The Manual Gearbox

I consider a manual gearbox to be a necessity in a car.  In fact, I don't believe that you actually know how to drive unless you drive a manual.  Also, automatic cars are really boring (and more expensive), so I see no reason to drive them.

I understand that most Americans can't drive manuals, and part of it is that most cars sold here these days have automatic transmissions.  Now, automatics are fine if you drive a minivan, or an SUV, or a wide American car with a bench front seat, or if you drive a boring sedan to go along with your boring taste in transmission.  But, the one place that automatic transmissions are unacceptable, is in performance cars.  Every man who owns a sports car with an automatic transmission should be forced to turn in his man card.  Whats even worse though, are car companies that make sports cars that aren't even offered with a manual gearbox (I'm looking at you Mercedes).  I think that there should be a law against this.