Paul's daughter, I understand that your last post was primarily aimed at AquaKnight407, but I just can't read parts of it without responding. Other parts... well, repeating them would just make things worse, so I won't.
i missed the day when small cars became uncool. isn't there still a wait list for gumdroppy smartcars?
There is. Some love them, some hate them. Typically, the "uncool" factor comes from the potential loss of choice, the fact that small cars with efficient engines sacrifice raw power and acceleration for light weight, the macho factor, and the perception (correct or not) that larger, heavier cars are safer in crashes.
does everyone in florida drive huge cars, drag race and compare bad mileage or something?
Typically, the further south you go, the bigger the average vehicle. In Texas, pick-ups and SUVs outnumber sedans by a wide margin.
wasn't the lion's share of the detroit problem that we weren't able to effectively compete/meet american demands for efficient vehicles?
That was part of it, especially when the price of gas was at its peak. The US-wide demand for larger or smaller cars probably scales pretty closely with the price of gas.
i honestly always assumed people only drove huge cars because they HAD to; i never considered otherwise.
Really? You're not familiar with the allure of a huge, loud, fast vehicle? Have you had a very limited exposure to American pop culture?
similarly, the most popular dress size for american women is a whopping 14. popular by far, but reluctantly and unfortunately so.
Most common? Yes. Most popular, as in culturally preferred/encouraged? No.
i thought mostly only people who towed a boat, lived in the mountains or had large families (all of which being relatively unappealing or irresponsible decisions in their own rights) ended up owning these vehicles, despite all their disadvantages.
I'd think very carefully before you call a large family a "relatively unappealing or irresponsible decision" in a public forum. Some people will not react well at all. Living in the mountains may be unappealing to you, but some people wouldn't choose to live anywhere else.
i never met anyone who was skeptical of an environmental crisis caused by humans.
Again, really? Never?
i want ... higher fines for not recycling
Higher? Most places, in the US or world-wide, have no fine at all for not recycling. I suppose something is higher than nothing, but wanting the fines to be raised implies that the fines exist to begin with.
Based on your pointing out the travesty/tragedy issue, I'm confident you'll allow me to bring up one of my own pet peeves: The word "I" is capitalized in English (with a special exception for e.e. cummings).
. The Domestic car brands lost their ground to the imports because they built inferior cars at the core market segments. Family sedans and subcompacts during the 80's and 90's. However today all the manufactures, even the Korean brands build good cars. You just pick your brand. There's little difference from a 2010 Malibu, to a 2010 Accord, to a 2010 Sonata. 
