The newest GM holiday commercial features a young-ish couple living in an extravagant home. For Christmas, the husband surprises his wife with matching gas-guzzling Acadia SUVs for Christmas. The only dilemma is that she wants the darker-colored vehicle, which is the one he wants. Spoiler: she gets what she wants. There is just so much wrong here.

I learned online that the fancy versions of those SUVs are around $35,000 each. That means that, in the make-believe-land of TV commercials, hubby spent at least $70,000 on Christmas gifts that are contributing in a large way to climate change (21 MPG). I won’t even go into the commercialization of Christmas here, just the rampant consumerism that is killing our planet.

Imagine, too, the bewilderment of the majority of people that can barely afford a few basic gifts for their loved ones. Are they “less” of a human because they cannot provide buy matching SUVS, like the guy in the commercial?

We need to be considering vehicles that embrace innovative technologies and reduce our carbon footprint.