Derrick Jackson's Gas-Guzzling Americans

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What do other countries think about America's wastefulness? Derrick Jackson answers this question in his article “Gas-Guzzling Americans Irk Europeans.” Written during a trek across Europe, this article offers a unique first-hand perspective on the animosity Europeans have towards Americans and their disregard for the health of the environment, particularly when it comes to vehicular pollution. By using spiteful quotes and adverse statistics and bringing up controversial political situations Jackson paints an ugly picture of America and the economical moral of her citizens. His biggest complaint is in the vehicles we drive. He claims, in short, that Americans simply have too much car. Europeans believe America’s cars are big, noisy, and most disturbingly, release millions of gallons of pollution into the atmosphere every year. If there were credible justification for such atrocities, Americans would at least have some grounds on which to defend …show more content…

According to George Bernard Shaw, “Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything” (Shaw, p. 330). In order to truly make a change, one must change the minds of the people. America’s automobile industry has done a stellar job at this. In recent years fuel economy has surpassed make, body style, and “beeps and whistles” to become the number one factor people considered when purchasing a new car or truck (Choi). This shows that not only are vehicle manufacturers working to reduce vehicular pollution by improving how our cars are built, but even those that aren't directly involved with the manufacturing process are aiding the cause by choosing to purchase vehicles they know will produce fewer pollutants and consume less gas per miles driven. This discredits Jackson’s claims that Americans don’t care about the

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