mute button

Advertisers are to blame for worn out buttons all over America.

For some reason they insist that their advertisements be louder than the shows that are on.

Consequently the poor little 'mute' button on all the remote controls gets a lot of extra wear.

I'm not sure this is the effect the advertisers wanted.

I turn away and read when this happens but sometimes I look up and watch in the blessed silence. I can tell what they are selling without the noise.

They are selling the American dream. Beautiful people in wonderful houses living the good life, and most of them really don't have anything to do but enjoy their leisure time. I don't know these people.

Nevertheless you can be just like them if you buy the product. You want to be like that so you will want to buy the product. Won't you?

It's a great system, keeps the economy humming along and that is good for all of us. It's humming so well that it doesn't miss the many people who drop out of the system all of the time.

Yes there are people who get out. Keep the old car going, ride a bike, make do with things they already have. People who find more satisfaction in a job that pays less than the job they used to have. Go shopping at garage sales and auctions and flee markets. Drink tap water by choice.

There is a lot to it, it's called voluntary simplicity, and it's a pretty good idea.