years ago did just fine without them, having horses, wagons, and their own two feet. And it couldn't hurt anybody, if at all possible, to take advantage of the nice sunny weather, and try the feet out once in a while. Good exercise, too!

Necessary machine that also fascinating as well. In a large nation without public transport as a major infrastructural design - the automobile is necessary. But it loses a star for being designed to fall apart after a certain time and being in cahoots with the oil industry - (the most progressive thinkers in the world- not.)

Not everyone can afford a hybrid

Do you suggest another way of getting around? Go back to riding horses maybe? Then the animal rights people would start complaining lol.

I personally don't drive, I don't have a license, but it is not practical for people not to drive. People need cars, to get to work, to go to the store, etc. I live way out in the country, the closest gas station is probably 5 minutes away, and the Wal-Mart is about 20 minutes or so away, as are any other stores. It would not be possible for me and my family to not have a car. Now, if you live in the city, I could see taking public transit or walking, but for most people in rural or suburban areas, it is just not realistic.

there are too many fat people...in europe, people walk more

Great, but look at all the dead in traffic accidents and pollution-clean fuel automobiles that drive by AI is the future though.

We need more affordable fuel-effecient automobiles and vehycles that rely on alternative fuel sources.

I believe as long as you use it correctly, practice safe driving skills, car pool when possible, combine trips, it can be the best effective way to travel.

POLUTION, GARA

It's sort of necessary in a modern economy.

We could find a better way to fuel them. The technology is there...

well helps me get around, i like um

but you have to learn to drive it and just because you learned - doesn't mean you're good at it.

While the auto revolutionized how we travel and see america...The pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels is out of control....

I think it has made us lazy but I wouldn't want to live without one

bad for the planet

In its current incarnation, hurts somewhat more than it helps. The freedom of movement it conveys and the convenience for rural and suburban drivers are probably its saving graces. But the ridiculous status attached to certain brands is mind-boggling. That's probably the least of my complaints compared to traffic, waste, and energy issues. Shouldn't we have had battery-operated cars, like, eighty years ago?

WELL LETS JUST LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENEDTO THE WORLD THE LAST CENTURY..

gets me to where i need to go.

Its a long damn walk to the grocery store from where I live and it gets damn cold here in the winter!!! My family would starve if I had to walk that far int he cold to get food!! No really they would! lol

People need to be more conscious of themselves and the world around them... if proper public trans was organized people would still be able to get where they need to be and perhaps exercise a little more, however in areas spread out or low density populations, they are a necessity for transit... the burden on the pocketbook and the environment is just too much...

I love car's and I know that without them we would all be walking wich is healthier but It would be nice if they came out with some faster and cooler electric cars or something to help the world go green.

Gotta get around

all in the application .....gave us the mobile society we have today

It helps people travel to their employment or school. People don't have waste the majority of their time walking to places. They could at their destination within minutes of leaving their home.

The honest truth, we need them. until we have another way of getting around it just going to have to be the way it is.

SMOG IS HORRIBLE

As long as emissions are regulated and not neglected.

A mixed bag if there ever was one. As a car (and motorcycle) nut, I/m loath to admit the social destruction wrought by the private automobile and the subsequent demise of rail transportation.  But, facts are facts and we wouldn't be so alienated from one another if we had to interact while moving from one place to another.

It sure beats walking, especially if you have a long distance to go. But I must admit, walking, if you are physically able, is a lot better for you. With the gas prices the way they are, I fully expect to see a lot more walking.

But overall, I'd say the automobile has been very helpful to society.

Walking sucks...

pollution

please

LOVE IT!

Hello how would people get there groceries and get to work, school, vacation, ummmm, church without a car..........

Of course it helps with getting us from point A to point B,but on the other hand it would help if people were more responsible with it.

I think of a car as a necessary evil. I don't really enjoy driving, and cars can be very expensive. But being without a car and dependent on others for transportation is simply too inconvenient.

It's not just the engine of our mobility, it's the engine of our economy, and has been for many decades. They cause pollution (far, far less than even 15 years ago) but I don't see us developing an alternative anytime soon. Djahuti makes a good point. Since there aren't enough known oil reserves to last much past the next 50 years, I agree with him that the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge should be drilled and soon. There may be more oil there than all of the known reserves in the Middle East, and becoming less dependent on Middle Eastern oil would be an enormous benefit to society.

PROS: Gets you where you need to go, be it school, work, whatever. It's pretty hard to go without, especially if you live in a place where public transportation sucks. CONS: Creates pollution, and though it gets you to work, you wouldn't need to work so hard if you didn't have to pay for your car insurance, car payments, gas . . .

While we have all enjoyed the mobility provided by automobiles-we are now beginning to find out just how much damage fossil fuel has done,as well as how litle is left to fill the growing demand for it worldwide.This does not necessarily mean that we have to go back to the horse and carriage,but it would be prudent to put a lot of time,effort and money into alternative fuels or modes of transportation.It sure beats going to war with China over the last million barrels!!!

It would be hard for us to live without it. Public transportation is not on a level where we could function without automobiles.