[Springboard] Karen's car

[Robert Rafos]

To Jim's question, What is holding this in being?

Page 36, Paragraph 67: Reagan described as the modern prophet of  
profligacy, gave MORAL sanction to the empire of consumption adding to  
America's civic religion two crucial beliefs: credit has no limits,  
and the bills will never come due.  Page 60, Paragraph 139: Bush two  
weeks after 9/11 encourages Americans to "Get on board.  Do your  
business around the country ... Get down to Disney World in Florida."   
Page 53: George H.W. Bush declared, "The American way of life is not  
negotiable."  The political has given credence to the economic and  
supported its dominance.  With the top leaders holding this image and  
vision out to the country, the result is not a surprise.

To Jim's question, Where do we experience ourselves caught in this in  
our lives?

It's subliminal and sneaks up on you.  I remember arriving in Toronto  
from Tokyo with 2 suitcases and 8 cartons (the size that the print  
shop got its paper in).  Now we have a house full of stuff.  How did  
it happen?  It's easy to rationalize, you buy a house you need  
furniture, then you have to decor it, one TV doesn't work since we  
watch different things, each need our own computer, etc.  Well you  
have a job and need to look presentable for the staff and clients and  
wind up with 8 suits, 40 ties and 30 dress shirts.  You can go on and  
on.

One day the shoe drops and you say "What have I, we, the corporate we  
done".  At that point I, we have the opportunity to change.  The more  
that do, the bigger the impact.

Society and our politicians need a new moral compass that inspires and  
leads us (the US) in a new direction.

Bob Rafos

On 18-Nov-08, at 7:01 PM, KarenBueno at aol.com wrote:

> But isn't the bottom line of the "Limits of Power" (first half,  
> anyway) that we already have way more than we need?  Why would I  
> need any kind of new car?  I've read studies that say my care, which  
> gets 33 mpg on the highway, is still a less extravagant way to drive.
>
> But beyond that, why on earth is my decision, as one of some 300  
> million people, going to make a difference in the way Americans are  
> addicted to extravagance?  Breaking that cycle of profligacy (which  
> I had to look up in my Websters) seems even more impossible than  
> renewing the church.
>
> Karen Bueno
>
> In a message dated 11/18/2008 2:44:36 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, geowanda at earthlink.net 
>  writes:
> If possible, I'd wait until the next generation of plug-in hybrids  
> come on line, possibly this Spring.  The Japanese car makers have  
> them already, and the Americans are working on them pretty hard.   
> They will be the bridge car to all electrics or alternate fuel  
> types.  They might let the diesels from Europe in next year that are  
> also high mileage cars.
>
> George Holcombe
> 14900 Yellowleaf Tr.
> Austin, TX 78728
> Home: 512/252-2756
> Mobile 512/294-5952
> geowanda at earthlink.net
>
>
> On Nov 18, 2008, at 12:31 PM, James Wiegel wrote:
>
>> Karen's answer.  How about the rest of you??
>> --- On Tue, 11/18/08, KarenBueno at aol.com <KarenBueno at aol.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>> My 2000 Saturn is still running with over 100,000 miles.  The new  
>> auto prices are so good.  Do I with good conscience buy a new car,  
>> or do I continue to drive my Saturn until it dies?
>>
>> Karen Bueno
>>
>> In a message dated 11/17/2008 10:06:45 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, jfwiegel at yahoo.com 
>>  writes:
>> what is holding this in being?  where do we find ourselves caught  
>> in and even reinforcing this crisis in our communities and in our  
>> lives?
>>
>>
>>
>>
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> =
>
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