I am writing this on New Year’s eve while reflecting on the year of 2008. The events that cloud our minds, however, are dominated by the state of our nation’s economy. We surely all know of someone close at hand who has suffered economic losses. In my own field of acquaintances are a lady nearing retirement whose plans for the future have been somewhat dashed by the loss of equity in her home; another lady has found her work hours cut and the possibility of extra travel in order to maintain her salary base; my daughter has found it difficult to maintain enough work hours to meet her living needs and others are struggling with rising costs in food and medical care. And it is irony to find that much of the problem stems from the fear and caution that people have in using their money. Prices in most every category have dropped: gasoline, homes, general merchandise and yet the public remains conservative, choosing to cut back, save and prepare for the worst.
But, here is what we are reading about or viewing in the media. The Federal legislature is giving its members a raise in pay! Several thousand dollars more for each. Is this the reward for doing such a bang-up job? State governors have been involved in moral scandals and one even tried to sell a vacant Senate seat. A trusted investment manager has managed to bilk his clients out of billions of dollars; among the victims are Hollywood actors Kevin Bacon (above photo) and his wife Kyra Sedgewick. The stock market behaves like a person handicapped by schizophrenia. Banks lead the way by withholding credit except for the most trustworthy clients; this after receiving bail-out money from our generous leaders. So, is this the atmosphere needed to instill confidence in our people? Our sunbeam of hope lies in the election of a new regime. Whether Republican or Democrat is immaterial. The ruling criteria is whether or not there is change. And I for one expect a new beginning on a new course in the coming year. I have lived through tough times before (I am older than dirt), survived the “big depression” of the early 1930s; participated in a monstrous war; watched family leave to partake in other wars, including the present disasters in Iraq and Afghanistan; watched the depletion of gasoline supplies in the 1970s and the recessions at that time; and, do you know what? As a nation we always bounce back. Individuals also can bounce back. My birth was in a frame house, unfinished, in a small village to a poor dirt-farm family. My older children became highly successful in their chosen fields and the younger ones are succeeding as they pursue their own goals in life. So, whether you are shooting moose (what’s the plural? Meese?) in Alaska, selling political positions out the back door, investing your funds with con-men or spending your fortune on dog-fighting ventures and now defense lawyers, these examples listed will back my prediction that one can always bounce back.
Just sayin’.
But, here is what we are reading about or viewing in the media. The Federal legislature is giving its members a raise in pay! Several thousand dollars more for each. Is this the reward for doing such a bang-up job? State governors have been involved in moral scandals and one even tried to sell a vacant Senate seat. A trusted investment manager has managed to bilk his clients out of billions of dollars; among the victims are Hollywood actors Kevin Bacon (above photo) and his wife Kyra Sedgewick. The stock market behaves like a person handicapped by schizophrenia. Banks lead the way by withholding credit except for the most trustworthy clients; this after receiving bail-out money from our generous leaders. So, is this the atmosphere needed to instill confidence in our people? Our sunbeam of hope lies in the election of a new regime. Whether Republican or Democrat is immaterial. The ruling criteria is whether or not there is change. And I for one expect a new beginning on a new course in the coming year. I have lived through tough times before (I am older than dirt), survived the “big depression” of the early 1930s; participated in a monstrous war; watched family leave to partake in other wars, including the present disasters in Iraq and Afghanistan; watched the depletion of gasoline supplies in the 1970s and the recessions at that time; and, do you know what? As a nation we always bounce back. Individuals also can bounce back. My birth was in a frame house, unfinished, in a small village to a poor dirt-farm family. My older children became highly successful in their chosen fields and the younger ones are succeeding as they pursue their own goals in life. So, whether you are shooting moose (what’s the plural? Meese?) in Alaska, selling political positions out the back door, investing your funds with con-men or spending your fortune on dog-fighting ventures and now defense lawyers, these examples listed will back my prediction that one can always bounce back.
Just sayin’.
