Confirmation and Confusion

Well, it was confirmed last night. For Christmas, one of my gifts will be the iPod Touch or the iTouch if you really want to get into it. I was so happy, mostly as I am in desperate need of a new iPod. My old one, to use a familiar saying, has shit the bed. It rarely turns on, and when it does, it skips songs frequently. I one time spent 2 hours trying to get the thing to work. Finally, I gave up and sat alone in silence. I was on a bus coming back from Augusta, surrounded by kids with MP3 players. Suffice to say, I was not a happy person.

My old one has served me well for 3+ years. I never even had to buy it, which was the best part. I won it from the formerly infamous Channel 1 news (1998-2006). They had this segment called Question of the Day, and I answered it for fun. Then I was picked, and I sat stunned. My entire 8th grade class of 9 congratulated me. It was a good experience, and I loved getting an iPod out of the experience. But, that iPod, like all modern technology, was not manufactered to last. Technology now a days is cheaper, that way you buy new things more often. Are vehicles an exception to this? Well, I'm not sure. I can tell you that I know people with vehicles from the 70s that still work great, but my parents have never had a new vehicle more than a couple years. My mother just got her 2006 Pontiac Vibe in 2005, and already she's talking about trading it in for something newer. My aunt was the same way. She got a Ford Escape a few years ago and traded it in within two years for a newer, better one. Of course, her new one IS nicer.

To put it lightly, I'm confused. Are Americans truly as greedy and ... Capitalist ... as foreigners say? I mean, speaking as an ignorant and arrogant American, I generally try to ignore what foreigners say. But are they finally right? I am forced to conclude that we are. It is not need that drives us to stay current with gaming consoles, iPods, vehicles, or even tele/cellphones. It is greed that drives us. As the wise always say, money is the root of all evil. And, as the wise also always say, money makes the world go round. I once thought about the beauty of a world where everything was free and there was no business or trade. That we could live in mansions, have great cars, and live the lap of luxury for no cost. But then I thought about it, and within a few moments had reversed my opinion that this scenerio was "cool". I didn't think about it, until I heard another individual speaking the same sentiments. I quickly intervened, saying that if that happened, factory workers who manufacter goods would not keep their jobs if everything was free. He said that they would because otherwise we wouldn't have goods. Personally, if a person can get something nice for free, they don't care HOW they get it. Why do you think Americans never ask where their soccer balls or clothing come from? The truth would just force them to consider the sad lives of those who make them. It is easier to ignore problems than to confront them. Americans, in case you're unaware, are fantastic at ignoring things.

But then I thought: Are you greedy for wanting a new iPod? Well, the answer is: probably. But I accept that I have used my old one to the point that it is no longer functioning properly. As such, it makes sense to buy a new one. If all Americans kept their stuff until it was absolutely required to buy a new one, they could save billions, maybe trillions, of a dollars annually. Rather than get a new vehicle every couple years (whether you actually buy, lease, or make payments), wait at least 5. That is my opinion. If we waited 5 years, rather than 2 or 3, we could be less greedy. I personally don't think greed is a horrible thing; greed drives people to make some of the important businesses of today. If not for greed, Bill Gates would be flipping burgers. Instead, he's the world's 2nd wealthiest man (if you accept the unproven theory that a Latin American businessman has surpassed him, which some do not). Greed also drove those who created banks, stores, and nations. So, while greed may account for many of the world's bad things, it also accounts for a whole hell of a lot of the world's good things.

Am I greedy? You bet your ass I am. Is that a bad thing? Well, only time will tell.But for now, I say as a whole, Americans try to cut down on our purchases that are unnecessary. If we minimize OUR greed, it will hurt the companies, who may downsize their greed. Then again, this is probably one of those stupid blogs that doesn't make sense. In that case, thanks for reading.