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Saturday, November 22, 2008

Your Aardvark feels the gnawing of the economic wolves at his hindquarters. This is not to say that they are about to repossess the baby's shoes, neither is foreclosure in the forecast. For some months I have apparently been whistling in the dark as to the state of our economy. Our anime convention sales are in the tank. we have two cons this weekend, one in Orlando, and one in Massachusetts. They have reeked. The Orlando show is the melding of two FL cons, one of which is a comic convention. I really should have nixed it because historically comic shows are the kiss of Death for us. The MA show has done little better (up to the reports I had last night.

John McCain said that the fundamentals of our economy are sound. As far as the words he used, the statement is correct. The UNSOUNDNESS lies in the pee-pul, exacerbated by the opinionated newsreaders they listen to, and the representatives they vote in.. Seizing upon the smallest downturn, the newsies flog it into a prophecy ot impending Depressions and global-warming induced Dust Bowls.

Where is Henry Fonda when we need him?

The ardent listeners hear the prophetic utterance, and fearfully strive to fulfil it. "Can't spend...I might lose my JOB." Fear begets its object. If we don't spend, then others will lose their jobs. Then, they can't buy from you, which means you may get downsized.

This is what would happen if everybody did.


Dave Ramseyites, I am not talking about credit-carding the nation into prosperity. Congress, and Helicopter Ben Bernanke have proven the lie in that remedy, though they do not seem to recognise it. "Let's print and spend more...HARDER!" I am saying that where one is able, one should behave rationally. Buy three presents instead of five. Eat at home rather than out, as much. But eat, and gift, and take some joy from your toil. Our household is budgeting Christmas strictly, but we are not Scrooge-ing.

Proverbs 10:24, "The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted."

Proverbs 29:25, "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe."

Job 3:25, "For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me."

Fear is running our economy, and it is touching many people. Economies are essentially barter with an added step. If I buy something from you, then you can buy from me. If either of us fails, it upsets the ecomomy. Low sales = ultimate layoffs. The economy is not that bad, yet. If we behave like it is bad, then it surely will be.

Don't over-extend yourself. Don't over-spend, but do NOT succumb to fear. Keep saving, buy silver and gold when you can. Be thankful, do not fear.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Whatever happened to MAKING gifts to give people? No one has the time anymore I suppose. Still, even if they can be a bit hokey, handmade items are generally appreciated very much and economical at the same time.

I know some of my best holiday memories are of a weekend or two spent making huge batches of candies with my family to pack up in tins and give out to family and friends. Although it is getting difficult to do now with food allergies and diabetes on the rise. It'd just be mean to do now since there isn't but one candy we used to make Boo could enjoy thanks to a tree nut allergy.

Thank goodness Usborne was good to us earlier in the year! The majority of our gifts for the little ones in the family are already sitting in the corner here disguised as just more of my display items. Now we just need the materials for the gifts we're making for the rest of the family.

The Aardvark said...

Well said.
I've got no problem with that. It's giving of oneself.
It is not my point to say "Buy Santa!" The Christmas thing was only mentioned as it is this time of year.
The bottom line is, don't shut down the economy because of fear. If an individual or family is having employment issues, or other financial troubles, then surely, don't do more than one can. But there are many, I believe, who will knee-jerk and "hoard" out of media-induced fear. That is a sure recipe for economic disaster.
Groceries: Go to Aldi or Sav-a-Lot.
Stuff: Discount stores, and shop the sales.
Make gifts...make your own fun. I would welcome others' ideas for battling the downturn ogre.

MacLaren said...

Actually, I think the fundamentals are bad. WAY bad.

We have a thin veneer of productivity and health on a gigantic rotting core of debts, derivatives and malinvestments.

And the media isn't freaking out enough. They miss the real problems and their causes. The real picture is much worse. Though the time to panic was a year or more ago. Now it's too late.

The Aardvark said...

Cut me some slack, Original Sin Boy.

I'm talking WA-A-AAAAAAAAY fundamental.
Not Wall Street skullduggery , but the basic ability for a crank with an idea and a couple of bucks to start a business and be a success. Or even a crank with a computer, a decent mic., some audio software, and a Casio keyboard to be a musician and audio producer.

'KAY?

MacLaren said...

I'm sorry. I agree totally with all that you wrote.

Please forgive me.

MacLaren said...

And it's an Yamaha, not a Casio.

The Aardvark said...

Well, that's better! You've done bogging enough to know how this works... ;^)

But seriously folks, I listen to the Business mouthpieces on the television and radio boxes often with a glazed look in my eye, and my mouth open. I mean, a possum in the headlights bears a stronger resemblance to Adam Smith...

It just makes my head want to explode, though, when I see our cymbal-monkey Leaders arranging bailout this and stimulus that. The image I get is giving Chief Wiggum the task of guarding the Krispy Kremes. There is precisely zero thought given to, oh, Constitutionality. Another image: the Three Stooges tring to repair a municipal water system.

Vidad, I agree. There is naught but rot at the core of it all, but where it falls down for me is stacking and counting my pennies in the face of the coming tsunami (though perhaps counting, THEN stacking would work better). I do what I know to do. Our representatives DON'T rep (the original bailout votes proved it, with the Congressmen "bravely" ignoring the vox populi on the second go-round. We shall ignore for the moment the whole abortion issue, and their attentiveness to the pee-pul.

Perhaps I shall withdraw the "fundamentals" comment. Even if the putative idea-ridden crank can gather a few bucks together to see his dream born, by Goo, some representative will see a way to write law taxing it in new and perverse ways. For the pee-pul.

Thankfully, come January, I won't have to worry, 'cos I'll be able to close the shop, kick back, and coast. Obama will care for me.

Wow. I've written myself into despair. SWEET!