Economy
The things might be bad and there is a lot of 24-hour media talk on how bad things are. I heard people saying that this is far worse than 1930’s depression because at that time people did not have credit cards, second mortgages, many of them were self-sufficient, working the land, the society was in an upswing, etc. I agree with all that. I might also add, that to compound the problem we now have the global warming problem and the global obesity/health problem. All these problems are happily fueled by major multinational corporations.
What seems different to me, is that this time around the world is flooded by a sea of material goods (admittedly most of it is junk we don’t need). I look to the US. If you go to a thrift store, you can pretty much get used clothing, house wares, furniture, etc. all of them for a next to nothing price. In the Western Europe, you actually get them for free.
The problem is not that we don’t have enough stuff; the problem is that we have too much stuff, and we don’t really need new junk on the market. The same is true for homes, cars, etc. What we really need is not to stimulate production; it’s to consume the current huge inventory. Yeah, without production the people will lose their jobs. OK but if they live within their means they will survive. Some are screaming that they actually did not buy more house than they could afford but they lost their jobs and now cannot afford the house payment. Ok, here’s the solution. Move to a cheap, small apartment, give up your plasma TV(s), iphone(s), stop dining out and you will survive. Keep just your Internet line (or you can find free wireless Internet depending where you live) and a laptop, use the public library and watch PBS. Keep your bike, give up your GMC Suburban and get a small hatchback car, keep your pet. Eat sensibly and exercise. You are in good shape. This is free advice, nobody is telling you this is the way you should live, it’s a free country. But if you cannot afford anymore your 3000 sqft house and your GM truck don’t ask for help. I came here with my wife and our 8-year old daughter at the time, barely speaking English. I had $2,500 cash in my pocket and two pieces of luggage. We lived in a small apartment and worked. I am glad to say it all worked out well for us. So long as we have our health, we are happy.
The single bad thing that could happen to a person or a family is catastrophic illness. Everything else is peanuts and I have no sympathy for whiners who are in good health. If you are diagnosed with a catastrophic illness (cancer would be the classic example here) then I agree: the state, the community, the government, everyone should form a shield around you and help you. But if you are healthy, you have nothing to complain about. Go live in the slums if you lose your house and have nothing left. You still have your health, that’s what is important. You’ll pull yourself up. There are intelligent, hard working people all over the world who live like sardines, who says that just because we are Americans we need a certain square footage per capita? Live with your parents, this is done everywhere and it’s been always done. It’s good for your finances and it may be good for your health. You're going to bond with your family. Well, perhaps sharing a bathroom is not the most exciting thing but it beats living on the street.
What seems different to me, is that this time around the world is flooded by a sea of material goods (admittedly most of it is junk we don’t need). I look to the US. If you go to a thrift store, you can pretty much get used clothing, house wares, furniture, etc. all of them for a next to nothing price. In the Western Europe, you actually get them for free.
The problem is not that we don’t have enough stuff; the problem is that we have too much stuff, and we don’t really need new junk on the market. The same is true for homes, cars, etc. What we really need is not to stimulate production; it’s to consume the current huge inventory. Yeah, without production the people will lose their jobs. OK but if they live within their means they will survive. Some are screaming that they actually did not buy more house than they could afford but they lost their jobs and now cannot afford the house payment. Ok, here’s the solution. Move to a cheap, small apartment, give up your plasma TV(s), iphone(s), stop dining out and you will survive. Keep just your Internet line (or you can find free wireless Internet depending where you live) and a laptop, use the public library and watch PBS. Keep your bike, give up your GMC Suburban and get a small hatchback car, keep your pet. Eat sensibly and exercise. You are in good shape. This is free advice, nobody is telling you this is the way you should live, it’s a free country. But if you cannot afford anymore your 3000 sqft house and your GM truck don’t ask for help. I came here with my wife and our 8-year old daughter at the time, barely speaking English. I had $2,500 cash in my pocket and two pieces of luggage. We lived in a small apartment and worked. I am glad to say it all worked out well for us. So long as we have our health, we are happy.
The single bad thing that could happen to a person or a family is catastrophic illness. Everything else is peanuts and I have no sympathy for whiners who are in good health. If you are diagnosed with a catastrophic illness (cancer would be the classic example here) then I agree: the state, the community, the government, everyone should form a shield around you and help you. But if you are healthy, you have nothing to complain about. Go live in the slums if you lose your house and have nothing left. You still have your health, that’s what is important. You’ll pull yourself up. There are intelligent, hard working people all over the world who live like sardines, who says that just because we are Americans we need a certain square footage per capita? Live with your parents, this is done everywhere and it’s been always done. It’s good for your finances and it may be good for your health. You're going to bond with your family. Well, perhaps sharing a bathroom is not the most exciting thing but it beats living on the street.
posted by cristi oprescu at 7:59 AM
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