Killing Machines Essay

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Killing Machines By Linda McQuaig Killing Machines!! Do you own one? I know a few people who do. My friend has two. My sister used to have one. I’m sure a few of you are owner too. What are these killing machines? L.M is an author, journalist, columnist and a non-fiction author. She has written several politically-minded books and worked for the Globe and Mail, National Post and currently for the Toronto Star. She first came to national prominence in 1989 for uncovering the Patti Starr Affair, where a community leader was found to have used charitable funds for the purpose of lobbying the government. McQuaig was awarded the National Newspaper Award for her work on this story. She is currently best known for her series of books challenging Canada’s departure from the principles of universal social programs toward an American model of means-based programs. In Killing Machines, L.M’s view on SUV’s is simple: They are killing machines, both affecting humans and the environment. She starts her article by admitting that she didn’t think SUV’s or minivans were useful for much else than trips to the grocery store involving large and mundane purchases. She soon changed her mind and began to see SUV’s as “bold, adventurous, glamorous...and the car of choice for Hollywood stars and others with limitless resources.” She believes that advertising is responsible for “establishing the SUV as the symbol of everything chic.” In fact, she writes, that the SUV’s original purpose was for transporting coffins. For this, they were the perfect height. Consumers are generally unaware of this, as they are unaware of the SUV’s difficulty to handle and poor agility and manoeuvrability. She then goes on to write about the safety and fear, believing that these vehicles perhaps give their owners a greater sense of security in world full of “road rage, anthrax and SARS”. In
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