Derrick Jackson's Gas-Guzzling Americans

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

themselves; but, as Jackson points out, there is no legitimate reason the average citizen should drive a four-ton dually if all he needs to do is go to and from class each day.
Although there certainly are some people that fit these stereotypes, one could hardly use them to summarize the entirety of the US population. Jackson errs in this area because he attempts to take a stereotype and pin it on everyone who identifies as an American (save himself of course). His claim that Americans are ignorant and selfish with respect to the environment couldn’t be farther from the truth. On the contrary, Americans are very environmentally conscientious. We have spent millions to advance the technologies we put in our cars, worked hard to show the importance of fuel efficiency, and passed much needed legislation requiring a more conscientious approach to car manufacturing; all in an effort to make the world a better and cleaner place.
Although we have made impressive technological advancements that have greatly improved the cleanliness of our cars, it wasn’t always that way. Early internal combustion engines had no sort of filter or other means to prevent the toxic chemicals in the exhaust from being released into the air. The gasoline was simply injected into the chamber, ignited, and the exhaust released into the atmosphere. If, as Jackson claims, Americans were “lazy, and inconsiderate”, we would have just stopped there. Our buggy is moving. A little burnt gasoline can’t do too much damage. Motor on. Obviously, this wasn’t the case. The American culture is to always seek ways to improve, to make things better; not only for ourselves, but for everyone around us. With the popularity of the automobile rising, it became apparent that something would need to be done to curtail the volume of pollutants this new onslaught of automobiles would be producing. Although the first attempts at emissions control were primitive, as technology has improved over the years, our understanding of what chemicals can negatively affect our environment has increased. Using this knowledge, we have been able to make substantial improvements to our automobiles to make them more environmentally responsible. Some such improvements include the incorporation of catalytic converters, O2 sensors, and particulate filters to name just a few.
Although improvements in technology have surely made a substantial impact on the reduction of vehicular emissions, technology can only go so far.

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

environment.
Another of his faulty comments was claiming that President Bush and others weren’t really doing anything to monitor the amount of pollution being released by cars. While it is controversial exactly how much President Bush did or didn’t do regarding saving the environment, his actions were that of only one man. Many other presidents, senators, and even local governments have taken it upon themselves to pass countless bits of legislation dictating new standards for vehicular emission control. For example, in 2002 California Governor Grey Davis passed strict regulations that would require car manufacturers in California to decrease the emissions in their cars by twenty-two percent by 2012. Soon after, thirteen other states followed suit and adopted similar legislation. Even Washington has recognized the importance of making our cars more economically friendly. In 2009 Governor Davis’ legislation made it to the President’s desk. President Obama was so impressed with the Davis’ plan that he decided to enact it on a nationwide scale (“California Governor Signs…”). Even as recently as August 2012 the White House passed legislature requiring all passenger vehicles to have a fuel economy of no less than 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 (“Regulations and Standards…”). Another way Jackson’s political rant is invalid is because he only focuses on a small way in which Americans could improve. He doesn’t even mention the fact that we have cut aggregate emissions (those from factories) down sixty-two percent since 1980 (“Air Quality Trends”). We haven’t just been sitting around twiddling our thumbs like Jackson suggests.
So what good is all of this any way? Are all these efforts even working, or are we just putting on a show? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, they are. When looking at data from the past 35 years, we can see that nearly every area that could be improved has been improved dramatically. If we look at carbon monoxide, we will find that from 1980 to 2013 America saw an eighty-four percent decrease in atmospheric concentration, with nearly sixty percent of that occurring from 2000 to 2013. Even though the number of miles driven in America has increased by ninety-five percent from 1980 to 2013 and the population has increased by almost forty percent, the amount of carbon dioxide emissions has only increased by fourteen percent, and is actually on its way down (“Air Quality Trends”). Sure, we have room to improve, but we aren't in the state of ignorance that Jackson suggests. We are conscientiously making efforts to improve the economy of our vehicles. By developing more advanced technologies, shifting the focus of car purchases to environmental factors such as fuel economy, and taking the issue of vehicular pollution to a nationally political level, we will be able to make the world a better place for everyone, including our friends across the pond.