[DucButt]

Re: Burns:: Friday Fanaticism

More power to you, JB! Glad you have a new venue to showcase your remarkable talent. This coming from me - a slightly right-leaning, pro-capitalist bonehead who doesn't have all the answers. Peace out, brother.

 

[sqidbait]

Re: Burns:: Friday Fanaticism

Hmmn, a joke sprang to mind...

What we know about Osama bin Laden is this -- he's worth $300 million, he

has five wives and 26 kids ... and he hates Americans for their

'excessive' lifestyle."-- David Letterman

 

[dpwracing]

Re: Burns:: Friday Fanaticism

You make some good points in your column, though I'm not sure they hate us for our culture of materialism. In my mind, I think it is our tendency to promote our culture and try to convert others to various parts of it that bothers so many outside the U.S. Quite frankly, I think they want us to mind our own business while we think we need to enlighten them to our ways.

Obviously there are definitely times when the U.S. should use its power to influence and intervene, but often I do think we push it too far.

Hmm, too much thinking, need to go riding.

 

[R1150GS]

Re: Burns:: Friday Fanaticism

First Post! Sweeeeeet! Enjoy the column, and as a right wing capitalist, I would have to say that your column is not from from the point, if not dead on. Believe it or not sportsfans, there is a growing number of Americans that don't give a rats ass if they get 20 miles per gallon or 8 miles per gallon as long as they have the newest, biggest SUV on the planet. My parents are a prime example. What the hell do two retired people need an Expedition (sp?) for. To "haul around grandkids you say". Sorry, all five are two wheeled instead of two legged. Sorry mom! "We might buy a big boat". Crike, you have 5 boats and they all stay moored at the lakehouse, never towed a one anywhere. "Well we might take a long trip". BS, you'll fly, then rent a Expedition. with a third bench seat for the two of you. "What if we are in a wreck?" Well if everyother vehicle on the road wasn't a 5 ton behemoth that couldn't get out of it's own way, we may not have that many wrecks or at least less force in those we do have. And while you at it, freaking hang the cell phone up.

I digress, your column as usuall is excellent.

P.S. If Motorcyclist doesn't appreciate "drunken, unprofessional behavior" in it's proper environment, then you are the better for being gone.

 

[runner00]

Re: Burns:: Friday Fanaticism

Hey Bro. Lay off the juice. Time and place and all that. As far as americans being over consumers, it's because were over workers. Tell them to get off their asses and do something constructive and then they will have a little excess also. But the whole SUV thing I don't get. If I had the money for an SUV I'd spend it on a BMW or American GT. It's an intimidation thing for a lot of them I think.

A lot of these SUV are really trucks and should be subject to the same limitations on the highways as commercial vehicles.

 

[luvmyvfr]

Er, was aforementioned behavior at the track? I wouldn't call that the "proper environment."



If it was at a showroom or conference room or something, who cares? Those degenerates were just looking for any excuse, and I'm glad you're here with us. Just keep it sober when you're on wheels (2, 4, 18, whatever).



luvmyvfr

 

[Detroit]

Re: Burns:: Friday Fanaticism

I believe anybody who does not live in the USA has some sort of hatred for us.

It is like a few years ago when the Cowboys were winning all the superbowls with all there flash.

We are hated because we are Numero Uno!

The way of the world is RULE or BE RULED.

The only way for Total brotherhood, or unity of all creeds and cultures is if ALIENS WANTED TO TAKE OVER OUR PLANET.

If there was only ONE race of people on the plane, ALL of the same religion, ALL with blond hair and blue eyes somebody would fine something to hate about somebody else. May People who had zits on there face would feel repressed because the others have clear skin.

We are the best. We have to enjoy it because NO country or Government has remained in tact forever. Ask the Egyptians, Greeks, or Romans.

 

[longride]

Re: Burns:: Friday Fanaticism

In the same vein regarding motorcycles, who needs a tubtart Goldwing? Who would possibly need a squidly 160 RWH? Why would overweight, underpowered, high-priced cruisers exist? Why, is because we Americans want the biggest, fastest, or the most expensive toys, period. Squidly complaining about an SUV, while riding his 185hp 195mph Busa is laughable. Both are excess in different directions, and each just as gluttonous. One is more tonnage than can be used, and one is more acceleration and speed than can be used. Please folks, don't deny them THEIR toys while we have ours. We are the MINORITY. Get over it already. In 34 years of riding I have been cut off and almost run over by just about every vehicle on the road, so I don't discriminate here. I don't trust anyone and neither should you. Also, if you know anything about our foreign policy since WWII, you wouldn't wonder why we are hated by quite a few nations.

