Technologies are always about meaning, about how people define themselves. For much of the twentieth century the automobile was the defining technology, economically, socially and culturally, of the United States. It wasn’t just about getting from point A to point B, although that was important. Recently some commentators have suggested that the car’s role in American society, particularly its cultural significance, has diminished. The Washington Post had an article on the waning of America’s love affair with automobiles. It particularly suggests that for millennials, with the rise of digital technology of all sorts, cars do not play the same role that they played for previous generations. It notes that only 50% of millennials have a driver’s license by the age of 18. Cars used to be central characters in movies and TV shows–not so much any more. Ford is starting a car sharing program, suggesting that it realizes that a car is not so important to people’s identity. The Washington Post article also implied that while the automobile used to be a symbol of freedom, it is not that any more. Does the automobile mean the same thing to you as it did to your parents? What are some of the factors that might be responsible for the car’s changing position in American society? Do you agree with the Post’s premise that the car’s importance is not as great as it once was? 