Why Do We Do This To Ourselves?

Why do we do it to ourselves?

The High Price of Gas
Everyone is bitching about the high price of gas. Why? Because they have become so dependent on it. People and gas are now like addicts to drugs. We use gas because we are used to using gas. We are used to using gas because it is convenient. The problem is that we, as a society, are not good at adjusting or making compromises. We all want the fancy car. We all want the "decked out" car. We all want the car that turns heads, but we do not want to pay the cost - the shitty gas mileage. Why do we not car pool? What about busses? What about walking? Obviously walking is not going to work for a lot of people, but what about riding a bike? Maybe those people who feel the need to complain about the gas should take a stand and refuse to buy the gas or the next time they want a new car, buy one based on its efficiency rather than the way that it looks.

There is no doubt that I am a hypocrite. I just happen to live in a city where cars are not needed. When I lived in Ohio, I used to drive everyday to work and to school. The difference is that I looked into taking public transportation. I looked into "Laketrain." At the time it was the same price for me to drive all the way downtown as it was to drive to the Laketrain station and leave my car. However, now if I was still in Ohio there is no doubt that the cost-benefit analysis would go the other way. With the current price of gas (with no relief in site) it would be more cost efficient to drive to the Laketrain station and take the public transportation. Having used the public subways in New York City for almost 3 months now, I can tell you that there is NO better place to meet people than on public transportation!

The High Cost of Cable
Similar to the cost of gas, the cost of cable has gotten out of hand! How have be become a society so dependent on cable television for our entertainment that we have no issue with paying $100+ a month. I recently called the cable company to see about getting just Basic Cable and possibly Roadrunner. Little did I know that the woman on the phone would begin to tell me about the "fabulous savings" that you can get by getting cable and internet together. Hearing this, I was excited (as excited as one can get from calling the cable company), so I let her continue. She told me about all the channels, digital this and digital that. Then she told me how the internet was SO much faster with cable. So then I asked her the cost. She said that it would only cost be $150 per month for internet and cable. After picking my chin up from the table, I asked her what basic cable would cost. She told me basic (10 channels) was $50 and Internet was $50. I promptly hung up, called Verizon, and signed up for DSL at $20 per month for the first 4 months and $30 each month after that. Then I plugged my TV into the wall and found out that I got 15 channels for free (not a good signal but it is something to watch nevertheless). Despite the lower cost, I am still waiting for the DSL to work (3 weeks later) but that will be a subject for another day (like the day I get the telephone bill for a service I have yet to be able to use).

So what is the solution? STOP PAYING FOR TV! Go outside! Play a sport! Take a walk! Go visit the Bebouts. Just refuse to pay the high cost. Heck, just go rent a movie with some friends. The only way that things are going to change is if we stop going along with them!

Enough ranting...