The picture above was taken on March 17, 2008 at a local Dunkin’ Donuts during the lunch hour. Six cars in the drive-through line are visible from this angle, and none of them has yet to reach the speaker box where the driver can place an order. Also note the many parking spaces available for patrons ambitious enough to leave the car and walk into the store. The red car to the left is mine.
In Going Broke I suggest that physical effort is a major deterrent to many acts of spending and that the contemporary retail world has been designed to reduce the effort involved in spending. In particular, I propose the following Large Muscle Hierarchy:
- Sitting is better than walking.
- Walking is better than climbing stairs.
Cars put us at the top of this hierarchy. We are in the extremely desirable seated position, expending very little effort. Furthermore, we can move great distances in comfort and—when retail stores provide drive-through facilities—exchange money for goods and services. All without walking. The effects of all this convenience can be seen in our bank balances and waistlines.
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