Think globally, act hypocritically

Sometimes there is a moment in everyday life that sums up a much bigger theme in our society. It happened to me this morning on a Connecticut interstate.

I was driving along when  I spotted an odd license plate in the car passing me. The plate was one of these special Connecticut "Greenway" plates (it look nice and you contribute to the environment programs buying it). 

The plate read "F-OPEC"

I was a bit taken aback, not so much that the CT DMV slept through processing a rather profane vanity plate, but at the car sporting this call to arms.

It was a Mercedes CLK 500.  The federal government reports this vehicle is rather far from a gas sipper, gulping down fuel at the rate of 17 mpg city/25 mpg hwy  , using premium fuel    http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/24261.shtml 

Evidently. a hybrid, a Mini Cooper, a Toyota Corolla, (Ironman's present ride) or even a rather large car like a Honda Accord would not adquately transport our anti-oil activist to his place of destination 

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/best/bestworstNF.shtml

Indeed, our ultra Green was just slightly less guzzling than those folks driving the speedy land yachts of the expressway-- the state troopers...whose Crown Victorias get a comparable  15mpg city/23 mpg hwy.   http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymodel/2008_Ford_Crown_Victoria.shtml

We know, also, that lower speed limits and slower driving save fuel. Just ask Jimmy Carter and his 55mph national speed limit. Evidently this lesson was lost on the suave tree hugger based on his driving habits.

Watching F-OPEC tear through the Farmington "stack" @ 80 mph I was wondering if maybe he might meet up with an unmarked Crown Victoria.  And unless there's a "cap and trade" market for speeding tickets, then maybe he ought to change his plate to F-UPD.