Today was one of those days that they put in movies about New England. The was HD clear after the night's rain, the sky was a perfect autumn blue. The temperature was actually warmer than it should be, but no one complained. Here in Southern N. E. the leaves are at their peak, and because of the right amount of rain and temperature changes this is a good year for color. There are reds, yellows, orange, brown and even purple mixed against some still green. My neighborhood has big old trees, maple, oak, beech and pine, with occasional sassafras, walnut, tulip and even willow. The trees reach way up into the blue, each with it's own vibrant color.
As we walked we met other neighbors walking. We talked of the coming election, which seems like it will never come. Everyone in this small city is of the same mind on the election. We talk of the economy, and joke about keeping our jobs for another decade. Who really wanted to retire anyway? Some of these folks had real jobs and made real money. Some of them have retired. In some ways the great stock market crash represents huge changes in numbers, but no real change in the current lifestyle. But everyone knows that things a are different, and we will not be as plush as we had planned.
One friend, who does business in Europe said that the bad times have hit there hard now. The world blames the credit crazy U.S. for giving and then selling so many bad loans. But everybody bought them and tried to get rich. Now everyone is getting poor. Some much poorer than others.
For us older folks, there is some sense that we have been through some of this. We are not old enough to have been part of the depression of the 30s, but old enough to know that bubbles burst.
It just seems that the bubbles build and burst at a much faster rate now. People seem to be waiting around for the next one to begin. The idea of a slow, steady rise in the economy, based on real products and real work has not really taken hold yet.
Maybe new, "Green Energy" will sweep us up in a new wave of progress and everyone can ride that train back to wealth and consumption.
Or maybe not. Perhaps we will all be poor for a while, and stay home, have conversations and get to know each other.
But that's just an old man talking. Most of us will run around and keep in touch through text messages:
"Pizza?"
"2 late"
"OU812"
2 comments:
Volvo truck sales plunge 99.7%
Apparently, for most companies, the first two quarters were "perfectly normal" until the bottom fell off of the third.
I say, the writing was on the wall long ago but everyone ignored it.
It's all unraveling in dizzying speed.
I'm stocking up on puzzles.
America has lived in a state of hyper-prosperity for almost a decade (or longer). Greed and keeping up with the Jones has made people forget what it is like to live in a simpler, tighter time.
It is unfortunate for young people such as myself who are entering the workforce. We are a generation quite unprepared for the realities of having to work and struggle for a living. We have no concept of paying our dues and no concept of surviving in leaner times. It will be a hard lesson to learn for us all.
I can only hope that the lesson will be learned and we shall emerge from this smarter and more cautious despite the damage being already done.
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