Steve rides a Segway

[Steve Spence]

I took my daughter to college this weekend. She's attending SNHU, and while
we were getting her stuff unpacked, security rode by on a Segway. Naturally,
I was curious about the device, so I stopped him and asked him questions
about it. You know, how do you like it, is it really worth the mondo bucks
that were spent, etc. He asked me if I'd like to ride it, which of course
was a silly question, of course I did. So I did. I liked it. It was cool.
Took about 45 seconds to get the hang of leaning back and forward to make it
go without jerking around like a lunatic. Would I spend a few grand on one?
Hey, it's cool, but not practical enough to me to be worth $3000.

Pics at http://www.green-trust.org

 

[Reason]

I took my daughter to college this weekend. She's attending SNHU, and while
we were getting her stuff unpacked, security rode by on a Segway. Naturally,
I was curious about the device, so I stopped him and asked him questions
about it. You know, how do you like it, is it really worth the mondo bucks
that were spent, etc. He asked me if I'd like to ride it, which of course
was a silly question, of course I did. So I did. I liked it. It was cool.
Took about 45 seconds to get the hang of leaning back and forward to make it
go without jerking around like a lunatic. Would I spend a few grand on one?
Hey, it's cool, but not practical enough to me to be worth $3000.

Pics at http://www.green-trust.org

It's too bad that the concepts of environmental sustainability and economic
sustainability are too often on opposite sides of the political fence these
days.

Fiscal conservatives want to balance the books and cut social subsidies and
other spending to sustainable levels, while at the same time supporting
unsustainable environmental and business practices, such as escalating
strife over oil with the Arab world.

The left is no less conflicted in it's goals with regard to sustainability.
They are on the right track as far as balancing the ecological "equations,"
but at the same time, most left-wingers are keen to escalate public spending
to unsustainable levels.

Is there room on the political spectrum for someone who supports
sustainability all around? What's wrong with a sustainable environment AND a
sustainable economy? Is that too much to ask? Are we so polarized into
rightist and leftist camps that we must fail to see the virtues of the other
side, and combine them into one philosophy?