Isn't it ironic that our "50's Sitcom" image of American culture would have a crusty patina of rust on it in 2007?

The people that buried that car must of thought themselves so special that they had to preserve selfish cultural icons of the time, thinking that they would be treasures today. Actually the rust and decay is in keeping of the decay our society has undergone and clearly represents a head shaking "What were we thinking?" moment. Given the condition of the car in it's sarcophagus it is clear that we weren't thinking very well.

The rust covered gas guzzler from the 50's is a great symbol of the huge mistakes and lack of foresight we made by adopting the automobile and consumerism as a basis for sustained growth. We really missed the mark then and we are paying for it now and for the new century as we try to return to local scales of economy, mass-transit and fossil fuel independence.

So when people pine for the return to the "good old days" and family values of the 50's just point out this car and what it represents in our modern world and the economic, energy and climate situation we are in today.

"What were we thinking?" - Indeed.