Where's the outrage freedom lovers?

I had a bit of car time this week. All over Massachusetts and back again. I like driving. I typically use it as my opportunity to turn up the radio and let my mind wander to creativity or pensive musings. So… maybe because a few of these drives had company, I bothered to notice some things outside.

Gas prices are going up. I always notice this quietly. But… this always happens. It always happens… and no one says anything. Well, they do report it on the news. Like a public service announcement. But… they don’t delve into that statement. They don’t ask why. And I… like everyone else… just go along. Maybe we’ll groan. Maybe we’ll even decide to travel a little less. But… we don’t do anything.

We don’t get angry.

We don’t get angry like we get about taxes. 

So answer me this Republicans and Libertarians and whatever other tax cutting worshipper you may be, how exactly does raising oil prices become a lesser crime against the economy, against individual wealth (and freedom), against small business… than taxes? Seriously. I want you to seriously think about this now. Take all those arguments about what is wrong and wasteful about government and why we shouldn’t take money out of our wallets to pay for public safety, public education, public roads and ask yourself those questions about oil.

When oil companies rip you off, are you getting ANYTHING back? Well, I suppose you get to travel in your car. But… eventually the tank empties and you have to fill it again. Probably a few cents more than the last week you filled it. But, okay, you get mobility… a certain freedom if you will. Are those oil companies spending wisely? Are the employees all doing their jobs? You know, like, making sure there is functional equipment so we don’t destroy a gulf? 

And what about small business? Costs of delivery and shipping go up. So that raises prices. Which depending on the chain of manufacture for said business can either hurt the price of purchase for necessary materials and equipment… and/or raise the price of the end product. Thus forcing small business to have to choose between meeting expenses and competing with Walmart.

And that brings me to my second observation of driving about. Seeing cookie cutter strip malls. Except… well I’m going to let Walmart off the hook. I’ll go after Target for a change. Because that store made me think about this.  

I like Target. I know it borders on hypocrisy. I even like the ridiculous Christmas merchandise (even though Christmas is starting to give me stomach ulcers and depression). I like the neat arrangement of it… in every single store throughout the state. I well imagine – with a few modifications for the region – that I would find all the same ornaments and dishware and tree lights that I find in Worcester, MA.

So… how many homes look the same? Well, again, there is obviously nuance. But… when we all buy from these big chain stores, we all have the same bed spreads and coffee mugs and Christmas ornaments. Is it unifying? Or is it undoing our individual charm? Our individual – dare I say it – freedom?

Okay, that’s a stretch. But our imagination gets cut off. Target knows how to lull us into happy shopping with smart displays and hip ads on TV. Oh – and cheap prices. But then… well, then I’ll have the same comforter on my bed as thousands of other people. And while, sure that’s cool… it’s not as cool as my Aunt Claire’s hand made afghan. That was made with love… but… there are a lot of artists out there making quilts and selling them. Certainly not as cheap as Walmart. But, it adds a unique charm to one’s bedroom.

Actually, my quilt is from IKEA.  It’s still the same, and not very individualistic. After I passed the third Target on a road trip, I thought of our identical furnished and decorated and equipped homes - and all I could think about was that scene in A Wrinkle in Time when all the boys came out and bounced the ball at exactly the same time and the mothers came out to call them in at exactly the same time. That children’s book, if you recall, was an allegory of communism.

These casual observations on the smaller highways of New England this week made me think… maybe those tea party people aren’t such crack pots. Just, well, they are fighting the wrong enemy. Condemning the democracy that can help fight this battle as they drive to Walmart and fill up the gas tank of their SUVs.