So this is why Oklahoma has no basements...

[A Black Falcon]

Heh... Mister Basement is mostly right though, basements are great! It's essential as a place to put your furnace, oil tank, gas meters, water heater, and such... it gives you lots of room to store stuff (I've got a lot down there!), though keeping it off the ground is indeed a good idea even in try basements due to moisture (unless you have a finished basement, which I, at least, do not)... it's the perfect place for the workbench, tools, and the like... and more! They're great.