October 19, 1978

Everyone is aware that the cost of things has increased. What is often overlooked, however, is the riding cost of nothing. Nowhere is inflation more pronounced than in the price we pay for absolutely nothing.
For example, the natural gas bill at the N.V.N office was $3.89 throughout the summer months. We do not use a hot water heater and when it was 110 degrees outside we never felt compelled to light the furnace. So the cost for exactly no natural gas was almost $4 a month.
The next shocker is electricity. We are informed by the electric company that the minimum expense for us is $1.55. If everything was shut down and we were burning candles for light, we would still be charged $1.55 for the potential of using electricity.
Last, but obviously not least, is the telephone bill. For the luxury of being able to make a call, whether a call is made or not, we are charged $21.08 per month. Because we use the phone a great deal, our cost is substantially more than that. But, if we used our phone for a conversation piece and not a conversing piece, we would still be charged $21.08 every month.
This brings the total bill for nothing to $26.52. It could be argued that nothing is not what it used to be.... ~T.Stucky