More examples

The economic conditions have caused a lot of stress, anxiety, depression, feelings of helplessness, worthlessness, inadequacy and anger.  These things are pretty obvious, but they are very detrimental to individuals and families. 

As I said yesterday, my practice in this industrial city, is an indication of what is going on in the country.  Five years ago I had several cases of couples coming in big SUVs, they were having alcohol and recreational drug problems, and sneaking off with their friends' husbands and wives.  Several of the women were even flaunting their newer, bigger breasts.  It was all with money they took got from remortgaging their homes.

Now, several of them are back, having lost the home, and at least one of the jobs.  The crash has been devastating.  They feel cheated, as they were only doing what the world was telling them to do, which was to pump up the economy.

Of the couples who have come back, most of them have figured out a way to stop blaming each other and pull together.  That is good to see.  It can really be a step-up, away from the foolishness and craziness.  People are finally learning that having credit is not the same as having money. If the pain and suffering last a year or two I am sure the lesson will really sink in.  If they manage to get a new job within about six months they may think they are brilliant and can get away with anything.  Very few people really learn to plan,  I think we are still short-term hunters and have to eat as much meat as we can before it rots.

There are many other ways that this economy is making people suffer, especially people in their early twenties, who have student loans and $12 jobs.  They are lost and know they can't afford a marriage and a family.  They drink beer and watch movies at home.

It seems as if the answer will have to come from local communities.  People will have to learn to think small, not look to big government or big corporations who will not hire.  They will have to find ways to trade with each other, build a community that keeps services and money flowing amongst themselves.

I see some signs of it among people who have lost jobs more than a year ago and realize they have to figure something out for themselves, something different. They now have cleaning businesses, repair businesses, cooking businesses, very basic stuff.

The older workers, from their mid-fifties up, make these kinds of transitions with a lot more difficulty. They do not welcome the challenge of starting over.  They feel they have already deal with enough challenges.

But this is America in the New Millennium.  We have been trained not to care.