A two-way flow of opinions

THE mega-SUV drivers featured in J. Michael Kennedy’s article are a study in collective delirium (“The Great SUV Divide: Happy Hummer Owners Paint Their Pride Red, White and Blue,” Jan. 29). They show no understanding of the fact that people’s decisions have consequences.

Of course, they are complicit in the politics and corruption of oil money, as well as pollution, the greenhouse effect, etc. So am I, driving my beloved Saab that often doesn’t get even 20 shameful miles to the gallon. We are all more than complicit -- we are the addicted “demand-side” of the problem, and we are very much to blame.

Scott Chamberlin

Venice

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I must admit that my opinion of Arianna Huffington has, over the last couple of years, changed from one of derision to admiration. Mary McNamara’s article (“The Great SUV Divide: Huffington Did a 180, From Guzzler to Hybrid, and She’s Still Spinning,” Jan. 29) makes many references to what she used to think in a passive-aggressive way of implying that her current viewpoints are invalid or should be questioned simply because she had a different opinion in the past.

But if we’re going to constantly question someone’s sincerity when they change, why do we keep trying to get people to change in the first place? If we believe that people can change, then we should take people to be sincere when they show repeatedly and consistently that they have changed.

Rick Valdivia

Los Angeles

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THE happy Hummer owner says his high fuel consumption doesn’t matter because “most imported oil is used to produce electricity.” Well, actually, only 1.8% of U.S. oil use goes to generate power while 67.3% goes to transportation -- that’s him.

Another 24.6% goes to industrial uses, and that’s what supports the jobs that allowed the happy Hummer owner to buy his monster.

His Hummer does, however, have one claim to helping the environment. In almost any serious crash, that Hummer is going to kill everyone in the other vehicle -- which, I suppose, he can defend as being good for population control.

Charles Lave

Professor of economics

UC Irvine

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I have no problem with the wealthy earning a good living, driving whatever they like to drive, and living in the biggest house on the hill. But when, in their self-importance, they tell the rest of us that we support terrorism by driving our vehicles, they’ve gone cuckoo and they need to be challenged. We are free in this country.

Let’s not let Huffington make us feel guilty for it.

B. Dirk Yarborough

Costa Mesa