[Marxism] Re: Cars devastate

[Ben C <minnows@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

<<It appears that long commutes are dangerous to democracy. And, "in the 30
largest [ U.S.] cities, total time lost to traffic jams had almost
quintupled since 1980." (13)>>


I spend 2 hours a day in my car driving to and from work. Added to my
9-hour work day (8 hours plus 1 hour unpaid breaks). Worse than damaging
"democracy" (which barely exists in this capitalist nation, and that's
the way they want it) it damages my ability to resist because I'm too
tired, or too late, to get to and participate meaningfully in socialist
meetings, protests and other resistance activities. Although it gives me
the opportunity to read, catching the train takes longer, and costs a
similar amount ($10 per day for a ticket!). I really hate cars.

It's good that people out there are researching the social impact of car
madness. But what can activists do? How do you mount a campaign? As
great as public transport is in theory, i.e. if adequately resourced, it
doesn't often strike a chord with the masses for a campaign (whereas new
freeways vs new tollways, for example, does). We certainly have a lot of
mass education to do, so congrats to Yves Engler.

Does anyone on this list know of succussful, or at least functioning,
community/mass/union campaigns for better public transport that have
actually worked, or are at least alive and kicking? I'd love to know
about them. How did they manage to get support or attract people's
attention?

Ben C


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