Feeling Congested?

Just some random thoughts as I scroll through the news.

1. New York City continues to enforce a congestion tax on autos entering the city, fighting with the Feds this month.
2. Paris has instituted a similar measure, with push back from some quarters, but supporters say it’s working.
3. The average price of a car in the U.S. is now $48,000
4. Government imposed tariffs could increase that cost $5000-15,000
5. I pulled up some images from my trip to Vietnam today.

In the city, their were cars, but not like home. Scooters? Thousands of them. No catalytic converters on these rides.

I thought, it looks like a walkers paradise. No chance of being run down here way out in the country. No cars, the air has to be better, even with the scooters, right?

Wrong. Việt Nam was named the country with second most polluted air in 2023 in Southeast Asia. In 2025, the country moved to the top of the list.

I can remember sitting down for breakfast in the city fighting to catch my breath in the smog that hung over the harbor.

The human race seems intent on self destruction wherever we are, but I suppose $48,000 US buys a lot of masks and oxygen?