For What It's Worth.... My Naive View of the Economy

[forHISglory]

Been thinking.... I'm no financial guru. I've not been trained in politics. Only know enough about the law to keep me out of trouble. Don't have a degree in economics.

But I'm out of debt, own my home, am able to contribute to charities, eat well, pay my taxes, and in general have my financial house in order. In this respect, I'm like many other Americans. I'm not an exception; I'm in a majority. Most Americans are working toward these goals and hold them as a standard.

And we are all wondering why: why can't America get out of debt, help those in need, make sure we all have enough food, pay what you owe, and keep the house in order???? We've done it in the past; it can be done again.

Mr. President and Mr. and Mrs. Congress-Person, here's one idea to get us started: get the price of gas lowered. Drill in our own fields. Develop alternative fuel. Do what has to be done to get the price per gallon DOWN. Then watch America bounce back. Then we'll have the extra dollars for more consumer goods. Then food prices will be lower. Then the unemployment figures will drop. Then there will be more money for the mortgages. Like it or not, this country runs on oil and it affects every facet of our living.

I've always thought of myself as being a responsible citizen. I take responsibility in my marriage and family to do what has to be done. We lived lean and frugal for many years in order to meet bills and put away savings. Responsibility sometimes means sacrifice.

I try to be a responsible neighbor, keeping our place tidy and clean, and within neighborhood standards.

I try to live ressponsibly under God, being faithful to worship and give and serve.

I'm responsible to the community and state, obeying laws, paying taxes. Again, I'm like so many many others who think it right to live life this way. I'm not the exception; I really think I am in a majority.

Yet we have leadership who takes Amerca down very irresponsible paths. I'm asking all who consider themselves to be responsible folks, upright citizens, good people who do their best day after day to let your Congress-Person know that you expect responsibility in government.

For what it's worth..... that's my take.

[Imarachne]

Thank you for an inspiring and reasonable post. We need to urge the powers that be to use the same frugal and non-wasteful methods we do here at FV.

[melodys]

I know this is not going to be a popular position, but I disagree with you about the cost of gas. It is a non-renewable resource and I would actually prefer to see the European energy model where the price of gas is much higher ($9 per gallon) and there is a big investment in public transportation.

I took my first trip to Europe earlier this summer and everyone drove tiny cars or mopeds and the metro was inexpensive and very efficient. Pollution seemed to be less too. Higher gas prices would also drive the research for alternative energy.

Any reduction in the cost due to additional drilling would only be temporary and we really do need to deal with the pain of restructuring our economy to meet the new realities instead of delaying the inevitable.

I do agree that lowering the gas prices would have a positive short-term economic impact. I tend to think about the long term. I would like to see the world that my children inherit be a little nicer and I am willing to sacrifice to make that happen.

Regarding our government finances - I would happily pay more taxes it if meant a more financially secure future. I am able to pay more, whereas someone who is struggling financially would really hurt if they got any less. In the past I got grants for college, used medicaid, and food stamps when I was down on my luck. Those programs made a huge difference in my life and the life of my children. We do need to balance the books and I am OK with hitting both the spending and revenue sides of the equation.

In a sensible world, government would have surplus funds during the good times and run at a deficit during the bad times and it would even out over time. We overspent and over committed in the good times, and now we are paying the price.

What I find most disturbing is our climate of every person for him or her self, and no openness to other perspectives. We are all in this together and we need to work together. I have strong points of view, but I am willing to listen, negotiate, respect other people's point of views, and be reasonable. Wish our elected officials would do the same.

[OOwl]

Europe has had high gasoline prices for many, many years and it really hasn't made that area that much more well off, has it? One of my best friends lives in Germany and we compare prices and lifestyles all the time. It doesn't seem that they have any advantage there due to the high fuel costs. But, I'm not that well read on world news, so I really don't know; that's just my limited-view perception.

ForHisglory, I enjoyed your post. It was inspirational. I'm trying to learn to live beneath my means to afford even basic needs of the future. I'm hopeful for a healthier USA, and I pray for her as she learns to live on less than she makes.

[Debbie-cat]

Loved your post fHg. Very inspirational.

