Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s family road trip is not offensive because road trips are bad. Quite the opposite. The problem is that a Cabinet secretary is promoting a travel project funded by companies his own department regulates and during a time in which Americans are facing surging prices at the fuel pump, as pointed out by Duffy’s predecessor Pete Buttigieg.
I want to be clear at the outset: I am not inherently opposed to Duffy filming a road trip showcasing the beauty of the United States. In fact, I like the idea. America is a stunning country, and I think we often take it for granted. Roads, bridges, highways, roadside attractions, national parks, small towns, diners, monuments, and museums are part of the American travel experience.
Nor am I offended by multitasking. I work a full-time job and run this blog on the side. If Duffy can do his job well, modernize air traffic control, protect consumers, and also appear in a travel series filmed in short windows over several months, the concept itself is not automatically disqualifying.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
