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I have been thinking more and more recently about some of my Big Project ideas, in particular, ideas about commercialism, or the commercialisation of certain things which should, arguably, be freely enjoyable.

However, before writing, I will attempt to dispell some small criticism I received recently. I have been accused of making my point a little too vehemently, and verging from compelling argument, into the territory of general ranting/grumpiness… Point taken. I’ll try to be more measured in my response to this issue…

Basically, I have been considering the idea that, more and more, one seems to be charged to occupy a space and, particularly here in Australia, to use a credit card to pay for it.

I’ll qualify this: think, if you will, of toll roads; paid parking places; chargeable visitor “attractions” etc.

For example, over the past week, we have driven on toll roads ($10 per time), as well as entering the national park ($16) by car, camping there ($16 per night), I took the car into a multi-storey car park, and did not find a space - I had to pay 60 cents to get out. While I have no problem with paying for the use of something, it does begin to feel like one has to pay purely for existing: to occupy a space.

Whilst I admit this is an abstract idea, it is one which I feel points to an increasingly, and, in my opinion, overly commercialised society. Paying for goods or services is one thing, and there is an element of choice (e.g. do I need/want the thing in question) involved. However, charging someone to be in a certain place at a certain time takes away the element of choice to some degree.

Perhaps that is the point I’m trying to make with the website as a whole: rather than charging a person to be here, through subscriptions or otherwise, I think it is best, and least offensive, to offer everything for free, whilst at the same time appealing to their good nature, in the form of donations, or offering them something they may well like in the same place. I’m giving people choices: take it or leave it.

Another example of this idea explored was discovered this morning, in Canberra, when we decided to visit the Telstra Tower (aka the Black Mountain Tower). As with many things in Australia, you’ll note that the tower is sponsored by a telecommunications company (another blog yet to come - the corporate sponsorship nightmare that is Australia). Despite this corporate sponsorship, there is a charge ($6 per adult - $1.90 per child/OAP - why the discrepancy???) to access the viewing area (go up the lift). For the first time since we have been here, we decided that the price was too high, turned tail and left without seeing the view from the tower (being on top of a mountain, the view was good from just outside).

Why did we leave?

Simple. The past few days events have left a slightly sour taste. I’ll explain: being charged at every turn; asked for deposits (”your credit card number is fine”) in place of trust (not to mention the cornucopia of instructive signs which assumed from us the sense and intellect of a Mayfly) at the campsite(s) of New South Wales and ACT; being charged to pass through a park, and being charged not to park had left me with the feeling that I was simply in this country to hand over money at every available moment. I had been powerless to prevent most of the other charges, I could prevent this one, and voted with my feet.

What of the other 2 Cs? the Credit Card…

This is a small point, but one which crops up almost as much as the issue of being charged to do something: the issue of how best to pay that charge. In Australia, it appears, you live a second class lifestyle if you do not own at least one Credit Card.

For example, at car parks (again, I know) one can simply enter ones credit card and pay the fee upon exiting, and the barrier will pop straight up. If you do not have a credit card, you’ll have to go and visit the man in the booth, or another machine which takes coins. Not a massive inconvenience, but indicative of my point nonetheless. Another example of this in practice can be found when travelling upon the Citylink toll roads around Melbourne: you can pay for your toll on the phone or internet, but only if you have a credit card, if you do not, you’ll have to pull in and pay with old fashioned money.

There are many ways which bills and charges can be paid for both online and over the telephone which do not involve credit cards, yet the above examples and the countless others that are not listed spurn the opportunity to use them. Why? It is easier to accept only credit cards (and I should know… I only took cards until recently for much of my online business). Life becomes markedly easier, though - for the company concerned - when one considers that the only alternative to paying the fee is to be fined even more money… and this is sanctioned by the Australian government itself.

The main problem I have with this culture of the credit card that is so prevalent in Australia is this: credit cards ALL have annual fees here. Indeed, even using a cash card, or debit card incurs a fee ($1.50 per transaction - even just doing an on-screen balance enquiry at an ATM!) which seems preposterous at best. How much, do you suppose, it actually costs a financial institution to “transfer” computerised funds from one place to another in an instantaneous electronic transaction? The figure, I believe, is little more than zero, in any currency.

Perhaps this last point seems a little rantish? Perhaps it needs to be: it is senseless to me to charge for a worthless (in cash terms) “service”. If you do have a credit or debit card, feel free to donate me one shiny pound if you like. Otherwise, just come back and read more from The Big Project in future, and buy the full manuscript from my shop when it is finished… If you like… the choice, is yours.