Think Before You Act...
Now how MANY times have we all heard this growing up?
Our parents wanted us to realize that damn near EVERYTHING we do in life requires THREE major things:
1) Thought
2) Action
3) Consequences
And it's the darn THIRD thing that a lot of people have trouble with these days.
You see, when a plan...ANY plan is poorly thought out, that's not usually a good thing.
And when that poorly thought out plan is poorly executed, that's even worse.
But when after ALL of that is said and done, no one wants to accept consequences, or even acknowledges that there ARE any consequences to be handed out, that's the epitome of "dumbassery"!
So, what does our government decide to do?
Well, if you read the tail end of yesterday's post, you'd already KNOW.
Or, if you watched Glenn Beck yesterday, or any REAL news source, you'd also know.
But, if anyone had a lot of things going on yesterday, or wants a refresher course, I'm only too happy to oblige.
Today, the Federal Reserve will OK the printing of about $600 BILLION (with a *B*) dollars of U.S. currency.
And this is part of another "stimulus" package, designed to shore up our economy.
Here's the link to the story:
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/11/federal-reserve-print-billions-dollars-massive-shadow-stimulus/
Trouble is, this action will have an opposite effect.
America is buying back it's OWN securities...that alone should clue us in as to WTF is going on.
And here's the link to THAT story:
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_16513163?nclick_check=1
Don'cha think it's REALLY WEIRD that the SAME amount of money is involved with BOTH "transactions"?
(such a damn coincidence, too)
But when you print ALL this money, simply because you've got presses, and plates, and paper and ink...that's a recipe for some nasty sh*t!
Commodities are already beginning to rise, and with it, prices at the local grocery.
I suppose that meeting (or exceeding) our EXPORT needs is more "important" than the needs of OUR OWN CITIZENRY, right?
We are exporting grains out the wazoo, and that does NOT mean we have that much of a surplus to do so.
It means our government is pulling another "sleight-of-hand" trick behind our backs...AGAIN.
They are buying back securities with newly-printed currency, because they have NO OTHER WAY of doing so. Those export revenues ain't gonna cut it. And we import damn near everything else.
Of course, firing up the Treasury Dept's presses (again) WILL cause some really neat financial impacts ON our currency, such as DEVALUATION of the DOLLAR.
That means that "if" you have say, $100,000 in your retirement fund (and who DOESN'T these days?), it's ONLY going to be worth $60,000.
Nice, huh?
Now, I might be one of those people that just "doesn't get it", but if you ask me, something just doesn't add up here.
Here's a link to a story from just last month:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/perspective/the-fed-is-printing-money-and-thats-bad/1128144
The new "catch-phrase" will be called QUANTITATIVE EASING...(*ahem*)....
Bernanke has been all over this like white on rice, and he thinks this is fine and dandy.
Well, so far, we've filled TWO of those THREE things I mentioned above.
We have a poorly thought out "plan".
And we have an even more poorly executed "plan".
All we have to do is sit back and wait for that other shoe to drop, namely the CONSEQUENCES of the thoughts and actions.
Make no mistake, it will cost ALL of us, especially those with finite financial resources. (which comprises the vast majority of the American populace.)
You will see a difference at the grocer, at the malls, and damn near anywhere else YOU have to plunk down YOUR hard-earned cash for something...anything you need (or even want).
Cripes, the price of a DECENT six pack of GOOD beer (not the cat piss posing as America's largest selling beers) costs AT LEAST $8 (and change)!
I could buy TWO and a half CASES of Tiger Head Ale (Schmidts) back in Philly 30 years ago for that price!
And get deposit money towards the NEXT purchase to boot!
Milk is over $2 a gallon, and the price of boxed cereal is creeping UPWARDS...
Oh, you "think" that the box of Cap'n Crunch you got for $2.58 at Krogers was a "bargain?
Check the SIZE and WEIGHT of the box against what you USED to get for the same price.
You are getting LESS cereal in a SMALLER box...for the same price, so, you're not paying "more", right?
Well, I hope your cereal BOWLS are smaller as well, that way you won't feel the pinch when you eat it.
This is only the tip of the iceberg here...
If (and hopefully not WHEN) our dollar begins to tank, we will be hip-deep in seven kinds of crap REAL fast.
I just hope it never comes to that.
I'd hate to think that the Mexican PESO would be worth AS MUCH, or even MORE than OUR DOLLAR.
Face it, the WORLD depends on OUR money...
Why?
Well, because we are a "prosperous" nation, that's why.
At least we SHOULD be...or NEED to be.
We were the nation that set the bar for everyone else.
We were the nation other people left THEIR homeland for, because it was a "land of opportunity".
We still can be, if we ALL pay the hell attention to what the government is doing. All these (up to this point) failed and flawed stimulus plans have done little if anything to kick-start this economy.
That can only be done by small businesses hiring people, banks lending without getting hosed by deadbeat borrowers, and a government that needs to hold the line when it comes to "giveaways" to any and all comers.
This nation isn't a damn game show, and there is no money-wheel to spin for the big bucks.
Although some days, I think the West Wing DOES have one available...and it's being used way too often.
It DOES all come down to THOUGHT, ACTION, and CONSEQUENCES.
I don't care if you're a regular citizen OR the federal government.
These things apply to everyone, and all the time.
This administration needs to really THINK before they act...BIG TIME!
And they need to carefully weigh ANY actions they pursue after thinking about whatever it is they're doing.
But mostly, they have to go back to step ONE, and THINK about the damn CONSEQUENCES of whatever actions they DO take...for everyone's sake.
Some people you will meet in life have NO trouble acting upon their thoughts with no regard as to the outcome...that's why we have so much CRIME and so many THUGS roaming about.
That's why you have domestic batteries against women before the damn sun comes up.
Or a DUI before 9AM...
Or even the rape of a teen going to the school bus stop.
Some folks have NO qualms about acting on "instinct", as in ANIMAL or carnal instinct.
I would like to believe that our GOVERNMENT is above such things.
But when they try to pull such boneheaded stunts as we're seeing with OUR economy, and especially OUR MONEY, I really have to pause and think about all of this. As should you.
You should never mortgage anyone's future, and especially NOT by NEGATING that future totally.
This nation is on very thin financial "ice", and it would be prudent to tread CAREFULLY, lest it fall through, and possibly drown.
(I hear the water can be very cold and unforgiving)
It's just something that needs OUR attention...and our questioning whether this is the right course to chart at this point in time.
We need to be vigilant in the pursuit of the truth, and to brace for whatever comes blowing our way.
But most of all, we need to THINK...before we act, and always act with knowledge of what the outcome can be.
That's the American way to do things.
And it works damn well.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay safe out there, America.