Shiny new things wants, not needs

Published 9:17 am Monday, November 15, 2010

I think I have what it takes to be a congressman. I really want things I cannot afford. I want a new car, no, a crossover. After all, new cars have more safety features and who am I to deny my wife curtain air bags?

Our 14-year-old car gets us where we need to go but is not without problems. Instead of fixing the transmission and repainting the car I think we need to have that expensive 2010 model we’ve seen advertised; it gets 32 mpg and has exhaust pure enough to solve global warming. It has more cup holders than our dishwasher and they say it is quieter on the inside than on the outside.

These features have been standard in Europe and if it works for the British and the Danish, what’s wrong with that? Who am I to stand in the way of progressive thinking? I don’t want to be accused of favoring the status quo. What would my friends say? My kids tell me I’m nuts to spend that kind of money but I am sure I can convince my wife that we need to have this new crossover. After all, it’s for her.

The government-owned car company has approved my application for a loan although I have no idea how I’m going to make the payments. A good friend tells me to be more frugal and not take chances with my family financial security until the economy improves. Thoughts keep popping into my head telling me to make repairs to the car we have instead of going deep into debt when times are tough.

But I want this new car! I must have it no matter what. Maybe my kids will help me later on if payments get to be too much.

Yeah, I think I’d make a good congressman.

Richard Ek

Everett