Listening…

Even though I’m under strict Doctor’s orders of no stress, no over-exertion, etc., to recover from my recent stroke, I seem incapable of not talking or writing about serious issues.

Hard to truly discuss anything of importance in 5-10 minute increments, which is the medical directive.

Shall I let that deter me from discussing current events?  Heck No!

I’m guilty of not listening, too.

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Note* –  I believe the ‘bubble burst’ of 2008 was the predictable end of an economic game that has been played in a large continuous cycle  since sometime in the 14th century, and in smaller more local scales since we became civilized.

You may disagree and rightly so, as each cycle ends looking slightly or vastly different due to the details, but if you research the history of money, credit and high finance, I think you will find I’m not making this up.

Some knowledge of history floating around in the file cabinets of my grey matter (apparently undamaged by the stroke, as I can still instantly retrieve this info), means I simply cannot let casual comments regarding where the blame lies for our current situation pass by without commenting.

I’ve discovered it’s  impossible for me to state in 5-minutes or less all the pieces that form our current economic puzzle.   I try, but when I do, brains that have been well-schooled in the current social tactics of “Divide and Conquer” quickly jump to conclusions – meaning,  I spend 3 minutes sharing historical or mathematical facts and 30 minutes retrieving the listener’s brain back from pastures I never intended them to graze.

(Scratch motivational speaking or running for political office off my ‘Possible Career Choices’ list…)

Here’s an example:

Me: “Capitalism in it’s current form requires at least 3% growth every year in order to remain stable.   Translated, that means unlimited growth in a reality that is awash with evidence we are over-consuming natural resources to our detriment.  When you cannot sustain 3% growth in desired goods and services, then System Stability Needs dictate creation of growth out of thin air  – over-valuation of goods or  inserting fee-based paper-pushing activities between production or service steps are just two examples of how growth can be realized.”

John Doe: “What!?!   How can you even suggest we get rid of Capitalism?  Why it’s the best system on earth.   Are you a Socialist?  Marxist?  Communist?   Our country is the greatest on earth!  Now you tell me this – if we are so bad why does everyone want to immigrate here?  Huh?!?   Tell Me!” (envision Marvin the Martian’s chest huffing in and out due to angry breathing)

Me: “When did I say I wished to get rid of Capitalism?”

John Doe: “(Blank look)…well, you didn’t… not in so many words….but that’s what you meant….”

And the 30 minute retrieval process starts.

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The example given is one of many.   I used to think it was because people didn’t listen.

I don’t think so anymore.

I think it happens because of Fear.

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I propose our current problems are not close to being solved because there is a large majority of the population that does not have the time (or perhaps the inclination) to become well-versed in understanding the System in which they live and labor.

Not understanding, they secretly hope it continues to truck along in a  hunky-dorey manner.

When it doesn’t, deep down, individuals realize they don’t understand, don’t know how to fix it and feel powerless to do anything about it.

Feeling powerless means our “Fight or Flight” mechanisms are more easily triggered and we will fight with each other even when we don’t  know what, exactly, we are fighting about.

Not knowing  and in need of some kind of comfort, we easily move from Fear to Scapegoating.

Scapegoating makes it possible for us to feel in control again.   If we can identify who/what is to blame, we can destroy it and things will return to normal.

Who wouldn’t like to have that easy solution?

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I’ve observed with interest how the public outrage towards Systems (aka banks/insurance/mortgage industry)  in 2008 has slowly been turned towards Individuals (aka the Ubber Rich or The Stupid Middle-to-Lower Class people who bought more house than they could afford, or the rotten politicians or the greedy corporations – take your pick and you’ll soon find a group with which to align yourself).

In fact, these past few months, when the subject comes up, I rarely hear about the Systems in place that create the fertile ground for untold fortunes to be made and total collapse to occur.

I had hope the Occupy Wall Street movement was going to help educate the nation in the pitfalls of our current Systems and come up with some solutions on fixing them.

To my mind, media coverage indicates the movement has disintegrated into yet another example of blaming Individuals instead of examining all the pieces parts of the System in which we live.

Sigh…

Seems like everyone has been well schooled by their chosen group on Who Is to Blame.

If history is any indication, eventually, heads will roll in one or more sectors (figuratively, of course.  We are civilized, are we not?), more regulations put in place in a superficial attempt to once again fix the System and the game will start over.

Just like it did in France after the Mississippi Bubble … Which I direct you to, if you’d like to see how the 2008 version of the game was played in 1720…

An example of having more money than available goods or services dictate can be found in

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So now I’ve written in excess of 5 minutes – and will take my arse-chewing by the doctor next week with meekness.  And promise to listen and do better…

If you would like to spend your 5-10 minutes of exertion in better understanding money, financial systems and discovering how you can make a difference without waiting for some entity or ‘ism’ to save you – here’s the link:  New Money for Healthy Communities.

(And in case your brain jumped to “She’s endorsing Counterfeiting” here’s the retrieval speech:

“Read it first, then decide.”)

(Other Free or low-cost Resources include: The Ascent of Money, documentary series produced by PBS, The History of Money book by Jack Weatherford, or Wikipedia – List of Recessions in US, List of Stock Market Crashes)

Note – I love Wikipedia and use it frequently – this morning I found they are in need of funding to continue operation Advertisement Free.  I add my voice in requesting you to please consider lending your financial support in whatever capacity you can to Wikipedia.   I donated my paltry sum this morning and hope you will give whatever you can to keep Wikipedia advertisement free.     Just think, what a million people donating $1 each could do to keep this wonderful tool free to use and free of the demands (often unreasonable) of advertisers who wish to skew published information to their benefit!

About time something was Occupied…

I’ve watched with growing interest the news on the Occupy Wall Street movement.

I see enough people are now in the straits my family found themselves in years ago, and perhaps, the critical mass has been reached where something may be done.  (you know, the whole 100th monkey thing…)

I am rather surprised at those on the street that say, “It’s not for me to say how our system get’s fixed, but it needs to be”.

Since I’m now working 7 days a week, (har-de-har-har), I won’t have time to write the full scoop right now – but for all two of my faithful viewers, here’s some references you can check out yourself and pass along to others of like mind – – I guarantee when you finish with these two quick reads, you’ll not only understand the pros and cons of a money culture, but you’ll also be afire with great ideas on where to go from here!

Book – The History of Money, by Jack Weatherford

Link – New Money for Healthy Communities, by Thomas H. Grecco

or, here’s the page to download the PDF.

And let’s hope the movement can keep to it’s peaceful intent.    Wars are costly and often, even if you win, in the long run, you still lose.

Happy Reading!