|
|
|
Home::Humor
Over-Committed
Author : Belinda Mary Osgood
Over-Committed
It is with concern that I notice a large sector of society
over-committing themselves financially. It is increasingly
noticeable that few people can actually afford the cars they
drive. Noticeable, because purchasers are having to forego the
usual safety features one would normally expect on a motor
vehicle. The car owners, having paid out their hard-earned cash,
can simply not afford such luxuries. One could imagine that the
problem I am relating is applicable to those modes of
transportation with an elevated price tag--high performance
vehicles such as BMW's, Porsches, and the like. On the contrary,
evidence points to this being an issue that has no respect for
barriers of income or education. Why do I say this? Let me tell
you of my observations.
New cars seem to lack indicators. Many vehicles now only come
equipped with the coloured plastic or glass lenses to ensure
that they look good, but the functioning parts have been removed
to save a few pennies. Every time I see a car make an
unsignalled turn directly in front of me as I hurtle 100
kilometers an hour towards it, I think "Poor fellow, he's
over-extended on his capital." Everything from a sports car to a
beat-up truck is appearing without the humble blinker
connections.
This phenomenon is spreading at an alarming rate. Not only has
it gone into every sector of society, but is also affecting
numerous other vehicle features that were once considered
standard fare. Side and rear-view mirrors are lacking, being
replaced with cheap, non-reflective plastic instead. The few
cents saved in this area allows them the flexibility to change
lanes, hold up traffic, cut off cyclists and ignore the police
car following behind with it's flashing lights, all without
undue concern. "I'm sorry officer, I just didn't see you behind
me, and I didn't hear you either as the stereo was on quite
loud." 'Cut-back' is a concept which should never be applied to
a motorist's sound system!
To further support my case, there is the unusually large number
of cars that I see with only one headlight going. Headlights
are, I agree, fairly expensive to replace. The cost of a bulb
can set you back a mighty $19.00. Money that is ill-afforded
these days when that same amount will provide the vital
rejuvenation of a ticket to the movies and popcorn.
Perhaps more telling, and a more annoying example of the
headlight dilemma, is the sharp increase in vehicles available
without dimmers fitted on the headlights. Owners are opting for
the reduced cost of full beam lights, instead of the much more
expensive dual operational lights. Faced with an oncoming
vehicle around a sharp corner on a road you do not know--a
swampy ditch on one side and a rocky cliff face on the
other--you can be quite compassionate on the poor under-financed
individual coming towards you, with lights that could be seen on
Jupiter.
Brakes are another victim of this tendency for cost cutting.
Many hapless drivers are travelling around our cities, seemingly
so impoverished, that the brakes have been sold to buy the
latest mobile phone faceplate. So, as I stare at the vehicle
roaring through the red light in front of me, I think that I
should donate a few dollars to "HILDAZ" so that she can invest
in some brakes - the name kindly provided by the lovely
personalised plate adorning the bumper. Of course, Hilda does
not acknowledge my gesture of goodwill, since she is locked in
some life or death conversation on her cell. It is no wonder the
road statistics are so high when stopping a car necessitates the
presence of another object in its path - be it car, fence,
ditch, or streetlight. I am ashamed to say that most other
motorists on our roads who are equipped with brakes are not
assisting these people, When they could be offering their
vehicles as a stopping mechanism for brake-less fellows, they
are, instead, waiting for inordinate amounts of time to pull
away when the light turns green, ensuring that they are not
tainted by association with poorer citizens. Thus the hard-up
person without brakes continues to careen at excessive speeds
through populated areas, red traffic lights, and pedestrian
crossings, with no fault to their own person.
A further sign of financial over-commitment on a vehicle is
viewed in the lack of maintenance. You need only take a stroll
through a parking lot to take note of how many vehicles are
outside of the warranty, or registration, often both. Another
very visible sign of this is the emissions cast in our faces,
almost as if they are gloating about their lack of solvency. Or
perhaps it is a silent, yet pungent plea for assistance. When
next a vehicle shrouds you in the filth of exhaust, perhaps you
should make a diary note to pay your respects at the vehicle's
inevitable upcoming funeral.
These are just my observations and I cringe to think what other,
unobservable signs there may be of this pervasive problem on our
roadways. There may be symptoms of financial hardship which are
not so easily seen on a daily tour of the city.
When will this slide into poverty cease? How long can we
support people who cannot afford fully functioning vehicles? I
just pray that every person on the road will put aside their
frustrations and spare a compassionate thought for the
under-privileged on our roads. In this way, our streets will be
safer for all.
Related articles
|
More related feeds |
Over-Committedhttp://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch_feeds?hl=en&q=Over-Committed&ui=blg&ie=utf-8&num=10&output=rssOvercommitted, Malév chairman resigns: Realdeal.hu
Overcommitted, Malév chairman resigns. By MTI-ECONEWS. Laszlo Urban, chairman of the board of directors of state-owned airline Malev, has resigned from his post effective August 26, the Hungarian National Asset Management Company (MNV) ...Overcommitted.
Overcommitted. And overwhelmed. At one point not too long ago, I would have been able to tell you exactly what my family would be doing for about 80% of the weekends during the following six months. Seriously! We need a break! ... Over 500 rapes in eastern Congo since July: UN | Hot News
un reports over 500 rapes in eastern congo abc13 com. The United Nations reported Tuesday that more than 500 systematic rapes were committed by armed combatants in eastern Congo since late July -- more than double the ... Looking for a Committed, Long-term Relationship? | DAXKO Connect
This is a very good point, but one that ignores the idea that things change over time. Staff changes, needs change, revenue sources shift. All these things imply that you have to have a good relationship with your AMS vendor so they at ... Too Active and Over Committed!
If this means making less money, cutting back on your social obligations, or even stepping down from one of your many commitments at your local church, then do whatever it takes to not be so over committed and fatigued. ... The Quilting Hermit: In which I have over-committed myself
In which I have over-committed myself. Have you ever done that? You get grand ideas, and then suddenly you realize that you have too many quilts and not enough time? Here's how it all went down... My mom loves autumn. And I truly mean ... Edd Dumbill (edd)'s status on Thursday, 02-Sep-10 17:10:55 UTC ...
Edd Dumbill (edd)'s status on Thursday, 02-Sep-10 17:10:55 UTC. Edd Dumbill edd. "Knowing how overcommitted you are – really – is very different than being afraid of how overcommitted you are!" – @gtdguy. a few seconds ago from web ... Overcommitted... to apps we love.
Apps. Overcommitted ... The names and logos for Tripmix, Skitzy, Ember and Overcommitted are trademarks of Overcommitted, LLC. All text and design is copyright ©2009 Overcommitted, LLC. All rights reserved. Ethical fraud committed by Standard Chartered Bank and Bajaj ...
Through this letter I would like to draw your attention towards an ethical fraud committed by Standard Chartered Bank and Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance. ... customer would be allowed to either collect back all his three annual premiums paid along with the interest gained over the period of three years or he could just collect his three premiums paid early and leave the interest gained with the Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company to continue with the accidental death cover ... Richard Smedley (richardsmedley)'s status on Wednesday, 01-Sep-10 ...
Richard Smedley (richardsmedley)'s status on Wednesday, 01-Sep-10 08:37:43 UTC. Richard Smedley richardsmedley. Tired and over-committed, but moving slowly back to being organised and productive, thanks to #GTD & !Emacs !orgmode :) ...
|
|
|
|
