A nation of idiots

Or perhaps a nation of folks with big families who require a big vehicle as their primary to carry all their people/gear- who are taking advantage of offers from dealers who are just clawing their way back?

I still believe consumption changes will only come from the top down (or from $5+ per gallon gas prices)...

Or perhaps a nation of folks with big families who require a big vehicle as their primary to carry all their people/gear- who are taking advantage of offers from dealers who are just clawing their way back?

I still believe consumption changes will only come from the top down (or from $5+ per gallon gas prices)...

or perhaps just a nation of big people. ;-)

Or, a nation of consumers & politicians with no notion of the actual, true cost of things (not the price) ... the true cost of a gallon of gas, in dollars, in environmental terms, in political & military terms, etc., is a lot higher than $2.65/gal ... as are the true costs of bottled water and Toyota Priuses, for that matter.

.



.

Americans all have ADD, they have short memories of $4 + a gallon gas, they don't realize that they might as well just write a check out to the enemy, or rogue nations who want us destroyed while they feed our dependence on oil, and are the first to find oil spills just a deplorible situation.

Americans are just getting more materialistic and dumber by the decade.

Americans all have ADD, they have short memories of $4 + a gallon gas, they don't realize that they might as well just write a check out to enemy, rogue nations who want us destroyed while they feed our dependence on oil, and are the first to find oil spills just a deplorrble situation.

Americans are just getting more materialistic and dumber by the decade.

If we would reduce consumption we could put a dent in several problems - from oil dependency & wars to environment & catastrophes. Conservation would be a lot less pricey route for us to take.


.

I seriously think a lot of people are compensating for shortcomings.

Pulitzer Prize winner Jared Diamond (Guns, Germs, and Steel) has written a book entitled ?Collapse: how societies choose to fail or succeed,? that is very pertinent to this discussion. Diamond says that societies fail mainly through their misuse or mismanagement of resources. What went through the mind of the Easter Islander who cut down the very last tree on the island?

Our dilemma is that the laws of physics show that one is safer in a heavier vehicle. If one drives frequently on the "expressways" in Atlanta, s/he is safer in a big vehicle.

And if you've had a child involved in sports like we have, you know that you are always called upon to drive a bunch of kids to sports practices and events. They just won't fit into a fuel-efficient vehicle, and those small vehicles aren't as safe if you are worried about liability. Most schools around here depend on parents for transportation.

Those days are over for us, but we still have an SUV because my husband needs it to cart around his bass violin to performances, and we have a big poodle whose crate won't fit into a smaller vehicle when we go to the beach.

I guess we''re idiots.

I don't like the concept of blaming SUV's either. My family got around in a 1957 Chevy Station Wagon when I was a kid, and I use my full sized Dodge pickup truck (single cab) because I absolutely have to have it for my job. They have yet to even come up with a hybrid pick-up truck at any size. An SUV is an intelligent choice for almost anyone's lifestyle. Can they make them more fuel efficient? I bet they can.

I thought this was about the Clintons.....Chelsea's $1M+ wedding is a concept borne of idiots. If I was a billionaire, I'd be hard pressed to find a way to spend $1M on a wedding! A quarter mil for tents (gold plated?), and $25K for toilets.....come on, folks, get real.

I thought this was about the Clintons.....Chelsea's $1M+ wedding is a concept borne of idiots. If I was a billionaire, I'd be hard pressed to find a way to spend $1M on a wedding! A quarter mil for tents (gold plated?), and $25K for toilets.....come on, folks, get real.

They are air-conditioned tents, so that explains that, but I think it's absolutely great that they can have a great event for their daughter. Ain't capitalism great!

The electric car Volt only carries 4 people and uses Premium Gas as back-up. What a joke.

Chelsea's wedding is reported to cost between 3.5 and 5 Million Dollars. It's their money and more power to them, but we all know it's tacky.

They are air-conditioned tents, so that explains that, but I think it's absolutely great that they can have a great event for their daughter. Ain't capitalism great!

No kidding. Their daughter, their money, and anyone who is critical just has sour grapes.

No kidding. Their daughter, their money, and anyone who is critical just has sour grapes.

I don't think it's sour grapes. It's the economy and lots of folks are hurting. $3-5 million dollars has certainly been a boon for all the people involved in the wedding but it looks overdone to some. I don't care how the Clintons spend their money. Poor Chelsea sure deserves the best wedding money can buy after all the trials she's had to go through with her parents various scandals.

Back to the electric car. It only goes 40 miles on a charge before it has to change over to premium gas. This electric car was built to justify the bailout.

Took my Chevy to the Levee and the battery died.

