# I'm helping terrorists - and loving it!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-helping-terrorists-and-loving-it/147322
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [January 8, 2003, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-helping-terrorists-and-loving-it/147322 "2003-01-08T16:40:22Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2003, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-helping-terrorists-and-loving-it/147322/21 "2003-01-09T02:45:29Z")
And when you ride alone, you ride with bin laden:
[http://stacks.msnbc.com/news/834150.asp](http://stacks.msnbc.com/news/834150.asp)
:rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@aeropl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aeropl)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2003, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-helping-terrorists-and-loving-it/147322/22 "2003-01-09T02:48:32Z")
Why isn’t anyone angry at the new “What would Jesus drive” campaigns? They’re just as bad.
If an SUV funds terrorism, then so does paying your taxes. Without the USA there wouldn’t be any terrorism against the USA.
When you drive an SUV, you shouldn’t be worried about the terrorism. You should be worried about the environment.
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### Author:  [@TVGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVGuy)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2003, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-helping-terrorists-and-loving-it/147322/23 "2003-01-09T05:44:19Z")
Of course, instead of worrying too much about the 2 MPG tanks that 98% of drivers don’t really need in the first place, you could simply buy your gas from [companies that don’t use so much Middle Eastern oil](http://www.araboilboycott.com/sites/araboilboycott/index.asp?pg=T4&col=1)
or … ride a motorcycle! 😃
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### Author:  [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2003, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-helping-terrorists-and-loving-it/147322/24 "2003-01-09T06:10:48Z")
So if somebody drive an SUV that gets 11mpg and lives 11 miles from work they are supporting Bin Ladden. What about the guy who drives a Toyota that gets 25 mpg and lives 50 miles from work, he isn’t supporting BL? WTF?
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### Author:  [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2003, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-helping-terrorists-and-loving-it/147322/25 "2003-01-09T06:25:14Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by TVGuy \*
> **…you could simply buy your gas from [companies that don’t use so much Middle Eastern oil](http://www.araboilboycott.com/sites/araboilboycott/index.asp?pg=T4&col=1)…**
Good idea. :rolleyes: Perhaps instead of joining the econ flunkies, no offense meant, you could push to have a more accurate cost of gasoline be relfected at the pump. Is the ICTA accurate? Probably not since some of those external costs don’t look like they’d have impacts on the mariginal costs of gasoline production, but I wouldn’t be suprised if $1.50 per gallon was a little below the actual cost of gasoline. Having the real cost of gasoline be reflected at the pump would be…optimal? Of course, many people built their lives around the inaccurate price structure, and it would be unfair to just screw them. But I’m sure a reasonable approximation of fairness can be had while moving to a more realistic price of gasoline.
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### Author:  [@TVGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVGuy)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2003, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-helping-terrorists-and-loving-it/147322/26 "2003-01-09T06:36:50Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by js\_africanus \*
> But I’m sure a reasonable approximation of fairness can be had while moving to a more realistic price of gasoline. \*\*
Oh, but wait, didn’t you realize that cheap gasoline is a birthright of all Americans?? Didn’t you see it in the fine print right in between the 10th and 11th amendments to the Constitution??
_“Congresss shall make no law that allows the price of one gallon of horseless carriage fuel to rise above that of of one gallon of whole cow’s milk”_
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### Author:  [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-helping-terrorists-and-loving-it/147322/27 "2003-01-09T13:38:24Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Rick \*
> \*\*So if somebody drive an SUV that gets 11mpg and lives 11 miles from work they are supporting Bin Ladden. What about the guy who drives a Toyota that gets 25 mpg and lives 50 miles from work, he isn’t supporting BL? WTF? \*\*
I think they’re targeting the guy who lives 50 miles from work and drives the SUV that gets 11 mpg, as opposed to every person who owns an engine. Driving is a neccessity in most cases, but what you drive is a choice. Agree with it or not, it’s not a hard message to figure out.
Actually, when they first came out with the drugs=terrorism campaign, my first thought was oil=terrorism is a better (although weak) connection. The difference is, I’m pretty sure tax money paid for drugs campaign (not sure about this), but I doubt the gov’mint would speak out against using oil.
