Pinthouse Pizza
Austin Needs to Grow Up
RECEIVED Wed., April 22, 2009
Dear Editor,
Re: “Ditch the Doughnut Model” [“Postmarks,” April 24]: I couldn't agree more, Mr. Thrower. People all over Europe have gotten by for centuries despite having to build up instead of out, especially island nations like England, Ireland, and Scotland, but it's really no different for small nations like France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, and a vast majority of the world's other 550 countries.
Only in the U.S. are we unable to control our insatiable need for constant consumption, our embarrassing need for more and more and more – and always at the expense of the taxpayer when things implode.
I'm reminded of the wonderful line in Contact, where it's discovered that the government has built two time machines instead of only the one that is needed. Quips an actor about the waste, "Why spend money on a single unit when you can spend twice as much by building two?"
When we build up instead of out, we're instantly eliminating the need for more electric towers, more miles of electric cable, more trenches for sewer and water and gas lines not to mention the lines themselves, more highway on which to travel out, more EMS vehicles needed to handle more accidents occurring more frequently, more gasoline, more oil, more emissions. It's sheer insanity.
Austin needs to grow up.
Re: “Ditch the Doughnut Model” [“Postmarks,” April 24]: I couldn't agree more, Mr. Thrower. People all over Europe have gotten by for centuries despite having to build up instead of out, especially island nations like England, Ireland, and Scotland, but it's really no different for small nations like France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, and a vast majority of the world's other 550 countries.
Only in the U.S. are we unable to control our insatiable need for constant consumption, our embarrassing need for more and more and more – and always at the expense of the taxpayer when things implode.
I'm reminded of the wonderful line in Contact, where it's discovered that the government has built two time machines instead of only the one that is needed. Quips an actor about the waste, "Why spend money on a single unit when you can spend twice as much by building two?"
When we build up instead of out, we're instantly eliminating the need for more electric towers, more miles of electric cable, more trenches for sewer and water and gas lines not to mention the lines themselves, more highway on which to travel out, more EMS vehicles needed to handle more accidents occurring more frequently, more gasoline, more oil, more emissions. It's sheer insanity.
Austin needs to grow up.
Jim Lacey