$1 per day

In a recent political discussion someone brought in the statistic that American households making $60,000 or less (maybe it was $30,000) give more generously to charity as a portion of their income than any other segment of the population, followed by the super wealthy. I take this as an indictment of those of us in the middle. Are we just too comfortable? Do we think that our words matter more than our deeds and donations?

Then I add to that debate this seemingly prolonged pitty party here in the U.S. with gas at $4/gal., airlines charging for luggage and water, and prices rising on seemingly everything. And I know for some American’s these are very real struggles.

But really. The U.S. poverty rate is equivalent to middle or upper class in parts of the developing world. One Starbucks is four days worth of everything (food, transport, shelter, etc.) to 1/6 of the worlds population.

Which has got me thinking and wanting to challenge myself. What if I, what if everyone reading, tried – really tried – to live on $1 a day for one week. Am I up to the task?

What would it look like? I envision walking, drinking tap water (although it has a cost too), eating rice or potatoes and probably not much else, and I guess I’d need to turn off the AC, the tv, the lights, skip laundry and dishes.

Is it even possible? In Texas everything is so far apart. Houston mass transit is kind of a joke, but even one fare one way on DC Metro exceeds the budget. But forget the car and getting around, even then I am still so far ahead of the game – I have a roof over my head and clothes in the closet. And really, who couldn’t live out of what is in the pantry for a month or more (before rationing).

So don’t think you are off the hook if, like many, your rent/mortgage and/or daily commute costs (or whatever) exceed $1/day. Please consider trying to just eat and drink of $1/day — that alone may be challenge enough!

And if I succeeded in this experiment (in any form), what would I do differently after the fact? What do you think?

This is Not a Political Post

It it, however, a post about a political post.

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One of the things I haven’t written about much on this blog so far is politics. To some extent, this is because I am disappointed and frustrated to a point resulting in near-apathy; mostly it is because I am not convinced that I have anything to say that is not being said better by someone else.

An example of this would be this post, which a good friend of mine wrote — you might recognize his name as he comments occasionally here. He’s not generally a political blogger either (cycling is his main topic) but on the occasions when he takes up more serious topics, I often find myself nodding along in agreement. It’s worth a read, if you’re so inclined.

Grow a ‘Stache to Cure Cancer?

Really?

I don’t know if it’s legit,* but if I suddenly see a bunch of guys running around sporting their best Tom Selleck facial hair, I guess I will know the answer. What a hilarious, creative fundraiser!

*I did get the link from a well-reputed tech blog, mashable.com, though, and a quick Google search gave me a raft of links to international ’stache-offs, so it seems likely. And besides, the site does lead off with “First things first: THIS IS NOT A JOKE!” Crazier things than this have taken off on the Internet, after all.