To Buy American or to Buy Green?
by Dawn St John
When you make a sizable purchase - such as a car, for example - you are urged to support your country and "Buy American!" Sometimes, though, that simply isn't feasible. A year ago, when I bought my Subaru Outback sedan, it was the most practical option for me. I live just off one of the Great Lakes, and despise winter driving. All-wheel drive, to me, is a deal-breaker. That might have driven me to an SUV of some description, except that I like my gas-mileage to remain reasonable. It came down to a choice: support my country, or support the Earth. I chose to look at the larger picture. There was no American model to meet my needs, at the time.
Of course, hybrid automobiles are a growing field, having expanded even since we made our purchase. Now there are even hybrid SUVs made by American companies. If such a vehicle had existed a year ago, I'd have jumped at the chance. I wouldn't have had to make the choice between country or planet. Sure I could have waited, if I'd have known such a vehicle would be made within a year. I didn't know that, though. And what I drove before my Subaru was a gas-guzzler itself. I was quite eager to get away from the 13-16 mile-per-gallon beast.
When the time comes to buy my next car, I am grateful to know that there are additional options out there. More and more manufacturers are providing hybrid models, and there are increasing possibilities for alternative fuel. I urge anyone who reads this to do some research about these alternatives, and also to contact their government officials to let them know we want funding for these options. Let's put an end to having to choose between patriotism and being green!