Fear Drives a Hummer

At one time or another, most of us have experienced "light-bulb" insights. You know, one of those moments when your thoughts crystallize and you finally see connections between things that just moments before lay disconnected and clouded in shadow. It might be a self-delusion of some sort or not a connection seen by others, but none-the-less, it seems right for you.

Well, such a moment occurred recently when I was reading an article describing how the auto industry is laughing its way to the bank as it watches SUVs and trucks of every increasing size and cost being snapped by buyers despite the cost of gas.

Many times I've wondered just why it is that any reasonable person, who occasionally has to parallel park, would be willing to pay a $12,000 plus premium just to drive what is basically a dolled-up truck? When most drivers really don´t need room for nine-passengers, will never take the vehicle off road (except possibly by accident when a curb is misjudged) and have little need for four-wheel drive, how is it that so many buyers get talked into the "I need a Hummer" decision? Then, I realized it couldn´t be just a matter of conspicuous consumption (something at which we Americans are particularly adept); there had to be other motivations at play.

One of the main ones - I believe - is "fear"! Light bulb No. 1 - "Fear drives a Hummer". Light bulb No. 2 – Fear also lubricates several other contemporary dynamics of American life and behavior both at the individual and at the group level.

In terms of SUVs and trucks, beyond the few who actually acquire them for their utilitarian value, I suspect that many people buy them because of their perceived safety value. Notice that I only say perceived: in actuality, SUVs have - as a class - an abysmal safety record.

Recent statistics show that the number of driver deaths in accidents is highest for truck-like vehicles and that these vehicles also kill more "drivers" of the other vehicle involved in accidents with them. For example, Ford-F Series trucks had overall death rates per million vehicles sold that were nearly four (4) times greater than the Toyota Avalon and the Chrysler Town & Country minivan. This is not even to mention the high roll-over rate of SUVs and trucks and the numbers of life-long injuries that happen.

So why would otherwise intelligent shoppers interested in the safety of their families go out and buy such vehicles? Why do buyers who "know" the above information chose to ignore it and stick to their "But I just like big vehicles!" explanation? Again, I believe one of the answers has to do with fear - plain but maybe not so simple.

I purpose - that in great part - many people drive big vehicles because of fear. Fear of being at a disadvantage in an accident. Fear of physical harm and injury. Wrapping ourselves in all that steel (or plastic as the case is in some) helps us feel more secure no matter what the stats show. Sitting up high above others lends a sense of distance and superiority that acts like an ointment on the burn of fear. Knowing that nearly 50,000 people die every year in road accidents, we want to give ourselves better odds – or so we hope.

But much beyond our vehicles buying tendencies, we Americans have become a nation of fearful, anxious knee-knocking, trembling and hiding cattle - herded about by TV news programs and the constant drum of politicians (of all kinds) intent on reelection at whatever cost.

Through a nightly diet of "what to be afraid of next" as offered by the TV news media and reinforced by our morning newspaper, we have learned to be afraid of so many things to which at one time we gave little thought.

Not withstanding the lessons of 9-11 and risking a generalization, we in this country have become a fearful and paranoid group. We have learned to be afraid that our children will be kidnapped or molested. We have learned to become weary of clerics and priests. We worry fitfully about boy-scout leaders. We have learned to be fearful of the many diseases and environmental hazards out there just waiting to invade our homes and our bodies. We are told that the world is out to get us and that homeland security demands that individual rights be suspended in the name of national good. We have learned to be afraid that something called the "homosexual agenda" will take over the world and destroy the "sanctity" of treasured institutions and overturn precious traditions. We have learned to be afraid of non-existent WMD to the point that not long ago, masses of people descended on stores to buy plastic sheeting and duct-tape to seal their homes from the expected gassings that national media told us was "possible". We´ve learned how to stock-up on food and weapons enough to last us through such world-wide catastrophes as the turn-of-the-century computer crash that, of course, never happened. We´ve learned to be afraid of - or at least paranoid about - our email and other internet surfing habits. We are frequently reminded that viruses and "worms" lurk around every corner. I know some who fear the very act of turning on their computer will expose them to vulnerability. We cringe at the possibility of identity theft. We anxiously await the weather report that no longer is called "the weather report" but rather "First Alert Warnings"! At the slightest hint of inclement winter weather, we rush the grocery stores leaving empty shelves in our wake for fear we will not have sufficient food to last the day. We gobble every increasing amounts of prescribed mood altering drugs so that we are not so anxious and depressed by the world in which we live. News programming - driven by viewership ratings and the pursuit of advertising dollars - has morphed into "news shows" that have lost their ability to be objective. At the same time, the mass of people watching these "programs" seem willing to suspend critical thought and allow themselves to be spoon feed. Fear is now a hovering specter looming just above our heads threatening to engulf each of us in catastrophe and trauma.

We need to remind ourselves as a people and as a nation of the wise words of FDR who said to America, "The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself". Fear debilitates our humanity and sets us at each other´s juggler. Fear often transforms itself into what appears to be righteous anger and aggression but in reality is simpering sniveling angst. Fear divides us and drives wedges as no other emotion can. It sets brother against brother and sister against sister. Left against right. Fear seeks justification and hides behind a cloak of self-righteousness.

We each need to look at our fear thermometer and turn down the heat! Let´s not let all the fear-mongers continue to use that tactic so successfully as to keep us forever off guard and distracted from those things that really deserve attention. We need to reject all such efforts.

While it is indeed a complicated and sometimes dangerous world, we can remind ourselves that in the stream of things and events - at an individual level - our risk and exposure to real danger is typically much less than we might suppose or be led to believe.

If you´re going to be suspicious of motive, be wary of those who begin their pitch directly or indirectly by appealing to fear and your sense of personal security. Be weary of any politician or government that says "Here, let me take care of you. I know what´s best!"