'There's a component of getting rich that means individual choices such as owning a car and having the privacy that provides.'
Yes, that feeling of personal independence at the wheel of your own vehicle, i know it well, i drive a dirty big diesel pickup kept stocked with support systems - tools, parts for machinery and saws, reserve cash, passport, emergency rations and water, first aid kit, phone etc etc ... it's a self-sufficient rolling unit that can be pointed anywhere according to my my my whim
But just try driving it in cities, you don't get that feeling .... population density kills that open-road free-as-a-bird sensation stone dead ..... some of the freest i ever felt travelling was with a good pair of sneakers, passport toothbrush credit card etc, and a small pack weighing rarely over ten kilos, that can be placed overhead on the plane ..... which is no longer true post-11.09.01, as they now won't let on my swiss army knife, without which i go nowhere, got to check that into baggage [and be for some hours without my most essential - but pointed - little swiss army knife toothpick!], and stand around for a long time waiting for it before customs .... but that's true freedom - no need to worry about directions, parking, maintenance, insurance, all that stuff, you just charge the ticket and go .... it is the difference between doing and having, perhaps only those who have done plenty of having can appreciate it, every sixteen year old and every poor person will still want their own personal vehicular fantasy/nightmare, until they have it for a while
The chinese may go this route for some time, and they are doing so, yes, but it will quickly lead to problems, and they will fairly soon realise that .... in any case, looks like they are going to use lots of resources, for sure ..... cheers |
