The Blame for our current financial crises can go to many different people. Out of everyone the banks were the most reckless. The banks were the ones dealing in Sub prime mortgages and enticing everyone to spend to the point of absurdity. Banks conditioned the minds of everyone in society making it seem “normal” to be overextended in debt. This led to the highest debt to income ratio since the great depression. We assisted in creating the largest national deficit the world has ever seen. It has become an inaccurate statement to blame any 1 failed system or individual. Even though there are a couple individuals who caused a huge amount of suffering in this country.
Everyone needs to stop thinking about punishing those wicked few and start making the changes that have to occur in order for our Nation to survive.
That seems a little dramatic only because it hasn’t affected everyone, yet. If our nation continues spiraling down this hate filled path there will be nothing left to save. Since there are so many issues that led up to the financial meltdown, there is a lot of room for improvement in many areas of our daily lives. The first thing I would suggest to get this country back on track is directed toward everyone. Everyone right now needs to evaluate their debt to income ratio, and realize it isn’t “normal” to be in debt. So stop the reckless spending and pay off your credit cards. Reconnect with the thought of “needs” over “wants”, be willing to pay more for healthier food for you children instead of wasting money on bullshit social symbols. If we don’t overextend ourselves financially the greatest stress that everyone has been living with will be eliminated.
While you start to evolve your spending habits, begin to buy some American union made products. By purchasing a couple U.S.A. made products we will begin to see incredible things happen. Local business will expand to larger sizes while staying true to their union made products. Since we are slowly becoming less dependent on those conglomerates they will be forced to overhaul their companies because of the lack of consumer support, or they will eventually fail and go out of business.
In being a more deliberate consumer everyone would be more actively engaged in what they do, living this way would ingrain a sense of discipline that I feel is sorely lacking in our nation. I don’t think any one-generation is to blame for this. So together changes need to be made. Matthew Brady in “The United States Needs to Nationize Now” brings up a good point when he states, “The government needs to step in with intelligent public policy that will put our economy back on track” (198). Regulations need to strictly govern banks activities. All those billions of dollars that we used to help banks in their time of need should start getting paid back. If the banks are approached for an installment and none can be provided, the individual of that company who received bonuses out of TARP funds should be billed directly! That is my economic stimulus package, but we also need to make sure this never happens again.
Money only has value because we say it has value. Ralph Gomory stated in his testimony before science and technology, ”emphasizing profits above everything else can be bad for the Nation” (180). For individuals that are completely absorbed by the current system this may be hard to fathom. The solution to future financial crises is the absolvtion of the monetary system. As we continue to develop, we have to realize a system set on the idea of “money” will always fail. Constantly wanting things we cant afford, working in industries that have no real purpose. Wanting to be better then other people by separating yourself with your wealth. The happiest people I have ever encountered had nothing, but we think we “need” everything. Most all stresses physically manifested or mental can be rooted back in some way or another to money. I wonder what would happen if we no longer had money in our society? I think we would see an epidemic of health and a new sense of balance and peace worldwide. This shift can’t happen overnight, but when it comes embrace it don’t cling to greed.
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