I like this old Russell Baker Column from May 4, 1996, repeated in today's NYT:
Observer: Here's What Mad Is By RUSSELL BAKER
After a consortium of auto, asphalt, oil, trucking, garage-mechanic, traffic-cop, used-car-salesman and median-strip-landscaper lobbies, in collusion with the United States Government, made it impossible to live the good American life without a gasoline-powered car, though preferably two or three to show your patriotism, I gave up and went along.