And, I'm a big fan of isolating one's self. What's so wrong with isolation? Isn't that a very Buddhist thing to do?

In my opinion, the metaphors in this article are too mixed.

Driving cars is undoubtedly bad for the environment and it causes energy dependence leading to you now what.

But as for political temperments, there are a whole host of better explanations for them than the automobile. When looking at the American suburbs, think "race" not automobiles. Race explains America.