Wednesday, August 1, 2012

If We Don't Have It Can We Live Without It?


            In Capitalism there are always going to winners and losers depending on how well one can learn the “system.”  And yes, Capitalism is a system.  It is based on the structure of laws and how well one knows the laws and can capitalize on what one knows how well the system works.  For some it’s relatively easy and for others, there are almost too many roadblocks to even try.  I am NOT a die-hard liberal thinking that the system favors the rich.  In fact, I would say that the system is built for those who can capitalize on what they know.
            Now, yesterday I wrote about Aston Martins and today I am going to mention a car that is probably as close to a rocket-propelled car on the market today that IS street legal and pricey.  First of all, why would ANYONE spend more than a hundred grand for a car?  And secondly, how much is too much for anything?  One can buy a LOT of “stuff” for the price of the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4.  The “700” stands for 690 horsepower making the Aventador capable of going from 0-60 in about 2.3 seconds giving it the distinction of being the fastest production car ever made.  Now, I guess the question most anyone would ask is, “How many of these are Lamborghini going to be able to sell?”  At a price starting at $385,000, my guess is NOT very many.  The Aventador painted gold, graces this month’s cover of the Robb Report magazine.  But that is what makes any exotic an exotic.  These are NOT cars for the average person.  Someone asked me once why I would even want to drive a car that has gobs of horsepower and costs more than an average home.  The only answer I can come up with is that because I can.
            This is what Capitalism allows.  Anyone who can afford ANY kind of exotic sports car REALLY lives in a privileged world whether he or she had to mortgage the farm to get it.  And there are a few people who are just lucky enough to win one as a prize.  The fact is there ARE people who not only can afford these cars, but also actually buy one!  Most of these cars are sold in Europe.  But the ones that come to the States are sold in Florida, the northeastern US, or of course, the west coast.  Some people just want to be seen driving them.  They ARE after all, attention-getting cars!  Some guys buy them to attract chicks.  But as my wife would say, any woman attracted to a guy just for his car isn’t much of a woman.  But here is the real question.  Let’s say you work for a company and have been moving up the corporate ladder and you are counting on your next promotion to get that car.  You just know it’s there for you.  But then you learn you have been passed up for that promotion and won’t be getting the car along with the million-dollar garage for it.  Here is the question I would ask most anyone:  Given the amount of room that ANY company has for top corporate executives, can you live without being able to own that car?
            Suicide is high on the list as to why people die.  I won’t say it’s number one, but for teens it’s number two, right after auto accidents.  But can you live without it if you don’t get it or can’t have it?  This is the question I would ask most anyone.  Capitalism has winners and losers and you may have been a winner up to a certain point.  Then you find out you aren’t winning any longer.  Can you live with that?  I would hope so.  Peace.  Brother Ralphie for The Angels of Life Institute

No comments:

Post a Comment