Posted on 01/07/2024 4:59:21 PM PST by DoodleBob
My favorite social-media post in recent weeks (from a Seattle-based engineer named Grant Slatton) seems esoteric, but is quite insightful: "We don't talk enough about how insane aluminum foil is. Imagine telling some ancient person we have so much abundance in our time that we use very thin metal as a disposable paper-like wrapping and it costs essentially nothing."
Seriously, Americans are so used to our unparalleled abundance that we don't pause and appreciate what this means in the context of human existence. An NPR story on the history of aluminum notes that "it used to be more valuable than gold." The National Park Service explained that in 1884, "The U.S. government wanted to have a precious metal cap for the (Washington) monument, so it chose aluminum." I used it to cover up ordinary Christmas dinner leftovers.
At that above-mentioned dinner, we had so much food—of the quality that would have suited a pope, emperor, or king—that it was almost embarrassing. I know inflation is taking its toll, and groceries are pricier than they've been in ages, but our middle-class family enjoyed prime rib, ham, fine wine, all the trimmings, and pastries from an artisanal bakery. The main complaint I've heard from friends was they had so much food they didn't know what to do with it.
Spending time on social media can distort one's perspective, but I've nevertheless been reading an endless array of nitpicking complaints about every real and imaginary problem. This "there ought to be a law" mentality has gotten out of hand, with many people moaning about every aspect of life that doesn't operate to perfection or every endeavor that doesn't benefit everyone equally. It's as if we've forgotten that everything has costs and benefits.
One common category of complaint: We have too much, we spend too much, we're too wasteful. This is often the province of environmentalists, who—like Puritans from the past—want to reduce Americans' astounding standard of living and make life less pleasant in the name of some ill-defined greater good. From a religious perspective, I understand the spiritual aspect of suffering. But it's not an appropriate public-policy goal to promote more of it.
Just as 19th century robber barons would be astounded that we use aluminum as a throwaway, struggling people throughout history (and in less-affluent nations today) would be shocked we spend so much time, wealth, and effort making life costlier and more difficult. Obsessing over plastic bag use, gas stoves, electric vehicles, fish ladders, nearly immeasurable pollutants, and cow emissions might be justifiable—but it certainly smacks of "first world problems."
I like the aluminum foil story because it's one small example of our bounty. It reminds me of a booklet called "I, Pencil," which is an "autobiography" of a pencil by libertarian writer Leonard Read. The tract points to the complexity of assembling and selling this simple, inexpensive device, all of which occurs without central planning: "The absence of a master mind, of anyone dictating or forcibly directing these countless actions which bring me into being."
When I started writing this column a couple of hours ago, I ordered online a Bluetooth adapter for my old pickup truck. It arrived shortly after I finished. Forget about the complexity of the device itself, but think about what's involved in delivering that $30 item to my door in three hours. Not long ago, I ordered a custom motorcycle seat from a shop in India—and the perfectly fitting, quality product arrived at my doorstep nine days later for the grand sum of $109. If you're not amazed, then you're probably, as the saying goes, letting the perfect become the enemy of the good.
These are results of a relatively free society and relatively free trade. They stem from human ingenuity—and that much-maligned profit motive. If it weren't for the chance to profit, no one would take the time to sew together a seat or ship it across the globe. I wouldn't have written this piece. We'd be living lives that are "nasty, brutish and short," as Thomas Hobbes wrote in "Leviathan."
Please don't send an email reminding me of the world's myriad problems. That's not in dispute. But it's frustrating when moralistic social critics lament some "crisis," but offer no context. Because they fail to understand the "invisible hand" that Read championed, these complainers offer "solutions" (e.g., more government) that usually make matters worse. They rarely acknowledge good news, such as dramatic and ongoing declines in worldwide poverty.
I do enough complaining, so don't take my hectoring personally. But as we spend another year on the top side of the ground, I urge us all to spend more time appreciating and less time whining. We should recognize that the world's advancements—even such little things as disposable aluminum foil—are mostly the result of human ingenuity and freedom.
I wear some on my head daily.
I always call it “tin foil.” I know that it isn’t made out of tin, of course, but it always gets a cute eye-roll and smirk from Mrs. fidelis.
But nobody says “aluminum foil hat”
Sam’s Club has 18” wide heavy duty foil. I can waste it even faster.
“Americans are so used to our unparalleled abundance that we don’t pause and appreciate what this means in the context of human existence.”
We now have a society where the poorest are the most likely to be obese and the rich the most likely to be thin. It sounds like some dystopian sci-fi story but we made it a reality in our society.
Freegards
The wealthy are more likely to have the time to have a healthy lifestyle by keeping themselves active and they have the financial resources to purchase healthy meals. So it’s not too surprising that they’re skinny now.
I was born in 1967 and I still say “tin foil.” Probably imitating my parents because there was “tin foil” before the aluminum kind that we all take for granted. I haven’t researched the history but I’m guessing that’s why.
Exactly, they probably spend more time outdoors as well which is another reversal between rich and poor. It’s not surprising to us, but to the people of every previous era it would be downright amazing.
Freegards
I see the obese "poor" paying for carts full of expensive, processed junk, with an ACCESS card or waiting in line to spend $10-15 for a meal at Mickey D's.
It's cheaper to eat healty and it takes discipline to exercise, regularly.
That too. Plus Whole Foods right down the block from their house. You don't see Whole Foods in the Hood. Accessibility makes a huge difference.
gotta say....foil makes the BEST hats ever!
I attribute that effect to be correlated to a focus on the instant instead of future gratification. The poor in many (but not all) cases are poor because of a focus on more immediate ‘benefits’ rather than long term payouts.
“Americans are so used to our unparalleled abundance that we don’t pause and appreciate what this means in the context of human existence.”
It’s the disease called AFFLUENZA. It causes you to not appreciate how well you have it and who made it possible.
The final stage of the disease is you will have nothing.
I agree, and there are other factors as well. Our poor population performs the least amount of sustained physical labor of any poor people in history. Plus, high calorie junk food is cheap enough to indulge in.
FReegards
Wouldn't shop at Bezos's store.
My most routine meal is a baked, boneless, skinless chicken breast ($2.99 lb), a baked potato and a vegetable.
That healthy dinner is about $3.00 or less.
Grandparents used to say “tin foil”, as well as “icebox”, and “Victrola”.
And your grandparents were right.
…
Aluminum foil is VERY thin. It makes a terrific shim for close work.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.