Hi Venson,you make an interesting point about consumption,lets look at the other side of the coin.Has anyone ever noticed that the more energy efficient a product becomes,[automobiles],the more it costs to operate it, I realize that there are many more cars on the road today than years ago,but the cost of fuel and the tarrifs that are tacked on more than negate any real savings to the consumers,your government at work''.
 
  O.T.

Hey O.T.,
 
How goes it?  I think we are all going to have to begin to educate ourselves more about the working of things since we can be sure that business and government more than likely will not.  Along with self-education we'll also need to learn to say, as I've said so many times, "Uh-uh, I can't use that," and point out, "This is what I need instead."  That's what I think.
 
However, there's the rub.  Not enough of us can see our way clear to saying no and putting our foot down about what's acceptable for money we're expected to willingly spend.  It would be splendid to see more people vociferously letting it be known that they may well make do with what they've already got We've got libraries and even better the internet where you can dig for just about anything you want to know to help us get useful information about how things are made and how much they cost in the making.  From such information most folks, even I, horrible mathematician that I am, should be able to get an idea of what a fair price should be and what is should not.
 
Money spent or money withheld, which maybe even wield more power than the vote, usually has a lot to do with which way the reins of this country get tugged.  The sad part is that we don't seem to wax to cohesive or sensitive frame of thought until some tragedy occurs to haul us into line.  As far as issues of pollution, consumption and conservation are concerned, we'd be far better served to become adamant now than to later be forced into action by the result of our own willfull neglect.  It would a good thing to get ourselves set up with a new modus operendi before, as with some places in the world, running water is only available x-days a week to specific blocks and must be stored for use in between; before power is either limited or unreliable because of brownouts and blackouts; before running to doctors who will probably not be able to do us much good in respect to ills brought on by bad air.
 
Is there hope?  Yes.  Grandad's daughter, my Aunt Lucy said, "You can do anything you want -- you just have to want to do it."
 
Regards,
 
Venson

Thanks Venson, Carmine.
 
Another thing that really bugs me is why is a computor considered OBSOLETE after 1 year old and you cant buy parts or have it repaired,is this considered as innovative thinking.................
 
  O.T.

Quote from guess_who on 07/01/07 at 6:12pm:

 
Too bad vacuum makers don't allow buyers to customize their vacuum cleaner purchases.  Consumers would pay a premium if they could decide what they get for their money rather than same same.
 
Carmine D.

Hi again Trilobite,
 
Hurrah for Europe! I think that those parts of the world that didn't start out with oil wells in the back yard have always had to be sensible -- and inventive -- regarding matters of consumption.  We need a quick awakening here in the land of plenty before the plenty runs out.
 
What amazes me is the lack of vision we often seem to be devoid of as of late -- and possibly on purpose.   Born and bred in this country have been some of the most agile and adept minds in all manner of technological fields and business.  So what happened? While I am never at a loss to hear how to invest money or how to spend money I don't have, I seldom see product or hear advice that informs me merely how to keep the money I've got.
 
Yep, there are washing machines to be found that not only have high speed spin cycles but that also have the ability to heat water.  There are also dishwashers that without requirement of a hot water heater can heat water per needed cycle and can produce perfectly clean dishes.  Unfortunately, those makes and models that might allow us to turn down the thermostats on our 24/7 hot water supply come at premium prices here.  They run near and often well above the $1,000 mark though it's highly doubtful that they cost beyond half that to manufacture.  
 
What explains the cost? Is it because their makers know of and deliberately plan to cash in on the consumer's anticipated savings before they get the chance to to even look at the money?  Is it because the quality of their product is actually so exemplary that it's makers are surely due top price? I don't know.
 
As far as laundry goes, I do know that a long while back coin-operated spin driers were often available for use in self-service laundries here in New York.  They were used to extract water that the spin cycle of the automatic washer failed to. You paid very little money to use one and they did significantly cut the time and expense of regular dryer use.  It's been way more than thirty years since I last laid eyes on one in a laundromat.
 
We are in need of energy and money saving devices that are accessible to everyone if we are to sucessfully move toward saving energy, water and good air.  
 
I am not saying everyone should expect to have an expensive high-end Miele, Bosch or whatever in their household.  What I am asking is that, since there's always more than one way to skin a cat, that affordable useful stop gaps begin to come into the market.  A spin dryer is far less complicated machine and wouldn't cost nearly as much as we'd pay for a high-speed spin imported washer with x-amount of special cycles and it would probably prove a greater help.  So why aren't they being made readily available?  I have not been away in a long time but in past this was a common item on the European market.  
 
Why don't we have have clothes washers that only have to hook up to a cold water line?  Again I don't know. I do know that the larger part of the public ends up buying $200 to $400 models that are far less efficient because more efficient devoces just won't fit their budget.  We need to begin to insist on product that may not necessarily fit our our bell and whistle requirements but the needs of the moment.
 
Venson