Toyota is coming out with a new truck that's only 10,000 US dollars. Most trucks in America start at about 30,000. Unfortunately, this truck will not be available to Americans although it will be available to most of the rest of the world.
I would love to have a simple truck like that and have to ask myself why it won't be offered in the American market. There may be some laws in place that prevent this, but I suspect that many people would be offended by it. If you look at how large trucks have become in the last 20 years, it verges on insane. Having a little rinky-dink truck manufactured by a well-known brand would disrupt most American's sense of self-importance.
The top 1% of people in the US make about $800,000 a year. Last year I made $20,000. It's easy for me to look at that higher number and complain about what I don't have. It's harder to see all that I do have.
Desiring more happiness in my life has meant increasing my loving speculation about my personal habits. I say "loving" speculation because I often punish myself in my criticism which has historically gotten me nowhere. Now, I try to include God in the process and pray for small victories that may help me grow my faith in the creation of God that I am and my innate ability to change. In this process, I have begun to look more seriously at my desire for excess.
For instance, when I go to the grocery store, I often will go to the day-old bread section. I often don't buy something that I want unless it's a deal of some kind or very cheap. But most products that are cheap do not pay their laborers very much. For instance, coconut harvesters will make $3 a week in comparison to my $500 a week. Many of the people that labor to bring us the goods we have do not make close to what we make. They wouldn't even think of owning a personal car. If they did ride in one, they probably will be sharing it with many others. Meanwhile, in America, someone may commute to work in their 4,000 pound truck and all the other seats are vacant.
I currently live in subsidized housing. This place is huge. The ceilings are 10 feet above the floor which used to be a luxury. I have clean running water, plenty of closet space, and a lot of space in general. While Americans are looking at the 1% in the world, the rest of the world are looking at the 4% of the world's population who live in the U.S. and thinking of us as the 1%.
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