 

[5449]

So what exactly did you do?

Did you puke in the fish bowl? Feel up Sandra Day O'Connor? Crash one of the CBRs? What?Does Boehm drink beer? He looks to me like someone who doesn't. Is he a real tight ass?

Anyway, I enjoyed your column even if I don't agree with most of it, and my disagreement stems from your basic premise, I guess. I don't feel that "people" in general are good or bad. We just are. We are all sacks of gelatinous guts and gore with the same general needs and desires matched to wildly disparate capablities to achieve those needs. All of us, from Mother Teresa to Stalin, are solely motivated by self interest, however sublimated that self interest may be, and however misguided in its attempt at fulfillment. Some people we like, because they are like us (or enough unlike us to make them interesting). Some people we don't like. We get along with those or we kill them, whatever we can get away with.

I do agree with your general feelings about the use and ownership of SUVs. They suck and the people that own them suck. I know I can hardly talk about gluttony however, without appearing the hypocrite. Actually, most of us can't. Most of us own way too much, use way too much, waste too much to point our fingers at the other guy. That's America. That's any population with the same resources as America. That's life.

As for Bush, I really don't give a ***** if he recognizes the reasons why all the muslims hate and want to kill us. Who knows why they do and, really, who cares? That's just another bit of gluttony you get to wallow in as an American; the luxury of two huge oceans and friendly neighbors that allow you to gaze at your navel while whole countries of fanatics plot your destruction. We are fast approaching the last chocolate in that box, as September 11 indicates all to plainly.

 

[Grappelli]

Re: Burns:: Friday Fanaticism

A little less than 10% or the world's population? Try a lot less.

Current world population: roughly 6,237 million. Current US population 286 million. That's 4.5% of the world population. Less than 1/20th.

US energy use last time I heard was nearer 28 or 29%.

So we have 1/20th of the world's population using between 1/4 and 1/3 of the world's energy.

 

[hawkrider]

Re: Burns:: Friday Fanaticism

I am sick and tired of everyone and their mother *****ing about SUV's. We are a great and free nation and the most productive on earth because of our freedom. It is none of your business what I drive, if I own a gun, ride motorcycles or anything else. Don't even mention my boat with a Supercharged intercooled big block, ($100 a day in gas cost).

Again, none of your business!

The fact is people can be poor inconciderate drivers regardless of what they drive. Does anyone believe that the vehicle determines the way a person drives? Bull*****! You are who you are.

If any of the above violates the law or another persons rights thats another story. But please stop painting everyone who owns SUV's boats etc. as idiots. Many of my friends think I am crazy for riding motorcycles, maybe so. But fortunately I live in a country where I have the right to be crazy if I want. And if you don't like it, tough *****!

 

[Grappelli]

Re: Burns:: Friday Fanaticism

I have been challenged on these figures. For confirmation go to www.census.gov which is about a close to accurate anyone can get on this.

 

[Lincoln]

You drive an SUV, You're an idiot.

that's my opinion

 

[polishnightmare]

Re: Burns:: Friday Fanaticism

One other point. Yes we use 25% of the resources in the world, but if we didn't then think of all the people that would be worse off. No buying, no work, no money, no food. They depend on us for there way of life. It is a two way street they make we buy.

 

[loftydog]

Depends on what your definition of

What exactly is "unprofessional"?

Illegal accounting practices that bankrupt a company, forcing employees to hold or buy stock you know will become valueless while you sell personal holdings, becoming even more exhorbitantly wealthy while they lose everything?

No, that's not it. Wait, I remember now:

Having a few too many ****tails at a celebratory dinner, maybe making an inappropriate comment or knocking something over and thereby tarnishing the near-perfect image of corporate America.

Thankfully we were saved from ever thinking that those in charge could ever be like us or do anything that might injure a third party.

