Daily Wisdom Notes

When Saving Money Shifts the Burden A discussion arose in the building where we live about whether to use an electric water pump. During the day, the public water supply did not have enough pressure to reach the upper floors. Water reached those levels only at night. One person opposed using the pump because it would increase the electricity bill. Another supported it because everyone in the building needed water during the day. Both concerns deserved attention. Electricity costs money, and a shared household cannot ignore its expenses. But without the pump, people upstairs would have to come downstairs for water or wait until night to meet ordinary needs. As I considered the discussion, I realized that refusing the expense would not remove every cost. It would leave a different kind of cost with the people who could not get water. The question was no longer simply whether the pump was expensive. It was whether our calculation included everyone affected. The Bill Shows Only Part of the...