There’s an old saying that goes, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” That occurred to me the other day while I was reading a highly respected national daily newspaper and thinking about how almost everything actually seems to be changing these days. I will give you a little rundown with a few examples.
The average life expectancy in the United States for men is now 76 years and for women is six years more. For men, it dropped during Covid to about 70. Now if you want to really get all you can get, you should move to Hawaii. There, men get almost 79 years due to diet and lifestyle, but if you had to kill yourself working and saving to have enough to get there, what’s the point?
If you are thinking about buying a new vehicle, and you want the most popular one, then you will get a Ford truck. That’s right. Not a Cadillac convertible or a Lexus or a Mercedes S series or a Toyota Corolla. Ford trucks have been the best-selling ride in the USA for quite a while. Now that is something of a change. I am closing in on my life expectancy number, but when I was young and sporty, the last thing I would be caught driving was a pickup truck. But next time you are in a crowded parking lot, take a look around at how many young couples are coming and going in a jacked-up Ford or Chevy pick-up with giant tires and a busted muffler. Forget about a sports car or a convertible, kids nowadays would rather have a loud, rough riding truck that you need a ladder to climb up and get into that gets about 12 miles to a gallon. Yee Haw!
While we are talking about automobiles and trucks, you can now start planning for your first all-electric vehicle. A Chinese company, BYD has developed a battery for electrics that can now be fully charged in nine minutes. Not only that, but BYD is also planning to start building small pickups next year in Mexico that are all electric and cost less than $21,000. They will be for sale in the U.S. That oughta get Ford and General Motor’s attention!
On the worldwide front, the President of the United States has got all the mapmakers of the planet upset because he can’t decide what country he wants to buy or invade or rename next. Now we all must agree, that is quite a change. In the past, you pretty much knew where most of the far-away places were even though you probably couldn’t pronounce them. But every week, it seems like there’s a new one that has Mr. Trump’s attention. In 1963, we almost went to war over control of Cuba. Now, things have really changed, and Trump might actually buy Cuba, at a Dollar General price. Hmmm, they make some fine cigars down there. We might need to think about that one. And just because we didn’t get Canada, Greenland, or Lebanon, don’t give up. There’s still Venezuela and Iran, and I guarantee you he’s spinning the globe right now looking for the next acquisition.
So, I would say, don’t get too cynical about nothing ever changing, just pay attention and there might be more happening than you realize. And if you seriously feel like things are just stuck, ride over and take a look at our neighbor Statesboro. But don’t dare go between five and six cause it will take you twice as long to get back to your peaceful little world in Swainsboro and Emanuel County..
