Buckle up and hang on while the economy and government goes through the Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. (One of the favorite rides at Disney Land. It is not ending any time soon–soon being several years. It does NOT surprise me and it really shouldn’t surprise anyone. It has been a “head-in-the-sand” situation for several years so this is what it looks like trying to turn the big ship around.
Leadership–where is that? Who is that? Don’t look for anything on the horizon anytime soon. That person will appear but not yet. If you can keep in mind, you must start thinking about 12 years not two or three you can create a plan that can be adjusted to the changing conditions. At least we have news of low interest rates for two years. That should help keep gold continuing its climb. Gold is all about flight to safety. The more insecure the situation, the higher will go the gold. It could go over 2000 which was predicted several years ago by Gerald Celente. When people tell you that the stock market is cheap due to the large drops in the last few days, be suspect–it has been a lot cheaper s. Always pay attention to individual sectors and individual stocks. Diversification is essential.
Retirees Beware
Retirements guarantees are suspect as well. Plan on working longer or creating a side business or job to see you
Keep Smiling
through this period of 12 years. Although the public pensions have been in the news a great deal lately, it is the private union pension that is rarely discussed and whose problems are more acute. You can expect many class action lawsuits over pension mismanagement directed at employers and unions responsible. Several unions could be bankrupted. It is more than likely. For those union members who were expecting large pensions, they may be getting the back up government sponsored pension plan (Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation) which has a maximum payout of $13,000 a year. In short–you should NOT ASSUME anything right. You cannot assume that xx number of dollars will be there for your retirement. That is how serious the union pension problem is in America.
Do protect yourself now by creating income beyond your retirement funds. Remember, you were always self-employed even though you thought otherwise. Do something you enjoy, are curious about, outrageous, what your hand turns easily towards but do not hide under the blankets. This is a serious time that requires wisdom, courageous and elimination of a lot of your thinking. Take your aches and pain, get in shape and go make more money for yourselves.
New Sources for Lending
If you need a loan for your business or house, look to sources other than large banks. They are becoming less and less of a citizen bank and more like a banker’s bank. You can look to small local banks, new lending institutions and private monies. The entire lending world is on its head. Money is around. It is a matter of finding it. Capitol One, Discover Bank and even less main stream lending houses. Explore. Let me know if you find some good ones and I will list them in my post. Micro lenders have also come to America from Third World countries
Expect taxes to go up. It is just a matter of when. Cuts alone won’t “cut” it. From now to the election in November of 2012, Congress will fight among themselves and embarrass us all. Addressing entitlements will have to be done but that will become even more difficult.
Americans Love to Spend
This heavy duty transit that we are under will not get lighter no matter how much we think otherwise. Americans as
Making it to Spend
citizens and the government that represents them have one thing in common–they like to spend. It is no wonder that we create a government body that loves to spend as we do. This is why it won’t cut taxes and spending. The whole system is geared to spending more. Everybody wants more–more on the kids, more for the office, more for the district, more for your special interest that you wish the government would spend more on.
Who is economizing? The last I looked, nobody is darning socks. When a hole is discovered in the heel of the sock, it is thrown out. Telling people that at one time Americans darned socks, they haven’t a clue as to what that is. How about washing and reusing plastic bags, using powdered milk. You get the point. We love to spend and so does our government. If we want it to change, we need to begin with us. You jest!!!!! More later…..
Guess I better get on the stick as more people are commenting on old posts. My new platform dates everything so people will know when it was first published. This article on gold was published back in 2011. Light years back it seems. Thanks for your input–always!
Greetings from Oklahoma Gail! I am so grateful to you for all the free articles you make available. Many times, at least one of them is just what I needed to find internal balance again. It has always frustrated me that you don’t date these articles. I have Virgo rising, so the details are always important to me. The article above is one of those that definitely needs a date due to the information about gold, etc. With time flowing ever so swiftly and shifts occurring ever so quickly, I think adding the date to your articles would be very helpful. Thanks for your consideration! Sending you love, light and gratitude,
Coleen
The essay is very wonderful. Thanks for the sharing. Hope the author can update it often.
(:
Yes….I wash and reuse plastic bags, tin foil etc., before they end up in the recycle. And take my own bags to the store. I drive less and walk more. I see some others doing the same, but not nearly enough of the population is practicing these things enough. It can be time consuming to follow through at times, but it doesn’t feel right to me to let it slide.
See you in Oak Park Il next month! J
Great that you are economizing. More of us will be forced to do so. Most people have cut way back and trying not to spend. Is anyone else out there darning socks?
gail ~
i for one, reuse, recycle , economize and so forth. and yes, darn socks if needed and if they are ” worth ” saving. the way things are made tehse days, sometimes they ARE just too worn to repair etc I wear mine to the BONE, so to speak. In earlier times, clothing was better made and lasted longer. ONE good example, if poeple wuold swithc to WOOL socks or a wool blend, their socks would last much longer. Wool is one of the most incredible resources we have. it can be used for socks, coats, sweaters, blankets, mittens . I don’ think it is quite “right” to assume, especially, that YOUR readers aren’t already doing some of the things you are suggesting.