Oil up $10 a barrel. Cost filters through the system, raising food prices while those who still have jobs struggle to pay for healthcare.
Other than general complaining, people have yet to recognize the pervasiveness of the problems they will be facing next winter, when they can’t afford to heat their homes, eat, drive to work and recover from illness at the same time. When they crash, the rugged individualists will whine like the rest of ’em for big brother to “do something.” What something? Snap their fingers and make an inspirational speech? Have a professor expound on a theory?
We hear news stories about individual problems, whatever is the flavor of the day. These problems are interconnected, however, and will have a negative synergy that will make our heads spin. It’s not just one bad thing happening, but a bunch, each making the next worse in a vicious circle.
Politicians offer answers to placate the stupidest voter in the country. In a presidential election year, they will not offend oil companies or hedge fund managers, lest they decide not to exercise their free speech right to contribute money.
By the time the stupidest voter gets hit square between the eyes, the chances of addressing the problem will be gone. Will there be riots in the street? Will there be incalculable and unresolvable pain, with Bushville’s springing up in dusty fields? They’ll probably called Obamavilles in the history books. It doesn’t really matter when your children are hungry.
There are very real problems heading for us at great speed, and we prefer to pretend that some miracle is coming to fix it before we have to admit that we are in severe trouble. It’s what we do best. Act dumb and wait for something to save us.
Like I said, one day the miracles will be over. When that happens, riots won’t help. The time to tighten the belt, address the structural problem and deal with harsh reality is now. It was really 8 years ago, but it’s too late to start that feud back up.
Does anyone else remember that we have a lot of soldiers in Iraq at the moment?
This is a very bad situation. It’s not going to get better by itself. Start thinking about it, please.
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1974 was the year we should have begun to solve this problem, but we didn’t learn anything. The problem went away and so did the concern. Leadership in this country only begins to think about solutions during crisis. I expect this to be a very interesting election cycle because both candidates are finally going to have to squarely face the problems. Making the speed limit 55 ain’t gonna do it this time. I’m thinking about a moped.
Where do you plan to go on the moped?