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### Author:  [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2003, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-helping-terrorists-and-loving-it/147322/28 "2003-01-09T14:13:55Z")
I saw that crazy lady who made the TV spots on CNN this morning. Everyone is clamoring about how we have a right to have suvs, how big families need them, how they are safer etc, and the lady is pulling all these stats out of her ass to shoot them down. What amazed me was nobody asked the obvious question, “don’t you put the same gas in your tank as well?”
I would have loved to see her respond to that.
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### Author:  [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-helping-terrorists-and-loving-it/147322/29 "2003-01-09T15:48:31Z")
Hark, I think we can hear at least 10 variations on the eternal cry of the SUV driver in this thread!
“Hey, don’t blame me! What about that guy over there!”
It’s great. As long as we can all say it no-one ever has to feel guilty.
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### Author:  [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2003, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-helping-terrorists-and-loving-it/147322/30 "2003-01-09T15:52:53Z")
Person A: Drives two miles to work on a moped.
Person B: Drives an M-2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle 50 miles each way. He can afford it and it makes him feel sale. He attaches a U-Haul to the back to carry his briefcase. His hobby is flaring off oil in his back yard.
Hey, they both put the same gas in their tanks.
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### Author:  [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2003, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-helping-terrorists-and-loving-it/147322/31 "2003-01-09T16:13:45Z")
I’m not agreeing with the spots, but I think everyone is really off base. The logic here seems to be as long as we all use gas, there’s no reason anyone should use less gas. It’s like not seeing the difference between a cigarette and a smoke stack. They both give off smoke, who cares how much…
For many of us, at this point, using gas is a necessity. It’s the amount we use that is in question. I don’t buy the terrorism connection, but I can plainly see the point of using less gas. It’s not an all-or-nothing proposition. I don’t think anyone would have a problem answering “don’t you put the same gas in your tank as well?” Yes, just a whole lot less of it.
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### Author:  [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-helping-terrorists-and-loving-it/147322/32 "2003-01-09T16:18:38Z")
By extrapolation, Every time God kills Bin Laden, a kitten masturbates.
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### Author:  [@cybersnark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cybersnark)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2003, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-helping-terrorists-and-loving-it/147322/33 "2003-01-09T16:19:23Z")
OK, I gotta bite. I can see the logic (or lack thereof, if you prefer) about driving SUVs leading to terrorism. But as mentioned earlier in Duke’s reply:
“I’ve also heard similar claims about caviar and honey (yes really! On an NPR program just after 9/11.)”
Just how do honey and caviar tie in?
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### Author:  [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2003, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-helping-terrorists-and-loving-it/147322/34 "2003-01-09T16:42:20Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Futile Gesture \*
> \*\*Hark, I think we can hear at least 10 variations on the eternal cry of the SUV driver in this thread!
>
> “Hey, don’t blame me! What about that guy over there!”
>
> It’s great. As long as we can all say it no-one ever has to feel guilty. \*\*
Hey, you can blame me. I don’t care.
The only reason I’m buying a Suburban is because the Canyonero isn’t available.
CanyoneerrrOOOOOOOOOOO!!
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### Author:  [@Fibonacci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibonacci)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2003, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-helping-terrorists-and-loving-it/147322/35 "2003-01-09T17:06:44Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by World Eater \*
> \*\*I saw that crazy lady who made the TV spots on CNN this morning. Everyone is clamoring about how we have a right to have suvs, how big families need them, how they are safer etc, and the lady is pulling all these stats out of her ass to shoot them down. What amazed me was nobody asked the obvious question, “don’t you put the same gas in your tank as well?”
>
> I would have loved to see her respond to that. \*\*
Arianna Huffington reportedly got rid of her SUV about a year ago & now drives a hybrid getting 51 mpg. Please cite where her stats came out of her ass. That might be something to see.
These ads are a grass roots effort to get Americans to give a little conscious thought about what they drive. I think they are a riot and will contribute to help pay to air them. I realize my paltry contribution will do little against the millions of dollars the auto industry spends to keep you from making an informed decision, but what the hell.
If you’re really curious about the motivation for these spots, go to the source, [www.detroitproject.com](http://www.detroitproject.com) and judge it for yourself without the filter of a sound bite or media hack tell you what you should think.
