| iv id="body"> | | | | that is $492.63 saved per year. It might take four |
| I often find myself a bit confused when trying to | | | | years before you save enough money to pay for |
| make a smart decision about money. The | | | | the latest hybrid techno-marvel on the highway. |
| confusion comes from what I know is the "right | | | | If you really only wanted to do the right thing for |
| thing to do" facing off against "what I can afford | | | | the environment, you might consider driving a |
| to do." I find many examples of this in both my | | | | smaller car, or simply driving less. You wouldn't be |
| personal money decisions and in the decisions I | | | | buying the latest in energy technology, but that's |
| expect my government to make. | | | | not really what your life is about if you are having |
| Here's one example: Personally, I know I should | | | | trouble meeting your other obligations. |
| make every effort to conserve the world's | | | | However, if you have your other obligations taken |
| resources. But, when I need a new car, I find the | | | | care of, and you want help the world transition |
| cost of a high-mileage hybrid is priced much more | | | | into a more earth-friendly lifestyle, this new hybrid |
| than I want to pay if I compare it to a non-hybrid | | | | purchase may be just the way for you to do |
| car with equal capabilities (but greater thirst for | | | | that. I certainly hope there are buyers for these |
| gasoline.) What am I supposed to do? Should I cut | | | | cars. The world needs to develop this technology |
| corners somewhere else so I can "go green?" I'll | | | | and develop enough demand for it that prices can |
| get back to that in a moment. | | | | be lowered through mass production. |
| Another example is where a tough decision must | | | | Many "environmentally friendly" products are not |
| be made by our government: Subsidizing child-care | | | | competitively priced against the products they |
| for low-income single-parent families allows the | | | | hope to replace. They may make sense for the |
| parent to work. The work builds self-esteem. The | | | | environment, though. If you can afford to help |
| subsidized child-care helps assure nutrition for the | | | | test the market and the products, go for it! On |
| children if a good meal is included in the care. But, | | | | the other hand, if you're having trouble making |
| should federal, state, or local governments help | | | | ends meet financially, don't commit money you |
| pay for this child-care? | | | | can't spare to an ideal you can't afford. Eventually, |
| The questions posed by these two examples are | | | | the great ideas find a price point where it is hard |
| not really simple moral questions about "Should I | | | | to wait much longer. Look at the deal you get on |
| do the RIGHT THING?" Rather, they are | | | | compact fluorescent bulbs today as compared to |
| situations where the question is "Can you afford | | | | a couple of years ago. |
| to do what you think is right?" If your financial | | | | So, what about that subsidized child-care |
| resources are unlimited, you can do it all. | | | | program? As you listen to all the argument over |
| Otherwise, sooner or later you will have to make | | | | government spending and taxes being raised to |
| choices. | | | | cover revenue shortages, ask yourself if we |
| When you need to make such a choice, ask | | | | have enough money to do all the "right things." |
| whether doing this "right thing" will keep you from | | | | Then listen to how many voices are asking for |
| doing something else that is also "right," but | | | | their special "right thing." Shall I list them? Teacher |
| perhaps more important. | | | | salaries, government worker pensions, Medicare, |
| In the case of buying a hybrid car, it doesn't | | | | Medicaid, cancer research, highway maintenance, |
| matter if you are a committed environmentalist if | | | | more police, subsidized housing, food stamps, |
| the extra cost to buy a hybrid car will keep you | | | | tuition assistance, etc. If you thought most of our |
| from meeting the other obligations in your life. | | | | national budget went for military defense, you are |
| These would be obligations like clothing your | | | | wrong. That's only about 20% of the total, even |
| children, feeding your family, paying your rent or | | | | with two wars in progress. The rest of the |
| mortgage, etc. If you can't afford the up-front | | | | budget covers favorite programs that do the |
| cost, you might not have a real choice. | | | | "right thing." |
| If you're financially strapped and you thought the | | | | I, for one, think many of the things people ask |
| hybrid's great gas mileage would save you some | | | | for probably are the "right thing" to do. But, can |
| money, do the math. Driving 12,000 miles in a | | | | we afford to do what we think is right? In many |
| year, the difference in gas consumption at 25 | | | | cases, we can. But not in all cases. And we have |
| miles-per-gallon versus 38 miles-per-gallon will be | | | | to make hard choices. |
| 164.21 gallons of gas per year. At $3.00 per gallon, | | | | |