Economic Downturn: Catastrophe or New Beginning?

We live in a time that is so very uncertain. We are faced with the question of whether or not we will have anything to leave our children or grandchildren. Even before this downturn took its toll on our seemingly unwavering economy, we were left with the knowledge that our descendants in the near future would have no Social Security retirement left to them. Our resources were already starting to diminish. While the CEOs and Corporate executives were having unimaginable money handed to them, many across this beautiful planet went hungry.

 Were we really an economic stronghold to begin with? This is a new question that has been haunting me when I should be sleeping. I look at my wife laying there so sweet, so peaceful. I see my son, a mere year and a half old, I ponder his future. What is lying ahead for him? What will I have to offer him? This is a day and age when so many things seem to be falling apart. The global market, for example, has shown some serious stress fractures in recent history. The value of the US Dollar is down, yet the prices for necessities are continuing their path upward. 

What we are seeing is not simply inflation. This is a sign of weakening in our economic structure. We are seeing some very unfortunate happenings. When the fall of the lending industry comes as a result of greed, we are in a sad state of affairs. When you stop to contemplate this you can do nothing but second guess so many of your preconceived ideas and beliefs. People across the US began losing their homes at a landmark rate. The money that was paid to the banks was being put into unbelievable bonuses for high level executives. A pay cut would have prevented a bailout. How sad.

 So where do we go from here? What is in store for us? Have we come to a catastrophe, or a new beginning? The answers to these questions are simple. From here we look toward the future. Rather than relying on our government to bail us out, we need to step up and buy. We need to put the money back into the economy. With all of us holding so tightly to our cash, we are only hindering the re-strengthening of our economy. If we stop buying certain goods, then there is no reason to produce them. With production of these goods coming to an end, then there is no need for the employees that have been producing these products. 

What is in store for us happens to be up to us, assuming that congress doesn’t make an unbelievably idiotic mistake with our finances. If we rally behind each other, there will be jobs a plenty. If we stimulate the economy by creating demand, the results will truly be in our favor. Then again, if we do nothing we will not see an improvement. If we fail to do anything, we will see that a depression, the likes of which have never before been seen, will sweep over us. We are a people that know how to persevere, but we are not immune to self-destruction.

Some have said that we have committed economic suicide. I do not think it is that bad yet. We have nearly been mortally wounded. We are bleeding profusely from our proverbial jugular. There is no way for us to improve our situation in a short time period. We will be able to make gradual improvements that will lead to a strong and unfaltering economy. If we are willing to commit to learning from our past mistakes then our future will be bright.

 There is hope for us yet. We have no reason to walk around in fear as long as we know that we can be a part of the solution. We cannot expect the world to change to meet our needs. If we get a bump or bruise, rather than crying about it, we need to get up and continue to move forward. We have the tools and abilities; we tend to lack the motivation and drive to become better than we are. I am Joshua M. Adams, and I choose to be a part of the solution. God bless you.