The French? Laissez-faire.(Column)(boycotting French car products)(Column)

Byline: Kevin A. Wilson

We're mostly about escapist fare here, about fun with cars, but sometimes the world intrudes. First, those opposed to war wanted AutoWeek to help boycott Big Oil. Then others-both pro- and antiwar-asked that we encourage you to buy fuel-efficient cars, to reduce dependence on foreign oil. And now, those supporting military intervention seek to boycott car products from France, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

A few of you asked me, directly, what I think about these proposals, so I'll answer (for myself). Last I saw, we were at war with Iraq, not France. Annoyed, even offended by French behavior, we had not yet turned France into the enemy. They're friends with whom many of us are angry; if you aim weapons at every friend who angers you, well, leave me off your list of friends, okay?

Americans want to do something. It feels good to imagine that we can go about our lives, buying stuff, and influence the course of history. The difficult truth is that patriotism, politics and advocacy take more work than selective shopping. That's why we have different words for ``citizen'' and ``consumer.'' You've heard of the ``marketplace of ideas?'' Well, that's an analogy. The literal marketplace is just commerce. You got it, I want it, here's cash.

Citizenship takes participation-voting, communicating with elected leaders, debating honestly, considering opinions with which you don't instantly agree (this differs from screaming on the radio or forwarding e-mail tirades). Participatory democracy was how America changed the world.

Consumer ``statements'' alter only consumer goods, and often fail at that. Most of us tripped to the falsity behind last autumn's Internet campaign to avoid Arab oil. There's so much global trade that gas of any brand might be, say, 20 percent Venezuelan, 50 percent Alaskan, 20 percent Saudi and 10 percent Iraqi. The content label on new-car window stickers reveals a similar blend of origins-the Mini I drove yesterday is 50 percent British, 20 percent German and 30 ...