expat--First, you did not deserve the really rude flame you got from one member. That was sickening.

A lot of us do have a philosophical contempt toward cars and car culture. Few want to see cars totally eliminated, but most would like to see their use strictly curtailed.I don't think we hate car owners, although we do feel sorry for them as they seem to be slaves of their own technology. I agree with you that cars can be great tools; most often they are our masters, and we don't like that.

Others have told you about reasons for disliking cars, but not much mention was made of what I feel is one of their most damaging powers. That is the way they have changed the design of our cities. Modern cities consist of rotten cores surrounded by the endless expanse of the suburban wasteland. First the richer people got in their cars and abandoned the center cities, then the jobs followed, leaving behind blight and poverty. We no longer live in communities. We live isolated on ugly 1/4 acre plots, miles away from our jobs, schools and recreation. Bus and train travel are inconvenient, Cycling is difficult and walking is nearly impossible in most of America. We even drive 15 miles to go to a gym to get some exercise! None of this nightmarish city design would have been possible wothout our favorite tool and master, the private automobile.