Been here before

As the economy begins to affect people in a more widespread manner (meaning, as opposed to just on the news, now it's people you know who are losing jobs in all sectors) I think it is interesting how the government is still pushing ahead with this "stimulus" stuff that makes no sense to me, because we as a country have NO money, and we are still shooting out great spurts of cash towards the war and heaven only knows what else. So what are we trying to stimulate?

The economy is reacting to the big party. All parties have to end, it's just the way it is written. You can try and try and try and try to keep it going, but eventually everyone collapses under the weight of too much frivolity. Always. As the cost of homes climbed over the years, I would just roll my eyes, knowing that the day would come where the insanity of million-dollar starter homes would become clear. And even if you were fortunate to sell a home during that market, chances are you had to purchase another one that was equally inflated as the one you sold. I know a lot of people made a lot of money selling property that had skyrocketed through nothing that they had done -- but that was just luck. Yes, it was luck.

History is right there for consideration. I remember the last non-recession we had back in the late 80's. You see, just because the government/media doesn't want to report doom and gloom doesn't mean it's not hovering there on the horizon. I remember thinking back then that it was just like the roaring 20's leading into the depression: oh, the parties we had! The champagne flowed, the excess was rampant. Oh, did we have fun! Seriously.

Then the company that Peter worked for started to get hit by the economic downturn and he was laid off. I don't remember it being a tragic thing. I remember coming home and finding him a bit manic, going through the finances and freaking out, but it wasn't completely unexpected. I was open to anything: Did we need to move? Okay, fine. Then figure out where the jobs were, and let's go! But he decided to start his own company and stay put in this area. Okay, fine. I was working and my income was absolutely necessary, as were the benefits, but my point here is that I did not fear the unknown, and hey, the hangover is the price one has to pay for excess anything.

It just is.

The world does not shut down. When people cut back it is things that weren't all that necessary to begin with. Starbucks has started to shut down stores, layoff employees because people have stopped buying as much coffee -- it's very easy to save a good chunk of change by making coffee at home. Is it tragic that all those people lost their jobs? I don't know. Maybe they'll go to school and learn some type of skill that will take them further in the future.

We need to shift the way we think about living our lives. Living within our means is a starter, and it doesn't have to be about lack.

The party ended a long time ago, we just kept walking around and picking up half-empty drinks and screaming CHEERS anyway. We didn't want it to end. We are stubborn in our attitudes that we deserve so much more than we really do.

We all deserve to live happy and fulfilling lives -- but I think anyone with a big mansion and 12 cars and a million dollar view would agree with me that money does not guarantee that.

So what will we do with stimulus money? What will we buy? For some people, it will be food and gas and other essential bills. I think that the companies that have received these funds and purchased aircraft and superbowl advertising have proven to us that more money does not solve a thing, nor does it teach us any lessons if we continue to stir the pot and create more and more and more DEBT.

What is the point of keeping the automotive industry afloat if no one buys cars? You go by car dealerships now and there are hardly any in them. I always used to wonder how they could sell so many cars when the inventory stretched across acres. So now people will drive their cars a little longer. You know what that means? There will be a need for more auto mechanics because people will need those cars to be fixed instead of turning them in when they start to "go."

Yes, people need jobs, but they need jobs in businesses that can stay in business the old-fashioned way: BY MAKING MONEY! I just can't quite fathom how we came to a place where it made sense to keep people's jobs by scraping up cash and handing it out to them so that our grandchildren's children will pay for it. HUH?

Everytime I fly on a plane, which is jam-packed and there are loads of people in the airport waiting for another flight, I am struck by the absurdity of yet another industry that keeps tanking. Well, it's not because PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO FLY! The customers are there. So where is the problem?

I find this time to be refreshing. The status quo was not working ... it was just one big hellacious party from hell is what it was! You know the party, where the music is too loud and there are soo many drunk people, and they are breaking things, and falling into you, and you are just disgusted and looking for the door, and someone throws up on your shoes and you think "Why the hell am I here? Didn't I stop going to these frat parties a long time ago?" Yeah.

It's time for us all to grow up.

It's not a bad thing, and in your heart you know it's right too. Sure, it was fun, but it never felt quite right after a certain point.

This isn't a bad economy. The one we've been living in was. THIS economy is the future.