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My point is that even in a city where it is easy and convenient for many people (obvs not all) to live day to day without cars, the cultural desirability of cars remains a problem underlying their excessive use. I'm sure it could be done in different, more effective, less smelly hippies ways, but it's valid that that idea needs countering and deflating. And the oversized power car - even if it actually doesn't use that much fuel - is a particular display of excess.
hoefla-
My point is that even in a city where it is easy and convenient for many people (obvs not all) to live day to day without cars, the cultural desirability of cars remains a problem underlying their excessive use. I'm sure it could be done in different, more effective, less smelly hippies ways, but it's valid that that idea needs countering and deflating. And the oversized power car - even if it actually doesn't use that much fuel - is a particular display of excess.
I'm not disagreeing with your point at all, what I'm saying is that taking aim at aspirational cars for protest plays into the hands of those who wish to discount all and any such protest.
It's very easy for someone to say "you're just envious of others success" when you target large and expensive cars.
Depends on what your goals from the protest are, I suppose - if you want to change the mind of the person who doesn't believe in climate change but is inclined to easy narratives based around envy that are promoted by the Mail etc then I suggest that reinforcing them is not the best way of doing so.
If it's just to feel good about protesting, I guess it works.
Dammit
I think this does rather play into the prevailing narrative that climate activists are smelly hippies who hate success, and that their actions can be dismissed as a manifestation of their envy for your large, tall, powerful car (that keeps the kids safe!), that you got a fantastic lease deal on (had to take the 2 litre diesel but it still shifts).
i.e. singling out cars that are sold on their aspirational appeal for the greatest opprobrium is counter productive - talking about cars in general (somewhat) resists the argument being derailed easily.