Incidentally, I understand ABC is refusing to run the ads. Looks like I’ll have to boycott Celebrity Mole Hawaii now. 😉
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### Author:  [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2003, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-helping-terrorists-and-loving-it/147322/36 "2003-01-09T17:21:45Z")
If they wanted to make people give a conscious thought to what they drive, I think they took the wrong approach. All they’re going to do with their accusations of all SUV drivers helping terrorists is either make them laugh or make them prickle. I don’t know anybody who takes “if you [verb] you’re helping the terrorists!” seriously unless [verb] is “blow up little babies with nuclear weapons.”
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### Author:  [@av8rmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/av8rmike)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2003, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-helping-terrorists-and-loving-it/147322/37 "2003-01-09T17:38:09Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by El\_Kabong \*
> **Right. Eminently sensible. After all, the gasoline pumped into an SUVs tank comes entirely from horrible dictatorships that fund terrorism against the US, while the the gasoline pumped into a regular car’s tank flows down in rivers from the Big Rock Candy Mountain.**
I have a pickup truck, where does my gas come from? 😉
Seriously, what about a minivan? A Rav-4-sized vehicle? A Buick? Do they not support terror?
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### Author:  [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2003, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-helping-terrorists-and-loving-it/147322/38 "2003-01-09T17:38:16Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by TVGuy \*
> **Oh, but wait, didn’t you realize that cheap gasoline is a birthright of all Americans?? Didn’t you see it in the fine print right in between the 10th and 11th amendments to the Constitution??**
I once read that multiple question marks are a sign on a disturbed mind. Oh, wait…it was multiple exclamation points. I guess you’re okay.😃 It bothers me that you would make light of my desire to not screw over millions of poeple. Like it or not, automobile transportation is an important part of American culture, and through the polity this cultural value has been made clear, and reinforced, with the price distortions that exist at the pump. Many people have optimized with those distortions taken as a given (unfortunately, many take them as a right…) and to suddenly remove them would do serious harm to those people. We’re not talking about Jim Crow here–the moral imperative behind proper pricing of gasoline is not so pressing that society needs to make an about face at (unlike Jim Crow) the expense of considerable public welfare.
It’s not like eliminating SUVs will _prima facie_ save the environment. Of course it’s true that the American automobile uses a non-negligable portion of world petroleum; however, it does not necessarily follow that world petroleum use would go down. If the U.S. were to seriously reduce its automobile fuel usage, then the price of oil would drop, which means that it would be that much easier for LDCs to purchase it in their efforts to industrialize. Of course, local environmental concerns like smog would be improved, but not necessarily global ones. Do you really think that the leadership of China is too concerned about environmental issues? The same government that is displacing millions of people and destroying cultural heritage, _inter alia_, for the goal of making the world’s largest dam that is, _per se_, of questionable long term value and possibly considerable risk, is going to look at cheap oil and say, “Golly, we better be sure we use this oil in an environmentally and socially responsible way so that we may benefit the whole world”? I’m skeptical about that.
Of course helping LDCs develop is unambigously good, but simply dumping cheap oil on the world markets may not be the best way to go about it.
Regarding the SUV=\>terror link, I find it interesting that such ridiculous McCarthyite (sp?) accusations are being seriously considered by anyone. How about this, you _can_ buy a SUV, but only if you sign a loyalty oath, hmm? It isn’t decades of heartless policy decisions and realpolitik that causes terrorism, it’s buying oil from Arabs that causes terrorism. That’s finger pointing writ large.
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### Author:  [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-helping-terrorists-and-loving-it/147322/39 "2003-01-09T17:43:04Z")
FYI, surprise, surprise, Detroit stations won’t run the ads [http://www.auto.com/industry/nusuv9\_20030109.htm](http://www.auto.com/industry/nusuv9_20030109.htm)
These stations have no problem running Miss Cleo Psychic Readings though.
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### Author:  [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2003, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-helping-terrorists-and-loving-it/147322/40 "2003-01-09T17:45:56Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by lost4life \*
> \*\*These stations have no problem running Miss Cleo Psychic Readings though. \*\*
Unlike Arianna Huffington, Miss Cleo keeps it real. At least, that’s what she says.
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