Jon Searles

The "Perfect Storm" of Financial Failure



Posted: Thursday, October 09, 2008

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Do you want to know who to blame for the recent financial troubles in the United States and the world? Find a mirror and look deeply into the eyes of the person looking back at you. We can all point at the greedy millionaires of Wall Street, the "fat cat" oil company executives, the "golden parachute" falling C.E.O.s, the "asleep at the wheel" politicians, profits at all costs insurance companies, and the "reckless lending" banking executives but ultimately they were and are serving those of us looking intently into the mirror.

If you have invested money in stocks, put gas in your car, purchased products manufactured by large companies, voted, purchased insurance, charged goods on credit, or purchased a house for as little as you possibly were allowed to put down, you have helped in building the "Perfect Storm" of financial failure. Now with the recent bailout plan of over 700 billion dollars recently approved by Congress we will allow our country to spend money they do not have to help all those of us recover from spending more money than we have ever had. I would venture that the majority of Americans are (were) against a bailout plan, until of course the 100 page government bill became a 450 page law with something for everyone from wooden arrow manufacturers to working Americans. Good spending habits and fiscal policy are always trumped by greed. We do not want anyone to benefit unless we benefit individually in the process.

The "American Dream" has become a night terror involving over mortgaged, over spending, gluttonous lifestyles for which we all should be ashamed, but we find we can easily justify by pointing at those with an abundance of indulgence that outweighs our own.

The bailout is a mistake that will propagate even more stupidity in the short term . Our country will eventually find a new level of economic stability because we will evolve beyond one level of common sense to a redefined level of reality. We have fallen into an abyss and because so much of the world has been standing on our economic coat tails we are dragging them in with us. We are shoring up our foundation with sand that will be washed away until someone has the ability to make tough decisions and pour some more foundation that will strengthen rather than weaken. The someone that needs to make the decision takes us back to the person staring at us in the mirror.

I will not buy on credit. I will pay my mortgage off early. I will shop vigorously for a better value. I will not buy from any company that shows irresponsible behavior no matter how much I think I need their goods or services. I will conserve resources and eliminate waste. I will eliminate luxuries from my life that are wasteful. I will not invest in any company that does not share my values. I will only buy American or items from countries that share 100% of my value system. I will be an involved voter and hold my representatives accountable. I will not let the self proclaiming pundits of the media tarnish my opinion. I will pay my fair share of taxes and a little more to help others. I will encourage others to do the same. I will put others interests before my own..And soon I will awake from this fantasy and hold on for dear life as my idealistic goals and aspirations are dragged into the abyss by the savage winds and rushing waters of the "Perfect Storm" of financial failure waiting for someone to throw a life line of hope that will benefit me and best of luck to rest of you poor souls.

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Susan Thom
 3 years 99 days ago.
174 fans.
hi jon,
 
i understood what you were writing, and i wish the end of your article had been true, but i guess i'll have to wait and see what God has planned for us all, i know enough prayers are surly being said.
 
thanks for sharing your thoughts,
 
best regards,
 
sue
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» left by Jon Searles 3 years 99 days ago.
43 fans.
Thank you Susan for reading.  Our country's current ills can be a little overwhelming and I am sure we, as Americans, will eventually rise above the current problems.  I just wish fewer would be hurt along the way.  Take care and God bless.
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