Inflation, Depression and Constipation

My step-father was a wise man. His family fled Europe during the early part of the depression and came to America. He put his way through college and gained a Masters in Silviculture by shovelling sulfur out of railroad cars. The only work he could find was with the CCC working in the woods of Oregon.

He learned the worth of money, invested carefully and abhorred debt. Money was just a tool. He taught me that the real wealth was in mental abilities. If you had a good mind, it had real value and if you had integrity to go with it, someone would always hire you.

My mother was a Rosanne. And when she married my step-father, she was white trash with money. Still she was refused entrance to the club. She started her own with herself as the mistress in charge. She truly believed money equaled respect.

I chose a different path and incurred her wrath after a phone call from her about rewriting the will. The projected value of the estate was considerable, but not majorly substantial. Stocks, bonds, cash and several pieces of real estate in a growing yuppie community. On the phone I was asked what I wanted from the estate in the will. I declined and suggested they spend some of the assets on a several month long world-wide cruise.

I can still hear her harsh retort, "We can't do that, something might happen!"

Less than a year later, both were dead. I recieved a token share of the estate that I promptly invested. The few debts remaining against the estate were medical, monthly utilities and taxes.

Here we are 10 years later. My sister and step-sisters are either broke or dead. The money brought no happiness or security.

If you recall, my teachings were that money was just a tool. Knowledge and integrity were wealth. Though I have no money, I have all the security possible without becoming a slave to the game of money accumulation or its evil step-child; public perception of wealth.

I think it was Calvin Coolidge that said, "The business of America is business." We are taught it takes money to make money. Few have the ability to accumulate money therefore they use credit. Credit by itself doesn't make money, but you can present the illusuion of being monied.

So America used its easy revolving credit plan to put on airs. Debt accumulated and each debt created the illusion of more money in the system than there actually was. It is called inflation and is made possible by fractional reserve banking insured by Uncle Sam through the FDIC.

Still, this heavy debt had its toll. Keeping up the illusion of wealth drove vast numbers of soccer-moms to anti-depressants. They were depressed and big Pharma made money. Taxes were rolling in to be dispersed according to the needs of the voting public.

When the system got over-extended, government stepped in with inflationary countermeasures called quantitative easing. In simplish, printing more money.

A consumer-based economy needs credit. We can't let the banks fail. To do so would permit an economic depression and dry up the tax base. The people would lose faith in the system. Recall all the worries about economic stimulus checks being used for debt pay-down?

So our ever benevolent politicians decided that modest inflation would eliminate national debt. The problem still remains; too much government spending and still no pay-down of the national debt. Now the talks are about national health-care, possible melt-down of commercial real estate and our continued need for a military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan. No problem, as helicopter Ben stated, we have a printing press. Inflation can't remain modest, but rather it will become hyper-inflationary. Those few that still have jobs will be able to pay off their debts, but most will fall.

No worries. Our ever wise politicians have a new CCC plan. Contain, control and convince. Contain the masses in the cities. Control them through food distribution networks and convince them that those not joining the club are the threat to prosperity. All this takes are a few facilitators helping various committees to decide to support programs that the government has already planned. Let the masses believe they have put the yoke around their own neck and they will gladly wear it. After all, we are all in this together.

The outsiders become the despised enemy. Nothing brings the masses together any faster than a common enemy. The wealthy elite will be safely cloistered far away from the masses. This includes the politicians who will have American military forces protecting them.

We will still be faced with debt. The world will isolate us from the world economy because we are a deadbeat nation. Politicians will continue to turn to the banking industry through the Fedearl Reserve system for aid.

I really doubt that the people will ever realize that this whole mess is about constipation. Our only option is a full-blown depression. We have to condition/train the public to practice financial responsibility. Everyone who thinks otherwise is just full of shit. That is called constipation.

The US citizenry and Congress needs a good old fashion enema.