Pulitzer Prize winner Jared Diamond (Guns, Germs, and Steel) has written a book entitled ?Collapse: how societies choose to fail or succeed,? that is very pertinent to this discussion. Diamond says that societies fail mainly through their misuse or mismanagement of resources. What went through the mind of the Easter Islander who cut down the very last tree on the island?

I wonder what their economic system was based on.

Our dilemma is that the laws of physics show that one is safer in a heavier vehicle. If one drives frequently on the "expressways" in Atlanta, s/he is safer in a big vehicle.

And if you've had a child involved in sports like we have, you know that you are always called upon to drive a bunch of kids to sports practices and events. They just won't fit into a fuel-efficient vehicle, and those small vehicles aren't as safe if you are worried about liability. Most schools around here depend on parents for transportation.

Those days are over for us, but we still have an SUV because my husband needs it to cart around his bass violin to performances, and we have a big poodle whose crate won't fit into a smaller vehicle when we go to the beach.

I guess we''re idiots.

You are far from "idiots". The word is "realists" something lacking in many.

I have a solution:

Every family can only have one child. Any family that currently has more than one child will have to choose one to live, and execute the remaining children.

History shows that we will probably end up with way too many boys 25 years down the line, but we will deal with that when we get there. We will probably just execute the weak men to make it equal with women.

Granted, this plan may sound terrible and idiotic, but Bob says this is a serious problem and I think this plan will fix it.

Disclaimer for my future life and career: This is 100% sarcastic.

No kidding. Their daughter, their money, and anyone who is critical just has sour grapes.

my grapes are sweet but, as the saying goes....."they've got more money than sense." Good for them....and long live capitalism.

They are air-conditioned tents, so that explains that, but I think it's absolutely great that they can have a great event for their daughter. Ain't capitalism great!

I had no clue how much a wedding would cost until we threw one with the reception at our home (our daughter's dream after watching Father of the Bride). Everything cost much, much more than we expected. Just a plain tent cost a surprising amount of money, and we decided not to pay extra for liners and chandeliers. Would have loved to have afforded AC because it was 90 degrees. The high in Rhinebeck will only be 79.

We researched wedding planners in Atlanta, and many won't even talk to you if your budget is under $100,000.

So I can see how the Clintons are spending that much money on a wedding. It wouldn't be hard to do, especially if they are paying for the housing, transportation, meals for the guests. They only have one daughter, and they can afford it with the money from all of the books and speaking engagements, so they might as well go for it!

Funny, I couldn't care less what is spent on Chelsea's wedding. I am excited for them and know this will be a special event for their families. She's grown to be quite a lovely person!

BR, I didn't know your husband plays the bass! Strings are my absolute favorite in any orchestra, particularly bass and cello!! Has he ever played with ASO?

With the surge of SUV's being purchased, I wonder if this has anything to do with cash incentives from the dealers? After 9.11.01, there were amazing offers to move larger, gas-guzzling vehicles. And, their pricing dropped dranatically after Katrina. I haven't followed offers, but people often times behave like sheep and cash incentives have clout.

Funny, I couldn't care less what is spent on Chelsea's wedding. I am excited for them and know this will be a special event for their families. She's grown to be quite a lovely person!

Hillary Clinton's Rehearsal Dinner Outfit

Funny, I couldn't care less what is spent on Chelsea's wedding. I am excited for them and know this will be a special event for their families. She's grown to be quite a lovely person!

BR, I didn't know your husband plays the bass! Strings are my absolute favorite in any orchestra, particularly bass and cello!! Has he ever played with ASO?

With the surge of SUV's being purchased, I wonder if this has anything to do with cash incentives from the dealers? After 9.11.01, there were amazing offers to move larger, gas-guzzling vehicles. And, their pricing dropped dranatically after Katrina. I haven't followed offers, but people often times behave like sheep and cash incentives have clout.

I don't understand why Chelsea Clinton getting married is even in the news!

I don't understand why Chelsea Clinton getting married is even in the news!

Check the title of this thread ...

I don't understand why Chelsea Clinton getting married is even in the news!

or what she has to do with people buying SUVs.


I agree with you Bob. but wouldn't want to use the term idiots because it does apply to us all. we all make choices based on many situations, including needs. but, you are right - what will it take for us to learn and make necessary lifestyle changes and start making choices that are good for our country, our children, our environment, or life?

reminds me of the old days when Mom drove 4 children in a little Volkswagon beatle. we fit fine. and so did our friends - of course we weren't too concerned about seatbelts and those little considerations. we also rode in a big ole stationwagon at one point. but those days were very, very different from today.

these choices will mean downsizing, simplifying, driving smaller cars, driving fewer cars (do we really each need our own car - every single one of us over the age of 15?).

I think we'll get there. It just takes us longer than the average civilized nation. we do seem to be very driven by consuming big stuff. this economy should teach us a thing or two. but maybe not.