As I was working out yesterday, I was spying on Obama's speech about the economy and then the follow up by the so called experts. One such expert commented by saying, "although Obama's plans seem all well and good, it misses the true problem. The problem is that Americans are only spending money on their needs and nothing more, that is not the way to prosperity." Now I understand the idea here, but how broken is our system then? Our system is built on greed and frivolous spending. "Buy in excess and with undiluted desire, or we are in deep trouble." Say what?
This only widens the divide between upper and lower classes, because the middle class is being asked to get more, which either sends them to the "upper class," or they lose everything in the pursuit of that next level.
Maybe it is with the residue of growing up in such a strong Dutch heritage that I think this, but how is stewardship, sprinkled with a bit of frugality, not a way to prosperity? I grew up around my friends chasing down EVERY SINGLE golf ball they hit in the field, so as not to have to buy even one more. West Michigan is in the top five regions of the United States in terms of millionaires per capita, and this is directly related to the Dutch way of saving and frugality.
Is this a test of stupidity?
Wallace D.
1 comment:
Prosperity for Americans is independence. An independence from fear, pain, and discomfort. In order to achieve this we need to buy what we don't need to protect us from a fear we will never face. Own a few hand guns, carry mace, buy the safest car, dis-infect everything, get a security system, buy any warranty you can get, buy a big house so you'll always have enough room, get the BEST education, buy the latest and greatest software, and watch out for the list of things that cause cancer (which is everything)all so we can never have to experience the slightest bit of pain.
So live the American dream, buy what you don't need and achieve independence from those things that compromise our comfort.
(side effects include isolation, depression, and a crappy boring unfulfilled life)
Post a Comment