According to Statista.com, nearly 9.2 million passenger and commercial vehicles are produced annually and almost 14 million vehicles are sold in the United States each year. As such, Americans buy a lot of tires. In 2022, we spent $61 billion.

And then there’s this. A 2019 study by Transportation for America finds the U.S. needs about $231.4 billion per year over six years to maintain and repair the nation's roads. That’s a lot of tax dollars.

So, just in tires and road repair, we are spending nearly $300 billion per year. What could we do with $300 billion?

What if we didn’t need tires? What if our vehicles never touched — or damaged — pavement? What if we kept our current road systems, traffic signals, law enforcement, etc., but our vehicles traveled just a foot or two off the ground?

I realize this may not be feasible for semi-trucks or most other heavy equipment, but the technology is undoubtedly available for passenger vehicles. I don’t imagine the tire or blacktop industries even appreciate the concept, and I understand the impact this could have on traditional jobs in those categories, but… what if?

I am certainly not an automotive engineer, and I am not suggesting gasoline engines over electric vehicles or vice versa. I simply don’t like to buy tires, and I am astounded by the ongoing costs of road repair.

Call me George Jetson if you want. I don’t mind. I am going to keep floating the discussion on flying cars, and I look forward to seeing you in space.

Have a thoughtful Thursday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

View Shane Goodman's archived columns from past issues here.

Your Clear Mortgage forecast

It'll be a wonderful and dry day for the first day of the Iowa State Fair. Our next rain chance comes late tonight/early tomorrow. Friday and Saturday get hotter. And Sunday brings an evening rain chance.

For help with preapprovals or refinancing, get in touch with Carrie at carrie.mortgage.

If marveling at the multi-instrumental orchestra of the one-man Bandaloni at the Iowa State Fair doesn't appeal to you, consider a bit of the Bard in air-conditioning as Ankeny Community Theatre wraps up their season-opening "Much Ado About Nothing." 

Are you a musician looking for a tribe? Consider 2023-2024 Central Iowa Wind Ensemble Auditions. Contact: Justin Wells, Secretary, Central Iowa Wind Ensemble justin.wells@ciwe.org. The Central Iowa Wind Ensemble is accepting audition recordings for the following instruments. These auditions are for full membership in the ensemble beginning with the 2023-2024 season: alto saxophone, clarinet (third part), oboe, percussion, trumpet, tuba. Any player who is interested in a position is asked to submit a recorded audition by the end of the day on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. Please email or share (Google Drive or similar) the recording to justin.wells@ciwe.org.

— John Busbee, The Culture Buzz

Wegovy, an obesity drug, has tested to reduce risk of heart attacks and stroke by 20%, Wall Street Journal reported.

New tests from Harvard and public health agencies show that problem drinking among women has nearly caught up to those among men. Women have been drinking more for 20 years but their consumption really took off during COVID.

Thursday night brings $14 steak dinners and 2 for 1 domestic beers to Sully's (860 First St., West Des Moines).

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

FROM KCCI: 'They're so cute!': Urbandale man catches family of bobcats on video

URBANDALE, Iowa — Jason Button of Des Moines shared with KCCI this video of a bobcat and her kittens. Button recorded the bobcat family last month as they passed through the parking lot of AGR Roofing and Construction, where he's a sales manager. ... READ MORE FROM KCCI

FROM WHO-TV: Urbandale man found guilty of murdering his wife in 2020

URBANDALE, Iowa — An Urbandale man was found guilty on Wednesday of first degree murder for the death of his wife in 2020. Dustin Lee Sample, 38, was arrested and charged with first degree murder in Dec. 2020 after his wife Mary Sample, 29, was found in her home suffering from traumatic head trauma. ... READ MORE FROM WHO-TV

FROM WOI-DT Local 5: Indoor pickleball venue to open in Merle Hay Mall later this year

Billed as the "Des Moines area's only 100% dedicated indoor pickleball venue", Dinks will span 70,000 square feet and feature 13 professional pickleball courts.. ...READ MORE FROM WOI-DT Local 5