Red, White, and Vroom: The Fourth of July and America's Love of the Automobile

On July 4, 1776, our Founding Fathers shaped the country's future by deciding that our government would be by the people, for the people and of the people. But it was the automobile that made that abstract political principle a reality for so many.

That is why if there were ever a day dedicated to celebrating the automobile in American life, it would be the Fourth of July. This is the day we celebrate our freedom, and intimately included in that celebration is our showcasing of the automobiles that we love, which have contributed to that freedom through mobility and prosperity.

No other technology has leveled space, time or class like the automobile and thus influenced the lives of everyday people. For Americans who do not think along political or historical lines, their views of independence are often centered on their mobility — their unalienable right to go where they want and do what they want.

Cars are featured in our parades, sometimes carrying politicians and local celebrities, sometimes just showing off. These cars are often supplied by local car dealerships, a recognition of the long-standing relationship in America between dealers and their communities. Cars are featured in local shows, where the collector and appreciative public alike share their love of the automobile. And cars compete in races, on the national stage, and also in communities across the U.S.

Unfortunately, this year's Independence Day celebrations come at a time when the independence of our once great auto industry is in jeopardy. Fiat recently took over Chrysler and is replacing American managers with Italians. We'll have to wait and see, but I can't possibly envision Americans driving tiny Fiats on our cross-country interstates.

General Motors, too, has lost its autonomy as the federal government and the UAW have more ownership of that great firm in a way that Alfred Sloan I'm sure never thought possible.

Yet, it is not all bleak, despite our current economic situation. As Americans, we still have an indomitable spirit that brings us back after we slip. And we still know how to have fun.

From Dayton, Ohio, to McKinney, Texas, to Tallahassee, Florida, car shows, parades and races will provide the lead-in to an evening of fireworks. It truly is a day of Red, White, and Vroom.