Originally Posted by
Roody
The human species has always been characterized by exploration, nomadism, and resettlement. For two million years, all of this movement was carfree. "Out of Africa" and Native Americans crossing a land bridge from Asia--absolutely no cars were involved. Stone Age peoples traded with people hundreds of miles away.
In many ways, the driving culture ended that freedom by usurping the spirit of exploration and making it dependent on fuel and maintenance of the machine. Whereas people used to be able to fuel and maintain their own bodies through long treks using skills passed down from older generations, moderners have grown ever more dependent on commerce to supply them with the means of travel; which in turn keeps them indentured to employers who typically restrict their schedules in a way that prevents extended travel.