everything old is new again

[Pottree@domain.elided]

In a message dated 02/19/2002 11:56:42 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:


> 
> I see a number of trends. As the cost of new cars continues to increase,
> the cost and difficulty of repairing used cars continues to increase, and
> as the level of government inspection and restriction continues to
> increase, so also will the cost of car ownership. Unless there are changes
> in these general trends, I suspect we'll reach a point where only the
> privelidged and wealthy will be able to afford to drive cars at all, and
> some form of public transportation will be supported for the underclasses.

Looking back, in the USA, to the years before the 1950s, this was pretty much 
the rule.

A big difference is that before the war most industrial/employee jobs (non 
mining, non farm) were in major cities with public transportation, so people 
could plausibly hold a job and not own a car.

Now, the vast majority of wages are earned in suburban areas and most middle 
class housing and most affordable housing is in suburban areas -- all based 
on the notion that people get around in private automobiles.  So, it would be 
very impractical for car ownership to be so expensive that it becomes once 
again something only for the lucky few as it was 80 or 90 years ago.

Charlie
LA, CA, USA

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