Red Meat versus SUV's

In Orange County, it's common to see expensive cars crowding the streets. Out-of-towners will "ooo" and "ahh" at luxury cars not even sold in other states. Cars alone used to be a symbol of wealth, or probably more likely, credit immorality. In Orange County, even the type of luxury car that you drive can denote your "commitment" to the assumed standard of living. For example, BMW 3 series, Mercedes 2 series, Audi A4's, and other entry level luxury cars are generally seen as cars for children and or "is that all they can afford?". For this reason, true "affection ados" will purchase luxury cars with turbo engines, navigation systems, custom tires and rims, and special colors, etc. These cars, although not so easily distinguishable from entry level cars, usually use high grade fuel and use it very quickly, demonstrating the owner's ability to not only own a non-entry level car, but also to afford the price of premium gasoline, which now a days is ridiculous.

Rising oil prices and subsequent fuel costs is causing a shift in the illusion of wealth. Many individuals who could afford the Escalades, Hummers, Surburbans, and other luxurious soccer mom trucks find themselves squeezed at the pump. I have begun to notice a sudden rise in small, compact, or hybrid cars driving in juxtaposition to large SUV's and luxury sedans. When it became apparent that the only reason why my family was going to get rid of their V8 Volvo SUV was because of its dependency on premium fuel and its ability to chug through a large gas tank without remorse, I knew that we weren't the only ones.

Whereas driving a luxury or European car used to be a good indicator of wealth. Now, it's more a matter of cars that are impractical to fill at the pump. While practical people were switching to smaller, more efficient cars, others continued to buy cars that require premium gas and require it 20 or more gallons at a time. When I see a Surburban or Hummer, or any large SUV or luxury sports car with a V12 or turbo, I think that the cost alone to fill that car indicates credit immorality or a large amount of wealth. Everybody at the pump looks at those people with one of two mentalities. 1.) that person must have a hefty bank account to buy and support that beautiful car 2.) that person is a douche bag. Number 2 is usually a result of the jealously accompanying the first.

How does red meat fit in? Probably up until about 200 years ago, and beginning somewhere around Greece and Rome, largely women were seen as the pinnacle for the ideal body type by some. Much of this was because their weight indicated their dietary habits, and their dietary habits indicated their financial ability to buy certain types of food that would enable and sustain their figure. Largely individuals were able to eat foods like red meat often and readily. The peasantry was forced to eat "lesser meats" like fish, poultry, pig, and canine. Red meat came from animals that were too necessary for other farm necessities like milk and labor. Red meat was an indicator of wealth. Even historical superstars like Jesus ate large quantities of fish and was followed by a posse of fishermen. One of the reasons (theologically) why Catholics negate red meat during lent is a symbolic self sacrifice of a luxurious lifestyle and a return to a more pious lifestyle of fish and poultry (thusly being closer to Jesus). This was due to the status of red meat as a luxurious item in biblical times.

Fuel has become our culturally relevant red meat. Where red meat fed the wealthy, now premium fuels feed their cars. Luxury cars and SUV's now symbolize a wealth beyond the sticker price. These cars represent a new illusion of wealth fueled by fuel (no pun intended) and the cost of sed fuel. What's the cost for practical people in smaller cars? These titanic vehicles pose a major threat to the plastic cars which make our lives more affordable. I'm not suggesting that we view people in luxury SUV's and turbo charged sports cars as gods and goddesses among mere mortals. Rather, we should just say: Really?