Anti-greens now attacking and damaging Priuses?
A few years back it was not unheard of to see incidents of vandalism and outright destruction committed against large SUVs, especially Hummer H2s. Those incidents have largely died down recently, perhaps because people feel pity for those SUV owners who can no longer afford to drive them and can't afford to get rid of them. Now, however, someone is striking back against what they likely perceive as the overly smug, self-righteous greenies who drive Toyota Priuses. One Prius was completely destroyed in July by what has now been deemed to be an arsonist. Back in April seven separate incidents of vandalism occurred within a two-week span in the town of Petaluma north of San Francisco. Come on, people, this is ridiculous. Just because some SUV and some hybrid drivers act like jerks, that's no reason to get violent. Let's just live and let live.
[Source: Inside Line]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mw 3:32PM (9/08/2008)
Maybe...just maybe people are sick of foreign cars &
6% unemployment. Maybe we now can see that
MADE IN AMERICA
is not a joke.
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How Youlikeakick 9:36PM (9/10/2008)
Most european countries would be happy with 6% unemployment (France, germany, etc at 12% plus).
You reap what you sow left wing moonbats, Now deal with it.
Chris M 12:08AM (9/11/2008)
The pathetic parade of Detroit gas guzzlers is a joke. A full decade after the Prius was introduced, and the "big 3" still have nothing that comes close.
If Detroit wants to gain my loyalty, they'll have to earn it back, and they've got a long way to go.
Besides, if these vandalizing idiots really wanted to go after imports, why aren't they torching TVs (100% imported) or WalMart? Maybe its because they are spending too much time watching TV and shopping for Chinese made junk at WalMart.
gorr 4:09PM (9/08/2008)
Ahh... Don't worry too much, it's the bible thing that is coming to an end. It was mainly the story of mosus that said to separate the water(molecule) in two. That story alone explain almost all the story of the western civilisation for the last 2008 years.That story captivated the hopes of everyone that wanted free energy and captivated the fears of everyone that was living from slavery. As soon as the separation of water will be sold on the market it will reverse the tendency to grow little to a tendency to grow bigger instead.
The best for now is honda with their fcx clarity that use hydrogen from a service station that make it with water electrolisis in los angeles. When that technology will be on the market in some quantity, i will explain how to grow even bigger as a society.
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Glenn 11:25AM (9/09/2008)
Now that's just bizarre
BrianM 5:07PM (9/08/2008)
My Toyota is more "Made in America" than my Ford. I don't give a crap about where it was Engineered (since that's a Small team of people, not a large group of laborers).
Ditto my Honda motorcycle being more "Made in America" than your average Harley Davidson.
To brand foreign cars in such a way shows a rather copious volume of ignorance.
And guess what, unemployment is a personal choice. There are tons jobs and available work in Wyoming (my home state) that go empty/unanswered every year. We're talking $35k/year and up, no prior experience OR higher education needed. You just need to have GOOD work ethic. I'm sure the same is true in most places of this country. But people don't have good work ethics.. they want to sit on their butt, picking their nose and collect money.
What Any of that has to do with Arson/Vandalism is beyond me though. Unless we're comparing the poor attitude of those who Choose to go unemployed with those who would commit such ignorant crimes.
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GenWaylaid 8:04PM (9/08/2008)
As an engineer, I do give a crap about where things are engineered. Having job prospects is a good thing.
Mark Kiernan 5:15PM (9/08/2008)
I don't think we should take isolated incidents as trends, but if it is the case, why would people be doing such a thing? If they are jealous of Prius drivers why don't they sell the stupid hummers and buy a Prius instead of whining.
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Scott 1:21AM (9/09/2008)
Has these arsonists not heard of comprehensive insurance? The owners will just use the money to buy another Prius. So see Mr. Wannabe arsonists? It's like you did nothing at all.
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JamesWB 7:33AM (9/09/2008)
Of course it could have been the owners who did this.
Chris M 11:57PM (9/10/2008)
Exactly. The owners are unlikely to replace it with a Detroit gas guzzler, they'll get another Prius, thus more profit for Toyota. BTW, the Prius has the highest owner satisfaction of any car, 97% said they'd buy it again.
JamesWB: No. the owners would have no rational motive to torch their own car. Insurance claims come with a substantial deductable the owner must pay, and if it was proven that they caused the damage, they'd get nothing but a court appearance for arson, vandalism and fraud.
john riley 8:46AM (9/09/2008)
Are you sure that the people torching Prii are anti-green? Maybe they are hyper-green and don't like the idea of a car claiming to be green at all.
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Chris M 1:09AM (9/11/2008)
You mean "hypocritical green" don't you?
Someone who was really concerned about the environment wouldn't be setting smoky polluting fires, or vandalizing property that will have to be scrapped and replaced using even more resources to make the replacement. Money spent on repairing the damage these goons cause can't be used for bettering the environment.
"green vandals" really aren't concerned about the environment, they just want a convenient excuse to do what they really love - committing criminal acts of violence and vandalism
Whopper 8:57AM (9/09/2008)
@BrianM
The issue about made in America is deeper than where it was assembled. Like where the profits go and where the money is invested. As far as this dream about your Honda being more "made in America", I know you can't substantiate that lame statement. Both companies source outside the US and Honda is moving motorcycle assembly out of the US. They completed a manufacturing plant in Japan capable of supplying the world-wide demand for their bikes so they will be made in Japan once again.
Having owned Triumphs, Nortons and Harleys and ridden Hondas and an old KZ1, I prefer my Harley.
And as far as living in Wyoming, your cost of living is approximately 30% higher than the southern Ohio region where your Honda was built so $35K isn't such a great deal for the soon to be laid off motorcycle assemblers.
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Scott 9:34AM (9/09/2008)
Given that Hummer has a better carbon footprint than a Prius, it was probably extreme-Greens that torched the car.
Mining Nickel for Nickel-Metal-Hydride batteries negates the environmental benefit the Prius provides.
The best car to drive right now is a "paid for" car. It doesn't matter if it's a 1969 Beetle or a 2008 Escalade. If it's paid for, it makes the best sense to keep driving it - regardless of the price of gas.
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JamesWB 9:13AM (9/10/2008)
The Hummer greener than a Prius thing was disproved by loads of people, including some guys from MIT, try reading up on stuff before posting.
bill 9:59AM (9/09/2008)
I don't really give a rip who did it or why. When these clowns are caught they need to get a jail sentence of 5 to 10 years. Same goes for car theives. Put these clowns to work re-paving roads and filling potholes 10 hours a day.
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Wise Golden 10:07AM (9/09/2008)
I’m wondering if the owner of the car had made a point of making public some other political thought that frequently accompanies a left leaning mind-set. Maybe a hatred of Bush, or of the Iraq war, or legalize pot, or an anti religious statement. Makes more sense than someone being mad at a car.
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Chris M 1:20AM (9/11/2008)
Someone who would vandalize a car because they didn't like the political views expressed on it, reflect rather badly on their own side of the debate. That is true whether they are Liberal or Conservative, Republican or Democrat or Libertarian or Green.
Vandals get no respect, and they deserve no respect.
parking_god 1:07PM (9/09/2008)
I thought it'd be funny if someone bought a Prius and put a McCain/Palin sticker on the back. That would confuse the hell out of everybody.
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