Seriously, I agree with you rant that Americans are victims of their own creation. We refuse to even reduce our energy/petroleum consumption, let alone consider alternatives. Why would we want to use something like hydrogen to power our internal combustion engines, which outperforms petrol based IC engines, when we can use an unreliable, finite, and expensive source? (For those of you that will cry Hindenburg, I can say this: hydrogen burns clear, the Hindenburg did not. This is because the skin of the airship was painted with a compound similar to rocket fuel that started the blaze. Yes, hydrogen is flamable, but so is gasoline).

Wait, that would actually make sense, but so would reducing consumption.

 

[sarnali]

Re: Burns:: Friday Fanaticism

let's look at reality, shall we. the problem with the middle east/arab cultures is thier bull***** religion. any belief system thats based on concepts that haven't evolved since the middle ages is just not going to cope with the changing reality of the world today. The mullahs espouse thier claptrap to explain why thier countrys are backward ****holes in a world of prosperity and blame us for thier own lack of progress. the fact is theyd still be cooking over camel ***** fires if the U.S., Dutch, and Brits hadn't started thier petroleum industry 100 years ago they are taught from birth that were to blame for thier misery and that the only answer is to kill some one [and yourself], What future does a society that sacrifices it's children have? I do agree that land yacht SUV's are a bit much, but there are just as many fools in cars so thats a difficult argument to maintain, and for do it all in one vehicales mid size SUV's are tough to beat. In my opinion any organized religion is to soaked in blood to have any validity anyway. ........... you may fire when ready, Griddley

 

[dwr461]

Re: Burns:: Friday Fanaticism

JB,

Good article. I don't agree with everything you wrote, but you made people think. I agree with making people think about their stance on subjects so that they may better understand themselves and the topic.

Well like the character Dirty Harry said "Opinions are like assholes everyone's got one," and here comes mine. If you're blocking traffic get the heck out of the way. It's as simple as yielding the faster vehicle.

I personally am a fine gourmet of drunk unprofessional behavoir. As long as you only hurt yourself and did not interfer with someone else's exsistance more power to you.

Dave

 

[8914]

Re: Burns:: Friday Fanaticism

Hi John,

I think you're making a common mistake which is to think that our (motorcyclists) freedoms are essential while other's are frivolous or gluttonous. This type of mentality leads to the countless attempts of one group of people to impose their values on another group. History is littered with examples. As for the abundance or scarcity of oil there are 2 curious aspects to the arguement.

First, oil production and prices hover around a point which maximizes revenue to the producers. These include all of the Arab countries that supposedly decry our gluttonous and materialistic ways. Interesting that their bread is buttered with our excess.

Second, although there are numerous examples of distorted reporting, that's no reason to throw out all work that attempts to estimate our energy reserves. The key is to do your homework. As you know from riding the 954, GSXR1000, and R1, our science may be imperfect but it is pretty damn good. Our total energy reserves are quite huge with oil being amongst the cheapest and most available. Our sun shines down approximately 2.825e25 joules of energy each year which equates to almost 7000 times our worldwide energy consumption so when solar cells get cheap enough, or oil scarce enough, we will switch.

The fact of the matter is that the US is both beautiful and frustrating because we attempt to let people alone to decide what course their lives should take. It doesn't always feel that way becuase we get caught up in our own matters but compared to the Taliban or other repressive regimes around the world, this place is a candyland of freedoms.

So I hear you. I hate Sport Futility Vehicles too. I can't understand why someone would spend 40 grand to drive a slow, ugly thing that doesn't stop, go, or turn. I just try to separate my value judgement (buying an SUV is stupid) from the legitimate infringement on my freedom (they hog the left lane block my safe passage). We need to fix the latter but if you're going to attack the former, you need to bring more than that tired environmentalist-as-anti-capitalist-ideology rhetoric.

And still I hope you will rant on!

Dennis

 

[Woody650]

Re: Burns:: Friday Fanaticism

Ah...but a Hayabusa, excessive as it is in its own right, is highly efficient....it get good gas mileage, uses less than a lane on the freeway, and will do less damage to me, my car, or my bike when it hits me.

And, while we may be hated, we probably have the highest number of immimgrants per year of any country on the planet...so we can't be all that bad....

 

[SeanAlexander]

Re: Burns:: Friday Fanaticism

As for painting people as idiots for driving SUVs, before the SUV it was the Volvo with a "Baby on Board" plackard that was the scourge of motorcyclists (remember those?) in 95, all the motorcycle boards were up in arms over baby on board Volvos and the biker hating, blood thirsty mommies and daddies that drove them.