Let's Talk Business

You’re a special individual, then. We’ve tightened the belt, too. Because we’ve always lived modestly, even in the face of many around us who actually don’t. We get laughed at, actually for recycling, carrying cloth bags to/from grocery shopping for the pass-the-baby clothes that goes on, around here (neighbors all send them to each other), eating organic watching the plastic bottles, etc. etc.. BUT… From the news: (1010WINS, NY) No Signs Of Economic Crisis At New L.I. Mall — A new outlet mall opened on Long Island Thursday, and it is pretty clear the economic crisis is not holding these shoppers back See? it’s all about the shopping, no matter what’s in the news, out there…

Last night, I’d caught a TV interview with an Obama economic adviser, from Chicago (reputed to be readying for his cabinet seat) — he said that this is AS BAD as it’s been since the Depression and painted gloom doom (which they’ve connected with Dem votes, of course!)… and then, he went on to say how HAPPY he is, in his job (he’s CEO of a hedge fund) picking stocks everyday because they’re soo cheap! (he was near giddy). HOW can we all be gloomy, and then, see an econ. advisor to Saint Obama… laughing at the buying opportunity, right now? WHICH MEANS, he’s looking forward to better times, even BEFORE knowing that Obama would be elected, right?

I thought as a Society, that we were closer to leaving this, after 9/11 and HELP more than self-serve — and it didn’t happen, then on the whole. Although people were more neighborly, respectful, careful and conversant. But.. every Toys R Us, Lowes, Home Depot, etc. is STILL loaded with made in China.. and those goods don’t move themselves.

I think people will still BUY, BUY and buy for their families for the holidays, and for their children (as usual) for the gift-giving.

Consumerism is the acheivement of the american dream. How you choose to live is your choice, me personally, I’ll take the luxury cruise.

nope. if everyone did what you did a lot of people would be out of business. plus it’s fun. what people think is fun changes with every generation (although some things are always fun, i.e. dogdeball)

With less money, some people will find beauty in everyday life, others will seek to escape what they consider harsh reality.

I hope that many will follow your lead. The sad reality is, media has convinced many that spending money is the best way of life. Many of those people will seek refuge in alcoholism, entertainment, distraction, dangerous behavior, drugs and other forms of self abuse.

I hope that you encourage others to find a path that is less self-destructive.

Would you be happy living in a hut in Tibet, meditating on a mantra to the Dali Lama? Well, good for you. I don’t know many people like you for real- and certainly not women. It’s just not American. It’s all about greed is good. I go to work and all I ever hear about is guys saving up for a car, girls saving up for a car, guys and girls saving up for a house or a condo, or some vacation in the sun and the fun, getting loaded every weekend. If people in this country thought the way you did, the economy would dry up like a raisin. Fitzgerald summed it all up in The Great Gatsby. The American Dream is a facade with nothing behind the billboard. It’s not about freedom. It’s about money. In God We Trust is what all Americans believe in, whether you are a Jew or a Gentile or whatever in between. The rest is either for dreamers or maybe you live in France and use perfume instead of taking a shower. It’s just not our way of thinking. Success is measured by the Gold Standard. If you don’t make alot of money in America, you are a loser. Americans say they believe in Jesus, but his philosophy is so alien to the US, he would be run off the highway and fired from just about any job in the country. Even Obama is an example of Greed- greed and change for one race. And the terrorists who mock and threaten us come to the US to party- so they are also caught up in the greed. Its all about the greed from the moment Americans awaken to their last breath. Thinking about others is what Americans call socialism.
Jesus took a staff and knocked over the market carts in the temple in Jerusalem. You have turned this house of prayer into a den of thieves he said. He’d be like Rambo here. He’d have to trash the whole place up and start over.

Not if Obama is elected president because there will eventually be more good jobs than you know what to do with, just like there was when Bill Clinton was president.

….or freely stating his reasons why a change in government back to Our Republic is desirable …(my apologies, I had to take a call) .

Though you may not have alot of cash you are blessed with an optimistic outlook on life.

Its evident the capitalist euphoria did not dictate to you how to think or speak for yourself.

Keep up the good work!

The economic crisis is the warning bell sounding off that the consumerism of the last few decades is not sustainable. Americans carry on average $8500-10,000 in credit card debt and have been using their home equity as a ATM, but the spending spree has come to a screeching halt. Wages have been stagnant for the last 8 years and so the only means many Americans had to maintain their lifestyles was debt financing. Maybe the bailout will free up the credit market enough for many to hang on to their jobs, but I’m not sure if we will ever see the free wheeling, few restrictions, and almost no limits to credit again. Maybe it will cause us to re-evaluate our priorities, find more meaning in a simpler life and enrich our relationships with people instead of things.

With Obama looking like he will be the next President, all Americans should pull their money out of the market, which has already begun. A socialist cannot lead us through this mess. We are headed for a Depression. :-/

Simply said, consumerism drives the economy. So you don’t buy a newer car or stereo or iPod. There are people who do. All those people who are making those cars and selling those stereos are earning a living. Consumerism isn’t the sole culprit. It is spending beyond one’s means which is the real problem.

If Sue has a good job, saves 15% for retirement, has 6 months salary in cash savings then with leftover money buys an iPod, DVD player, new car (without making payments on any)…what is wrong with that consumerism?

I personally like to have a few things now and then. If I want something, I’ll save money for it to buy it outright. I just can’t have every cool gadget, nor do I necessarily want one.

Edit
You might want to check out current audio technology. 70’s audio is really quite painful to hear. Sell that 8-track player on ebay, could be worth money…

Not possible. We are all trained to spend money as soon as we get it, and to spend money that we don’t have. We have a huge advertising business in this country who’s goal is to turn us all into consuming machines. It start’s early in childhood and it never let’s up.

Maybe temporarily. But that its what we are. Our economy functions on that assumption.

two problems. first there is no universal way for any one of us to tell the rest how to separate needs from frivolous wants and secondly, consumption drives the economy and improves our quality of life that includes things like education, research and innovation, medical care, and entertainment. would you rather live in america or bangladesh? for america at this critical turn of events to retreat into their caves would be economic ******* and either hasten fundamental changes in the world economic order or turn america into a socialist economy where the government is forced to step in to be the consumer of last resort.

I think overall Americans will return to our consumerism ways as the economy improves. Unless we have a sever depression, there will be be no incentive to change long term.

I think you’ll see a shift. People will always buy things, they just won’t be getting a new cell phone or iPod or Playstation as soon as the new model comes out. Now you’ll see people making smarter decisions on what to buy.