[forHISglory]

Melodys, it doesn't matter to me if I have a popular position or if you have a popular position. What matters to me is that we live more responsibly. I appreciated your input about Europe, but I see a difference in population areas. Mass transit is ideal for more heavily populated areas; we found it safe and effecient when we were abroad. But many areas of the US have no metro area large enough to support mass transit and have huge areas with very sparse population. I would love to see it used more in our larger areas, however.

And yes, our oil fields are non renewable. But there is much research now on synthtic fuels from renewable sources. I would like to see those developed and take us off life support from the middle east.

[imagine]

Growing up in an oil field family I remember my father learning enhanced oil recovery. He always said we have plenty of oil in America just not the cheap oil everyone wants. It was after that time that America started buying oil over sea well at least more oil overseas

We are where we are now because consumers did not want to pay more.

Definitely not as simple as drill here and bring down gas prices and everythng will be rosy

Just my humble opinion

[joyofsix]

Good food for thought. But you're using common sense. Politicians are trying to keep their job. I think those two things may be exclude each other.

[nuisance26]

~I think the price of gas isn't the biggest issue for our economy, it's dwindling American manufacturing.
Less than 50 years ago, manufacturing made up 50% of our economy. Now it's about 6/7%.
Our citizens need the jobs here. If we paid $5 more per pair for Made-in-US shoes or $2 more for t-shirts made here we would not have the unemployment problem we have today. If enough people made the choice to buy American, the factories and jobs would come back.
But I never hear any of our leaders mentioning this idea.
The days of cheap goods from Asian countries will not last long. They are experiencing wage increases and benefit increases there too. Before too long their cost of producing goods won't be too different than it was here when companies decided to go somewhere cheaper.~

[akolb]

sadly a huge part of becoming a self-sufficient nation involves returning to buying from small local businesses which equals higher prices. The majority of Americans would rather ignore our major economic problems and still be able to get cheap electronics, clothes and food at one major big box store.

[dancemommy]

I so appreciate your post about drilling in our country and lowering gas prices. I can see how that could trickle down and improve so many areas. I completely disagree with the person posting about the US becoming more like European countries in regards to fuel, transportation, etc. I would never put my child on a moped or in a smart car- they aren't safe- too small. Mass transit would not help the majority of Americans who do not live in urban areas. I also think that while it is important to help those who TRULY need it, we also do not want a system of dependence on the government. There are already so many people who feel ENTITLED to goods and services from our government. Why should we have to pay more in taxes just because someone else, who is able bodied, chooses not to work, or chooses to have 10 kids. The people in this country who are classified as "rich" cannot solve everyone's problems. They are already assuming way more responsibility than some by investing in new businesses which means new jobs and more risk for their "riches". It would be a sad day in the US if our leaders chose to model our society closely to the socialistic European countries. What about the American Dream? Let's help those who cannot help themselves or for a short time during a crisis and get rid of the entitlement notion.

[imagine]

I believe things would be better if people were willing to pay a fair price and businesses are willing to charge a fair price and make a fair profit.

Manufacturing moved over seas because people did not want to pay more for x made here Oil was bought from foreign countries instead of drilled for here because people did not want to pay more for the more expensive American oil

Sadly when people had a chance in the past to pay more for the more expensive American goods they did not want to do so. When the fair trade products were available people in general did not want to pay the higher price. Gives me little hope unless consumers and business want to change

[melodys]

When it comes right down to it, most Americans want the same thing - A good life for ourselves, strong health country, and a positive future for the next generation.

The really great thing is that we have the freedom to have discussions about how to get there. It's good to disagree and to listen to each other. But I think that we have wandered into political discussion territory which isn't the purpose of this board, and I did contribute to that.

[imagine]

There are already so many people who feel ENTITLED to goods and services from our government.

I think people feel entitled to goods and services from more than just our government.

People seem to feel entitled to the same low prices even when production prices go up. People seem to feel entitled to free checking even when the bank has costs they pay to provide the service. And the list could go on.

[imagine]

But there is much research now on synthtic fuels from renewable sources. I would like to see those developed and take us off life support from the middle east.

The question is who is going to fund/pay for the deveopment

Are consumers going to be willing to pay the additional costs?

Is the government going to find the money in their budget to pay for the development?

Are investors going to be willing to put up with the risk / benefit of possible loss or gain? Will people with money be willing to invest?

I do know that when our electric company was building wind power plants and people would pay a few dollars more a month for this most people chose not to spend the extra dollars for it