What's the alternative?

Recently an older gentleman struck up a conversation with me outside in a parking lot. He told me that he had had a car accident and now his insurance company was stringing him along and not paying for all of his medical care.

Not knowing anything more than what he told me, I responded, 'It beats the alternative.'

I think he was really looking for someone to take his side in the situation. He said that was a good point and then we parted ways.

Rarely do people consider the alternatives in any situation. Take the price of gas today. At 2.50 a gallon, people loathe paying for gas. They feel like they're getting raked over the coals every time they fill up.

But what's the alternative? There's a lot! The alternatives could be walking, carpooling, taking a bus, not doing whatever is needed to have to use gas... or no gas at all! The truth is that getting gas at 2.50 a gallon beats the alternative... otherwise you wouldn't be getting that gas.

That doesn't mean you have to like getting gas for 2.50. But 'liking' something isn't a factor to consider.