That '59 Olds you mention is a good illustration of where our society was
heading. While our open society has many benefits, one of the down side
effects is that, when some folks accumulate a little bit of disposable
income, they often don't have the up-bringing that would have taught them
how best to handle it. I mean, once that money is spent on something as
expensive, and temporary, as a new car, it's mostly gone, for good.
The great, post WW II economic boom just kind of overwhelmed our society.
While much of the outcome has been very positive, there have been some
major, negative effects from that era, which are rapidly breaking down our
society today. GM (and others) just had the presence of mind to realize the
benefits of cashing in on the trend, good or bad.
Some of that newly made, disposable income was what nurtured the atmosphere
that spawned the Sprite, after all. While I'm sure life would have gone on
without the sports cars we've enjoyed so much, I know my life would have
been much less enjoyable without them.
Bud Osbourne
-----Original Message-----
From Mark Hineline [mailto:hineline at ocotillofield.net]
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2006 10:47 AM
To: Bud Osbourne
Cc: Spridget List
Subject: Re: Can't Make it Here Anymore
I think you're right about that, Bud. There were limits, and most
people understood where those limits were. Today, there aren't any
limits that I can see.
But this wasn't true about cars! Go back and look at a '59 Oldsmobile
-- a car that many a middle-class family either owned or aspired to own
-- and tell me what was understated about it.
The year that car came out, my father bought a new SEAT. That guy
really understood understatement.
Mark
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