…If America becomes, or I should say we are, a third rate industrial power, then what does this bode for the American family? WE have become a “service oriented society” which does not know what service represents…
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It seems we Americans are oblivious to debt. The Keynesian theory that debt is good is in full bloom. Many are in hock up to their eyeballs and are still going. Credit cards at their limits, second and third mortgages and interest rates that continue to soar. We owe most of the world on loans to support our national endeavors and like our individual debt these debts become due at some time. We, the taxpayers get to pay that back with interest and more. The dollar slowly becoming into question as countries see what is happening to our nations long gone industrial might. Quite frankly they are starting to see and understand that they don’t need us much anymore, except for some more free money and aide. We need to step up and understand we have mortgaged the farm to the hilt and have little to no means to pay it back except to keep on taxing.
Well you say things could not have been better. Well I hope if you believe this you are right. But, when you look at where the average American is today you don’t see all as being well in Shangri La. Many families are just surviving. The use of credits cards for daily expenses and just surviving is growing rapidly. Insurance and taxes jumping astronomically while wages and benefits shrink more and more with each passing day. Think not, then your one of the problem makers. Those who are on top of the world selling out the farm for quick riches and you who could care less about everyone else. Or who have made it to one of those hot positions where money reigns. That’s good for you because your one of the lucky ones. However, if your not one of those then ask yourself this question. Does it really matter where a company does business as long as it is making money? If there is no market here in America then you can bet there is somewhere else. That is the crux of the matter.
If America becomes, or I should say we are, a third rate industrial power, then what does this bode for the American family? WE have become a “service oriented society” which does not know what service represents. Just what does this speak to? Think this is just fear or unwarranted concern? Well, look around at people in your age category and financial grouping and you will see and hear all of the same things. What does a college education, that costs multiple thousands actually get you? Are there that many great jobs? Of course many are to blame with their live for now attitude because there may not be a tomorrow. Perhaps they are right, but what happens when the fall comes and I?m not talking about a season? Banks will own their property, they will have no real job, they will be as you see in other countries, living in poverty. The government will be a bust and the help that they cannot provide now, will be even less.
Sadly, we have not understood what our grandparents knew and experienced from the great depression. It is so far from our minds that we just cannot believe it could ever happen. But once again, ask yourself, are you better now then you were just five or ten years ago? Do you have one of those 125% mortgages at a low rate that just might jump 4-5 or 6 points? What will you do when that happens? Do you have homeowners insurance that just might go up 100% or more? Has your taxes increased significantly? Has your auto insurance continued to rise along with your energy bills? Has your telephone and cell phone and cable bills soared? What about health insurance? Do you see many walk in clinics and what about Emergency rooms, who are thinking of closing down? What about our elderly, which someday you and I may be part of? Then ask yourself, what are you doing to pay these bills? What will you do if sickness, accident or job loss hits? Then ask yourself, how much do you save for tomorrow? The answer is very little to none for the majority. We are too busy worrying if the NFL will settle with the players and if our star player will be cut.
Now don’t get me wrong there are those making money hand over fist. But these people really don’t care, as mentioned, where or how they make it. Oh sure they give you the God and country pitch but in reality it is the profit and bottom line that drives their loyalty. They only see green and how much more money they can make not where they have to make it. As for the “we are all the same family” bunch, who must learn that this is a small planet and we should all live together, tell that to a religious fanatic who wants to lop your infidel head off unless you convert. Tell that to those being exploited fro larger and larger profits. The fact is that if America collapses it doesn’t matter because those in power and wealth have shifted their potential to other opportunities. America is just another market to them and they will continue to thrive regardless of where America is in the big picture.
So what can we do to protect ourselves? Well we better start to look at what our politicians really believe in. Just who they hang with and who and what they belong to. We need to match what they say to their record and if it don’t match we better start to get rid of them and fast! We better understand that because someone stands up and praises the Lord it doesn’t mean they do the right thing! It doesn’t mean because a specific pastor or church endorses someone they are good. We really have to get down to the nuts and bolts of our belief.
My opinion is that we have moved to rapidly in trying to spread a Global philosophy to a world who doesn’t always share our ideals. In order to slow this down we must start to shuck off our wild spending habits. We can force change through economic means. We must become educated about companies and do not buy from companies that shift their manufacturing off shore but truly build up opportunities for Americans. Do not buy foreign goods and if you have to only if necessary. Pay off your debt and downsize. Get rid of that luxury car and get into something smaller. I would say buy American but there are no more American cars only American assembled. In fact there is little to nothing made in America except debt. We will then see the true nature of the beast in all of us. Can we live without that new I-pod, Cell Phone or SUV? What happens to us all and how they react and how it impacts us is yet to be seen. However, what we do to help mankind from being exploited, in bringing in fair wages and opportunity for all that is the real test. It is just not about the accumulation of wealth but the goals we all share.
In the end it boils down to you and I and what we do. Each of us has the power to make change. However, things will not get any better until we demand responsibility from those who take an oath before God. Here I outline my somber opinion which is that at some point all will collapse economically if we continue down this road. As the wealth of the world becomes more and more consolidated into the hands of a few, as it did with the great depression, no laws on the books will stop that fall. Things will then be in total chaos as countries and peoples have to react. It will impact the markets of the world. However, the world will be forced to accept a new system. There will be no other choice since the old model failed. It will suddenly emerge, yet it has to be considered even as time goes by due to the very nature of the world markets. It supposedly will be the answer for all our woes. All will accept it and hopefully Shangri La will return. The only question I have is- I hope it is the right system and we don’t have to repeat the process.
Written by Robert T. Melaccio Sr., [send him email] who is a freelance writer, and a regular contributor to www.populistamerica.com
Copyright © 2006 Robert Melaccio
