COLUMN: 'The Price is Right' for the U.S.

From Amar Kosaraju's, "And Justice For All," Fall '97 From Amar Kosaraju's, "And Justice For All," Fall '97This summer I was able to fulfill one of my goals in life by seeing one of the great wonders of the world. I did not see the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal or the Eiffel Tower. I was able to be a part of something much bigger than those mundane land marks. I was in the live studio audience for The Price is Right game show. My trip this summer began as a family trip to California. I decided to write to CBS for tickets for The Price is Right Game show. The gods answered my pleas and four tickets were sent for my family and myself. At this point, I could not help but wonder what I would do with the new car I was destined to win. We arrived at the studio in Los Angeles at 8 a.m. for the 1 p.m. taping of the show. To my horror we were too late for that show, but were given tickets for the second taping that day at 4 p.m. We returned back to the studio at noon and were seated in long benches by numerical order. The 300-plus people prepared for the long four- hour wait until the taping of the show. As my family sat there, we proceeded to meet everyone around us. It was amazing to see how friendly people were when they were destined to win cash and prizes. We met people from Kansas, Nebraska and the other 48 states with everyone having one thing on their minds -- win, win, win. While everybody was friendly, there seemed to be a little distrust knowing that only nine people out of the 300 would appear as contestants on the game show. Even with this knowledge, each person honestly believed that he was one of those nine who would appear on the show, or at least one of the remaining eight spots -- taking into account my own selection. When we finally entered the studio, every one was happy as can be and expressed their love for Bob Barker and the the game show. The studio seemed much smaller, and Bob Barker seemed very much human. The show was entertaining, but no one from my family got selected to appear as a contestant. I was basically happy I was able to see the show and maybe a little disappointed. As we walked out of the studio, people were not quite as friendly anymore. In fact, people were angry and expressed their hate for Bob Barker. People were truly upset because they did not win any free stuff. It was not good enough to be on national TV, but they wanted to win a new caravan or racing boat. The reality is that we have become a nation that is infected with The Price is Right attitude. The price that is right, is no price at all. We are infatuated with casinos, lottery tickets and sweepstakes. The pride that once existed in a hard day's work has been replaced by a disillusioned pride of how much can I profit with doing as little work as possible. People question the American work ethic for good reason. The goal of the American worker is not to produce a good product, but to make the most money with little work and having the all-important "benefits?" However, the American worker should not bear the full burden of blame because it has become difficult to determine what is actually being produced. Last week's stock market roller- coaster ride is evidence of the sheer amount of money that is made and loss with nothing actually being produced or created. We wonder why our welfare system runs out of control, when it is both the rich and the poor that believe in the "money for nothing" philosophy. The Price is Right attitude has infected our work environment and is also a reflection of our society's new code of conduct. Throughout the courtrooms in America, people are trying win a different sort of game show by suing people for everything under the sun. A woman wins millions from McDonald's for being an idiot and dropping coffee in her lap. The sales of neck braces have mysteriously been soaring with every "permanently injured" person suing for minor fender-benders. The pathetic part is that people are winning and more people are encouraged to win their own courtroom game show. It is discouraging to see the once proud American work ethic being replaced with The Price is Right attitude. It is unfortunate that the pride that comes from earning and producing has been lost, and the need to profit without work is the new calling of this country.