Conservative editors/radio people starting to speak up against commuter rail

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by ellisescara

Have you noticed that if two people have the same income, the smarter/more intellectual person is more frugal?

Are you kidding? So now someone is not as smart, as well as shallow and materialistic, if they don't live in a tiny urban shack next to the subway station, wearing clothes purchased at Goodwill, and reading Noam Chomsky? Nothing could highlight the difference between the political parties in this country more than that attitude. Talk about elitist.

I have a 15 yo, a 12 yo, and a 10 yo. They are honor students, play multiple musical instruments, and play and enjoy sports. They help us with volunteer work; they watch the news and keep up on current events, but they also enjoy nice clothes, iPods/Zunes, XBox 360, and we live in a 3800 sq ft house in the evil suburbs without a transit station within 10 miles (but lots of chain restaurants). My wife and I give plenty of money, use CFL and green products, but we also enjoy the hard earned fruits of our labor.

Equating frugality with being intellectual is ridiculous and insulting. No one should have to hide or apologize for enjoying the fruit of their intelligence and hard work. Doing so doesn't mean you don't care about others or don't understand and relate to public issues and events.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by ellisescara

I sadly agree. Today, you have teens buying multiple $500 designer purses and expecting to receive more from their parents. Though I do think guys are a little less materialistic than girls in general.

Actually, I think all the media/commercials doesn't help either--they literally breed materialism. If someone's been watching TV since he/she were little, he/she basically gets brainwashed into thinking that he/she needs a certain product. Seeing how most commercials are geared towards women explains why females are more stuff-obsessive. (I don't mean to offend anyone--I'm a female after all).

Have you noticed that if two people have the same income, the smarter/more intellectual person is more frugal?

It isn't just teens either. I notice this among college students. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the fruits of your labor, but when you don't think about the people who are less fortunate, then I see a problem.

I think the reason mass transit is not working in metro Atlanta is because alot of people don't care about anyone but themselves. I don't doubt there are people who do care about others and people who would use the transit if it were provided, but there are many more people who couldn't care less. The mentality I notice is "Why should I care if you can't get to your place of work? Get a car for crying out loud." It's not that easy. You have to have good credit to get a car and you have to save up for a car if you can't do a monthly payment plan. Another attitude I notice is "I don't want the undesirables or criminals coming into my neck of the woods. I don't care if they are here for the jobs. We open stores here instead of where they live specifically so we don't have clientele/workers like them." Keeping mass transit out isn't going to keep crime down. In fact, anyone who would kill or rob a house would also steal a car, so anyone could go to a rich area and cause havoc if they could drive there. So here is a question to pose: How does someone who wants to work hard get to a job if he/she can't afford a car and the jobs pop up in places with no mass transit and this person needs it? Anyone can say "Get a job", but you have to think of the logistics of that.