Getting Started and the Economy

I was a little concerned I might not know where to start. And again I was inspired by one of my Brothers, this time it was the Big Guy. We both work in the same industry, and we often talk online during the day. It mostly consists of us wasting time and checking to see how the other is doing. Occasionally I have the pleasure of having an intellectual conversations with one of my best friends about religion, politics, life, and today it was the economy. So while I was sitting at my desk pondering where to go after declaring the Revolution has begun I had to wait all of five minutes before I was again inspired. Thats when the Big Guy imed me this http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/news/0803/gallery.real_stories/index.html . If you have turned on the TV in the past weeks you must have noticed that the economy is in what our fearless leader has described as a “slowdown.” So what has lead us to this turbulent time?

Does it have anything to do with the fact that every year more US jobs are being sent overseas? The that is kinda a misleading question. Yes the jobs that go overseas are being taken away from our citizens, however, it is not a completely evil phenomena. While there is no question that those who lose their jobs are greatly hurt by the loss, there are other factors to consider. One major factor that the Big Guy actually pointed out is that many of these jobs are the jobs that in truth most people in this country don’t want or even consider beneath them. Maybe that says more about our workers than it does about the people who are supposedly stealing our jobs. Another major factor is that the jobs that do go overseas help to build other nation’s economies. Now I know many people will immediately contend that who really cares about other country’s economies when ours in such bad shape. Well if you knew what was good for you , you should. In case you don’t remember the Great Depression from your high school history class here are a few things you should keep in mind. A strong US economy is dependent upon on strong global economy. As much as we like to tout ourselves as the strongest and richest nation on Earth no country can stand alone. But the biggest lesson to learn from the Great Depression is that when the entire world’s economic foundation is built on one nation, the house of cards will eventually come crashing down.

But the truth of the matter really is that the major problem of our economic troubles is greed. Now before anyone who reads this (besides you Son) decides this is another rant by some crazy person on the internet hear me out. For decades now the cost of living has risen each and every year in the US. Now one would assume if the cost of living has gone up real wages must follow. Well unfortunately thats where you would be wrong. For a long time the cost of living has risen at a greater rate than the rising wages of our people. But never has this been more true than now. Just read a couple passages in the article I posted above and you read of a man who can no longer keep his job because he can’t afford the weekly gas expenses of the weekly travel. Another story of a mother who had a good job, went to a good school, and still can’t afford to send her children to college. So where has the American Dream gone that we were all taught growing up. From this point of view it seems to have gone into the pockets of big business and the people who are supposedly keeping our best interests in mind.

Think about it. If the cost of living is going up, but wages are not. Where does the money go? Ever stop to think why you can pay hundreds of dollars for medicine if you don’t have insurance. Or that gas is becoming so expensive people can’t afford to work more than 20 or 30 miles from there home, and others can’t afford to provide for their children even though they have done everything “right.” Well if prices are going up but wages are not, the only stands to logic that the money is going to those who own and run the companies.

So why has the government not stepped into help with the impending gas prices or encouraged alternative energy sources like the proposed Cape Wind Project. Who knows, its not like we have an oil man as our leader or anything.

Keep up the Fight

Che