So Chris noted that maybe I should do one final post about the positive attributes of the industrial revolution before I leave MetroPed. Well, although I can’t think of much, I will applaud our desire and accomplishments on making so much of our work easy these days by creating things that help us lay back and enjoy the ride.

I’ve been reading some Wendell Berry lately and I relate to his arguments so much these days about our physical laziness as a human race. So, there is is. Congrats everyone! With our amazing technological advancements and our smart ways, we are creating things to make our minds spin that require less physical effort. Which can go either way I guess. I applaud the people out there that have created things that can make things so easy for everyone.

Now, with the touch of a button we can unlock our car, turn off an alarm, start the engine, and hell why not, lets open and close the back door too. So, there. I am amazed that we as a people can create such advanced things and we are able to move ourselves around the world within hours; minutes even. We can push our foot down and accelerate from 0 to 100 mph in seconds. We can speak our voice to a machine that recognizes us and plays our favorite tunes. We can have a machine tell us our bread costs 3.99 and it tells us to put it in a bag. Don’t forget your receipt. Is that Debit or Credit? Did you scan your frequent shopper card? It’ll earn you extra mileage and money back, you know! Wait, lets open that door for you. Remember to look both ways. I hear beeping. Is that a vehicle exiting the garage? Oh shoot, I need to service my engine soon. The light is on. And my tire pressure is low. Remember to turn on the AC. It’s a hot one out there.

My only question and argument is why? Why do we need all of this? Why do we create these things to make it so “easy” on us? Is life really that complicated? Why do we let a computer do our job? Is our goal in life to sit back and let something else do our natural intended uses for us? I prefer to work, get my hands dirty, get caught in a rainstorm occasionally, grow things I can eat, make things I can use, talk to real people, open my own door, etc. What happens when technology makes a turn for the worse. Internet fails, power goes out, industrial farms can’t produce any more food, our water supply becomes too dirty to drink, our air, too dirty to breathe?

There is a line out there in which we need to understand when and where we as a human race have gone too far. Do you think your life is too busy? Write a list of where you spend your time and what you do. Are you happy doing it? Do you think all of our technological advancements are worth it? Some people will say yes, for sure. Me? Nope.

I am moving all of my belongings 1,000 miles soon and I will be using a car to do it. If I didn’t have a car, I would be a little worse off. I am glad I have it. But I also can’t assume I will always have it and my life will always be that easy. I like to make priorities and do things I enjoy and ultimately believe in. Over and out.

Enjoy the ride and thanks for the reminder from Chris, wear sunscreen, or don’t sit in the sun too long. Summer is almost upon us.