Having Your Own Wheels Is Part The American Dream For Most People

Radical progressive politicians, mostly hailing from dense, urban areas, would like to “plan” you right out of your car.

At 16, I couldn’t wait to get my driver’s license. It wasn’t just about getting from point A to point B; it was about freedom, independence, and staking a claim in the American Dream. That first car—whether a beat-up sedan or a shiny new ride—represented more than transportation. It was a rite of passage, a symbol of liberty, and a personal sanctuary on wheels. Yet, today, there’s a growing push from the radical left to herd Americans out of their cars and into public transportation. This isn’t just about urban planning; it’s an assault on a core piece of what makes America, America.

For most Americans, a car is synonymous with autonomy. It’s the ability to go where you want, when you want, without relying on a bus schedule or a crowded train. It’s your music, your air conditioning, your space. Public transit, for all its practical uses in dense cities, often feels like a compromise. You’re at the mercy of delays, breakdowns, and strangers packed elbow-to-elbow. A car, by contrast, is a declaration of self-reliance. It’s the difference between charting your own course and following someone else’s timetable.

The radical left argues that mass transit is greener, cheaper, and more equitable. They frame cars as selfish indulgences, clogging roads and polluting the planet. But this ignores the deeper cultural significance of car ownership. The American Dream isn’t just about a white picket fence; it’s about mobility, opportunity, and the open road. From Route 66 to the suburban commute, cars have long embodied the promise of a better life. Forcing people onto buses or trains dismisses this heritage, treating personal freedom as a trivial luxury.

Sure, driving has its costs—traffic jams, gas prices, and longer commutes in sprawling regions. But freedom has never been free. The trade-off for a 45-minute drive over a 30-minute train ride is control over your journey. It’s the ability to stop for coffee, haul groceries, or take a detour just because you feel like it. Public transit can’t replicate that. For many, the car is a mobile extension of home, a place to think, decompress, or crank up the radio after a long day.

The push for mass transit often comes with a moralizing tone, as if driving is inherently wrong. Liberals playing “Sim City” want to build public transit, and then for you out of your car, and into their bus, their trolley, their rail system. But for millions of Americans, a car isn’t just a vehicle—it’s a symbol of hard-won independence. Efforts to shame or coerce people into giving that up don’t just misread logistics; they misread the American spirit. Public transit has its role, especially in very dense, urban environments. But trying to pry people out of their cars — that is asking people to give up their freedom. Good luck with that.