Why I Didn't Trade in My Clunker
I mentioned somewhere recently that a couple weeks back when the government run clunker program was going my mechanic called me and virtually begged me to participate. I can't imagine why...
I'm not sure that I could have said anything to make this good friend understand, since he and I don't come at life with entirely the same set of values, but maybe you will understand. I really had two reasons why I couldn't trade in my beat up car for a $4,000 gift start on a new one.
Reason one: in this particular case, the program seemed so much a money grab from the rich to give to others, that it felt--and I think it was--like theft. I simply felt I had no right to that money, that it was a pure political ploy to gain popularity among the masses at the expense of the better off in our society (i.e.-those who already pay a massively disproportionate amount of our taxes), and that participating in a political scheme of this sort would constitute stealing money not mine. The government was so brazenly taking $4,000 out of someone's pocket and putting it in mine, and that was so manifestly a matter of thievery that I couldn't stomach it.
Reason two: even with the $4,000 financial jump start, I would have been paying more in a year to get a new car than it costs me to run the old one. Others may think differently and with what seems like, and may be, good reason, but as for me, so long as I can keep my present car on the road less expensively than it costs to buy a new one (without imperiling anyone's well-being in the process), I'm sticking with the old.
It's not that I'm particularly special or penny-pinching in doing this; it's just that I have a car solely to get me from one place to another (it is neither status symbol nor toy to me), and so whatever can get me from one place to another safely and least expensively is what I'm going to drive. After all, I've got a few other treasures I'd like to accumulate and care for that are worth far more to me (and have dividends that last far longer!), than a new set of wheels.
I don't think my mechanic got this. Do you?
I'm not sure that I could have said anything to make this good friend understand, since he and I don't come at life with entirely the same set of values, but maybe you will understand. I really had two reasons why I couldn't trade in my beat up car for a $4,000 gift start on a new one.
Reason one: in this particular case, the program seemed so much a money grab from the rich to give to others, that it felt--and I think it was--like theft. I simply felt I had no right to that money, that it was a pure political ploy to gain popularity among the masses at the expense of the better off in our society (i.e.-those who already pay a massively disproportionate amount of our taxes), and that participating in a political scheme of this sort would constitute stealing money not mine. The government was so brazenly taking $4,000 out of someone's pocket and putting it in mine, and that was so manifestly a matter of thievery that I couldn't stomach it.
Reason two: even with the $4,000 financial jump start, I would have been paying more in a year to get a new car than it costs me to run the old one. Others may think differently and with what seems like, and may be, good reason, but as for me, so long as I can keep my present car on the road less expensively than it costs to buy a new one (without imperiling anyone's well-being in the process), I'm sticking with the old.
It's not that I'm particularly special or penny-pinching in doing this; it's just that I have a car solely to get me from one place to another (it is neither status symbol nor toy to me), and so whatever can get me from one place to another safely and least expensively is what I'm going to drive. After all, I've got a few other treasures I'd like to accumulate and care for that are worth far more to me (and have dividends that last far longer!), than a new set of wheels.
I don't think my mechanic got this. Do you?
Labels: economics, money, politics, stewardship, theft
posted by Tim Shorey at
4:08 AM
4 Comments:
Tim, Thanks for the committment to reality and your example to us. Your life is as much a non verbal sermon as it is a spoken one on this matter.
Unfortunatly, many under communism and socialism, soon realize that they are going to be taxed anyway, and soon arrive at the conclusion that they should take as much as they can get from the Government. This is the way of socialism, do as little as you can, take as much as you can. In America, we are reaching a "critical mass" of having more "zero liability voters" than fully responsible and financially accountable voters. That is what our founding fathers feared the most, that once people can vote themselves benefits without realizing any liability, the beginning of the end has come.
This is why the original constitution let only White, Male , Property owners have the "right to Vote. White because blacks at that time were slaves, Male because women were only in the house and not in public affairs, and property owners because they were picking up the tab for Government,
I see this as the judgement of God upon our National irresponsibility.
Like it or not, we shall suffer with the masses of America's poor discisions, simply because we are part of the whole. We have, like it or not, solidarity with all Americans. When the leader of a family makes a bad choice, the whole family suffers. And so on.
My thoughts....
JR
One man's decision to forgo a "measly" $4000 in light of the billions being thrown around to prop up the economy may seem insigficant, but it most surely is anything but. Choosing a lifestyle that enables one to have more left over to invest in the Kindgom is never a bad decision, and never escapes God's notice. Thsnks, brother, for the words and the example.
tdb
Tim, when I saw what you drove to Keswick the other day, I was a little surprised-- but somehow, pleased. (forgive me!)
If, instead of the old paint-peeling truck with the bouncing front bumper, I had discovered a new Lexus in the parking lot, I suppose it may have troubled me a little. (although, at the same time I was thnking man, if I had the money I'd present this man a set of keys to a new truck!)
I do appreciate the example you set by your contentment with 4 wheels to get you where you need to go-- your "committment to reality" as JR puts it.
Funny thing is friends: when one has the knowledge that he has all things in Christ (as PAul put it) one has an ever-decreasing need for the things the world offers. One always feels rich and grateful regardless of what one has or faces or drives.
One thing I've learned from Scripture and from my parents' example was that true wealth is not measured by stuff. They had next to nothing but always lived like they were rich. They were never craving another car; they were amazed they had any car and drove it--whatever it was--like they had been given a Lexus.
May we all model the same!
Tim
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