uh, hello?!?

i came across this photo and couldn't help but think how ridiculous it was.  it is a part of this very informative article from the new york times.  in the article the writer talks about about how there is a build up of foreign cars in the ports of southern california because demand for the vehicles have lessened so much.  it's the economy, they say.  

now, i am as aware as the next person that the economy is in trouble.  and i'm sure that this is why there is an excess of cars simply sitting, not even in an attempt to be sold, in acres of parking lot in the ports of SoCal.  it is the economy, after all, that is causing us all to take a look at out pocketbooks and think about whether or not we can afford one more vehicle that, even after we have paid for the lease and the insurance, we must then feed with ever-expensive gas.  but then again, lets think about what else we're paying for with these oh-so-necessary vehicles of transportation--oh right, global warming; oh right, the environment.

as bad as it sounds, maybe this crash in the economy is what we need.  here's what the auto industry should take from this photo: people can't afford brand new cars.  GM's struggle to stay afloat should tell the government not that they need a bail out, but that the industry needs to start focusing their attention on something that doesn't take gallons of oil to run and doesn't spew tons of carbon dioxide.

i will now step down from my environmentalist soap box.