Leser

6 Ways to Short the Obama Health Plan

Suncatcher, you wrote the following:
"Leser and Bob55, You guys sound like you are dedicating your lives to make a really meaningfull difference to us lesser mortals. Please give me a honest list of your accomplishments in this area. I find that people such as yourselves pontificate about what should be done but don't get it on. How much of your own energy do you generate by solar panels? How often do you take public transportation when you don't have to, etc., etc., etc.? While you are floating up above us narrow minded and greedy basthads please do us some good and check the ozone layer." --
Suncatcher,
Sorry that I sounded to be "pontificating." To be sure, if I had done it to make myself seem superior to anyone, it would prove that I am less than one should be. Where I live I can't much use public transportation, but I conscientiously make a mental list before I run errands, using less gas and not doing errands until there is a reasonable need to do perhaps ten at a time. I bought a house very close to my work so as not to need to use as much gas to get to work. I use the heat and air conditioning as sparingly as possible. Sometimes I have special uses for grey water. The recent appliances I've purchased all have the Engergy Star symbol of conservation and save some resources, be it water or electricity. My replacement light bulbs all have the energy star. When I leave a room I shut off lights I am not using almost all of the time. I wouldn't necessarily have to for financial reasons. It's just the right thing to do. I really do recycle everything feasible in my region and believe in the "reduce, reuse, recycle, repair" motto. But you are right, I need to consider more ways to use natural low-carbon or no-carbon energy sources. When the Boone Picken's natural gas cars become a practicality and can be refuled in my area, I'll need to avail myself of that means of transportation. I've influenced my family and many others through teaching to think of the result of recycling, etc. and I know some lives have been changed. If you hadn't asked for an inventory, I'd never think of talking about myself, but your question is fair. When I write this I still think about how little that is relatively I am doing for the environment. I believe in investing more in companies involved in lower carbon emissions like natural gas and a no-carbon energy source like wind. So, sorry if I came off sounding superior, but I think everyone, myself included, can still do more to make the world a better place. I need to think less about my personal benefit and think more about society's. Doesn't everyone? We're all in this together.
Leser

6 Ways to Short the Obama Health Plan

Is the egomaniac mentality prerequisite to being an investor? What is espoused here in these comments is the greed that debilitates. It is saddening. Something humanizing was omitted in the nurturing and education of such commentators. Do you even recognize this incompleteness? You don't even think I'm writing about you. I am, if you are the sort who wouldn't invest in planting a tree, because you won't be the one to live in its shade. Egocentrism has reared its ugly head and will cost more than money. We fail ourselves and our fellow man when we forget to live an altruistic life.