Intelligent use of taxpayer money or the usual college campus socialism?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

the latter. you can get a pretty good electric car for the same purpose for about 8k

There is also an electric version of the Smart Car.

http://www.smartusa.com/electricdrive/

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Agreed . . . university campus security should only drive HumVees with a honking gun mounted atop!

After all, what could be more American than as much waste of energy as possible and the military!

[^_^ 5,021]

. . . university campus security should only drive HumVees with a honking gun mounted atop!

Are you insane?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Are you insane?

Perhaps he went to a school in northern Idaho.

[^_^ 5,021]

Perhaps he went to a school in northern Idaho.

I have read many Just Bob posts. He has never sounded like a fascist before. I'm confused.

[chri'stina 190]

They really should be using Escalades.

[^_^ 5,021]

They really should be using Escalades.

Now that would get the respect of the student body.

[chri'stina 190]

Now that would get the respect of the student body.

The smart car could easily be knocked over with one kick, even from a female student. Not very secure.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The smart car could easily be knocked over with one kick, even from a female student.

So can most campus security.

[The_Dude 1,142]

I was at a nearby state university this evening and took this picture with my cell phone camera. It's a Smartcar, being used by campus security to patrol campus.

I do not question the need to have security on a university campus in north jersey. But why a Smartcar? At first glance, it is small enough to get into places most other cars could not go. It is also a car, which means the occupant is enclosed and is (presumably) well heated. And it's not all that expensive either - one can be purchased for less than 13,000 USD.

On the other hand, the Smartcar is clearly un-American. I mean, look at it. It's presence may very well be designed to plant subliminal messages of socialism in the minds of impressionable young students. As if that wasn't bad enough, this ungodly thing is manufactured in France!

So, VJ peanut gallery, what say you? Smart use of taxpayer dollars or socialist boondoggle?

The important question in this situation is, what are these smartcars replacing? Most universities have out of service, or new police vehicles which depending on the level of customization coupled with fleet purchase discounts are in the neighborhood of 30-50K per vehicle. You also have to take into account the cost of operating a fleet. It wouldn't surprise me if the smartcars were cheaper to buy and operate, thus only leaving the stigma of having a car made in France. Is that really all you object to?

[chri'stina 190]

So can most campus security.

Then the military needs to take over campus security, everywhere, every university!! While driving Escalades. I'm sure that's an affordable option for our prosperous nation's universities.

[^_^ 5,021]

It wouldn't surprise me if the smartcars were cheaper to buy and operate, thus only leaving the stigma of having a car made in France. Is that really all you object to?

Students graduating from this university will spend 4 years (or more) seeing Smartcars everywhere. To them, a Smartcar will be normal; in the rest of America, a Smartcar is an anomaly operated by a freak. What kind of American life are these kids being prepared for?

Answer: a socialist America, an America where oil companies are the enemies and Europe is not weirdly foreign.

I don't know about you, but that is not an America I want to live in, nor is it the America the founding fathers had in mind. It is a corruption of the ideal, a leftwing wet dream.

[chri'stina 190]

\'s true side finally comes out. I am sure it's not easy for him to play a left wing person all the time when he is really a patriotic,right wing, VERY anti-foreign kind of dude.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Students graduating from this university will spend 4 years (or more) seeing Smartcars everywhere. To them, a Smartcar will be normal; in the rest of America, a Smartcar is an anomaly operated by a freak. What kind of American life are these kids being prepared for?

Answer: a socialist America, an America where oil companies are the enemies and Europe is not weirdly foreign.

I don't know about you, but that is not an America I want to live in, nor is it the America the founding fathers had in mind. It is a corruption of the ideal, a leftwing wet dream.

So you only object to it being french and beyond the threshold for what is comfortable in 'Merica?

[^_^ 5,021]

So you only object to it being french and beyond the threshold for what is comfortable in 'Merica?

If you don't think being un-American is a big deal, you might as well move back to France.