Comments on: The Next Wave http://susiemadrak.com/2007/12/30/08/38/the-next-wave-3/ Keeping a jaundiced eye on the corporate media. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:05:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Susie http://susiemadrak.com/2007/12/30/08/38/the-next-wave-3/#comment-133947 Susie Mon, 31 Dec 2007 11:28:07 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2007/12/30/08/38/the-next-wave-3/#comment-133947 Innumeracy is a significant part of the problem, I think; most Americans are terrible at math, myself included. This leaves them at the mercy of fast-talking salespeople. Fortunately for me, I am deeply suspicious of any business dealings and walk away whenever someone tries to pressure me. Innumeracy is a significant part of the problem, I think; most Americans are terrible at math, myself included. This leaves them at the mercy of fast-talking salespeople. Fortunately for me, I am deeply suspicious of any business dealings and walk away whenever someone tries to pressure me.

]]> By: Narya http://susiemadrak.com/2007/12/30/08/38/the-next-wave-3/#comment-133939 Narya Mon, 31 Dec 2007 04:40:15 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2007/12/30/08/38/the-next-wave-3/#comment-133939 It never occurred to her that a loan that size might be a bad idea? Are car loans as complicated as the subprime mortgages? (I don't know; I've never owned a car.) It never occurred to her that a loan that size might be a bad idea? Are car loans as complicated as the subprime mortgages? (I don’t know; I’ve never owned a car.)

]]> By: Foraker http://susiemadrak.com/2007/12/30/08/38/the-next-wave-3/#comment-133924 Foraker Sun, 30 Dec 2007 18:34:18 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2007/12/30/08/38/the-next-wave-3/#comment-133924 I support designing our cities so that we don't need cars every day. Living in a city near public transportation and encouraging better public transportation that will allow everyone to get to work as well as to cultural/sports events would free up a lot of money for things other than car payments, car repairs, and maintaining and building more lanes on the highway. But I suspect that we will continue to resist that change. We may admire the old world's old cities while we build more suburbs where there is nothing to walk to even if you are brave enough to try to walk to the local strip mall. It's the American way -- we'll wait until the cost to maintain our auto-based infrastructure becomes too expensive to continue before we think about designing for pedestrians instead of automotive Full Metal Burkhas. I support designing our cities so that we don’t need cars every day. Living in a city near public transportation and encouraging better public transportation that will allow everyone to get to work as well as to cultural/sports events would free up a lot of money for things other than car payments, car repairs, and maintaining and building more lanes on the highway.

But I suspect that we will continue to resist that change. We may admire the old world’s old cities while we build more suburbs where there is nothing to walk to even if you are brave enough to try to walk to the local strip mall. It’s the American way — we’ll wait until the cost to maintain our auto-based infrastructure becomes too expensive to continue before we think about designing for pedestrians instead of automotive Full Metal Burkhas.

]]> By: Erik http://susiemadrak.com/2007/12/30/08/38/the-next-wave-3/#comment-133923 Erik Sun, 30 Dec 2007 18:25:47 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2007/12/30/08/38/the-next-wave-3/#comment-133923 Well the disease seems to be rampant consumerism. We thrive on how large our cars, homes, debt load are. Am in my early 60's and we went through one VW bug and several vans in our first 25 years of marriage. Currently we have a 84 Mazda truck with 263K miles on it and about $2K in repairs (excluding routine items) since we got it. My spouse drives a 94 Honda Civic with 185K mile on it - only a new radiator so far. We must replay some of the 70's values of having a smaller footprint on the earth. Happy new year to all. Erik Well the disease seems to be rampant consumerism. We thrive on how large our cars, homes, debt load are. Am in my early 60’s and we went through one VW bug and several vans in our first 25 years of marriage. Currently we have a 84 Mazda truck with 263K miles on it and about $2K in repairs (excluding routine items) since we got it. My spouse drives a 94 Honda Civic with 185K mile on it - only a new radiator so far. We must replay some of the 70’s values of having a smaller footprint on the earth.

Happy new year to all.

Erik

]]> By: Izquierdo http://susiemadrak.com/2007/12/30/08/38/the-next-wave-3/#comment-133919 Izquierdo Sun, 30 Dec 2007 17:39:19 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2007/12/30/08/38/the-next-wave-3/#comment-133919 I bought my Camry used, and it's still running fine 11 years later. My wife's Beetle is about 8 years old and doing well. Part of the secret is that we have lived in cities, and not totally relied on these vehicles by also using busses, trains, light rail, walking, and biking. I bought my Camry used, and it’s still running fine 11 years later.
My wife’s Beetle is about 8 years old and doing well.
Part of the secret is that we have lived in cities, and not totally
relied on these vehicles by also using busses, trains, light rail,
walking, and biking.

]]> By: JJ http://susiemadrak.com/2007/12/30/08/38/the-next-wave-3/#comment-133916 JJ Sun, 30 Dec 2007 16:05:33 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2007/12/30/08/38/the-next-wave-3/#comment-133916 It's stories like this that make me glad I live in Manhattan... It’s stories like this that make me glad I live in Manhattan…

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