I Do Not Pity da Fools

During my average day, I meet a lot of people, each in a unique set of circumstances. Just like the rest of the nation, they don't agree on many things. But the most common sentiment I've seen is an obsession over the price of gasoline. With the price posted at every gas station we see, it is hard to avoid. Of course, people must always have a place to hang their blame. For some, its the big, evil oil companies. For others, it's those danged A-rabs. For even more it is the government. Some say the government is too involved in gasoline production and distribution. For some, the government needs to get out of the way. But I'm not going to swim in that pool today. In fact, I refuse to part in the gasoline "crisis" whatsoever. Today I would just like to share with you some of the people I've spoken with that have complained about the price of gasoline. There is the guy about my age, Willy, who spends most of his time off work in front of his huge rent-to-own big screen television, either watching new Red Ray movies or playing one of his video game consoles. He has an extensive library of movies and games for his Playbox 3 and Xstation 180. He sometimes browses the Internet on his new sweet Dale computer. He can even use his oPhone to browse the Internet anywhere he goes. He goes to Stardollar's for his morning coffee and likes lunch at the Olive Grove or a Chinese buffet. He buys his girlfriend lots of nice things, like expensive clothes, perfumes, and jewelry. They go out and party a few times a week at nightclubs with lots of alcohol. He drives a 6000SUX sports car with custom wheels and a great sound system. Then there is the middle-aged housewife Anne. Of course, with some toxic injections and some butt fat injected into her lips, she looks more like 25 than 45. Her clothes are always trendy and stylish, the local pinnacle of modern high fashion. Nothing but the best deisigner handbags and shoes would ever accompany her premium wardrobe. She has raised her two kids, Liam, aged 14 and Kira, 9, in her own image. Liam already has his first car picked out and Kira spends all her time texting all her BFFs (that's "best friends forevers") on her cell phone. Not to be outdone by the Joneses, her house has character grade hand-scraped hardwood floors and travertine tile. She has stainless steel appliances, granite counters, and a three car garage. It's the biggest house on the block with a side lot and a beautifully watered and fertilized lawn they have manicured by award-winning landscapers. She has been worshiping the Goracle and pays atonement for her sins by purchasing carbon credits and the latest green products. She only buys organic food and cleaning products. She hauls around her kids in her giant SUV with the DVD players in the seats, GPS, OffStar, heated and cooled beverage holders, and satellite radio. She enjoys dining out, fine wine, and quiet evenings with her husband. Then there's Gus, who, after retiring from his job in the big city, bought a house on the lake and small farm with a log cabin. He keeps himself geared up for hunting and fishing year round. Of course, he only buys the gear given a top rating by his rugged manly magazines. His bass boat has sonar, radar, and as much beer as a bar. He always uses the latest technology and techniques to make sure his prey does not escape its inevitable place on his trophy wall. He takes an annual hunting trip out west for big game and an annual deep sea fishing trip. His freezers are full of meat, his fridge full of beer, and his days full of lesuire. He has a hunting truck, a lake jeep, and a town truck. Now, here's where I get hostile. Of course, the above examples are sterotypes, not real people I know. I could illustrate the same point with cold hard facts, like how the average consumer unit in America spends more money on entertainment ($2376 per year) than gasoline ($2227 per year). Even better, I could contrast our gas expenses to our tax burden ($6488 per year). In America, we spend billions of dollars on the most trivial conveniences. I hope the price of gas brings about a change of national spending habits. Put down your cell phones, big screens, and designer clothes. Stop buying your young kids cell phones, portable DVD players, and iPods. Eat some rice and beans. Buy a house within your means, if at all. Maybe crack your windows instead of running the A/C when it's 80 degrees out. Maybe stop driving like a maniac. Not only would you save money by doing all these, the world would be a happier, safer place. Until you sacrifice some trivial conveniences to pay for that higher gas bill, don't expect any sympathy from me. Just shut your mouth and spend your money more wisely. In fact, if everyone (especially our government) would do that, we wouldn't be in this mess in the first place.