NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Automatic versus manual transmission: The Great American Debate. It usually comes down to efficiency and ease of use against automotive purism. Common sense should dictate that the more modern machinery -- the automatic -- should win.

But, frankly, common sense sometimes should take a back seat to higher purpose. The plain truth is that sticks rule. Automatic transmission is yet another example of the weakness of human nature. It caters to laziness. And that makes the environment bad for everyone.

Why? Well, any idiot can drive an automatic. But I don't want any idiot on the road. Get my point?

Sure, sticks can be a pain in the tuchis at times, especially if you are driving in San Francisco -- clutch-accelerator-brake control can be tricky on an uphill grade. That aside, the manual transmission gets the human more involved in the vehicle.

Opposing viewpoint • Killing the stick-shift dinosaur

And I'm not talking the kind of effete "Dahling I'm driving a hot little European sports car so I must be cool" car involvement either. This is a matter of solid benefits -- not image.

I swear I get better gas mileage when I'm using a stick -- that's hard to prove though. I know that I have less wear and tear on my brakes because of my manual transmission. You know, downshifting to slow down rather than brake tapping (you automatic-only dweebs won't know what I'm talking about).

Experts and such, including a guy who writes about cars on the CNN/Money Web site, tell me I'm wrong; that I'm just trading transmission wear and tear for brake wear and tear. Since my transmission can take a lot more wear and tear, I'll take the trade.

The stick shift is an anti-theft device too. Since only a certain portion of the population knows how to drive a stick, it stands to reason only a certain percentage of the criminal population knows as well. And the car they steal will be less marketable.

More hang ups? Click me

There's the added benefit that my wife -- who can't drive a stick -- doesn't borrow my car.

But more seriously, stick shifts force people to pay more attention to their driving. You have to know your speed, listen to your engine, look at what's coming, and make advance decisions. In short, you have to pay attention. Be involved.

Of course, that's work. It's much easier to glide along and let something else do the job of monitoring performance and making adjustments. Unfortunately, such blithe assumptions lead to bad situations.

Just look at investing. Most people assumed their 401(k)s had automatic transmissions that would compensate for ups and downs in the economy. They didn't. And when the economy hit the recession bump, a lot of retirement savings backfired.

Easier ways are not necessarily wiser ways.

I'm keeping my stick.  

Allen Wastler is Managing Editor of CNN/Money and a commentator on CNNfn. He can be e-mailed here.