The last few days have featured Tickers that have been "heavy" on the mathematical and factual realities surrounding debt, purported "hyperinflation" and similar subjects.
I have been working on a Ticker dealing with Fractional Reserve banking, since that seems to be one of the "boogeymen" that people think would fix everything - that is, if they just killed it.
They're wrong, but that's a Ticker for another day, because today I'm going to talk about the reaction that many people are having to these Tickers, and why I just shake my head - and issue bans on the forum from time to time.
There are two classes of people, generally, that I simply do not understand.
The first are the "absolute doomers - we're all screwed" crowd. I get how you fall into that crowd - its really quite simple. Read a few Tickers and you might get that idea, for example.
But let's think for a minute - what is the purpose of whining on a message board if that's what you are absolutely convinced is going to happen?
In other words, if you're convinced that we are absolutely screwed and you are going to wind up either broke (or worse, food!) then why aren't you banding together with other "doomers" and doing something about this problem through whatever means are necessary - and possible?
After all, you've already determined that you have nothing to lose, right?
So what are you waiting for? Do you expect Moses to appear and lead you to the promised land? Isn't that the precise opposite of your foundational thesis - you're screwed, remember?
For the record, I see a path by which that can come to pass. I disagree, however, that it is inevitable that we will wind up there, which is why I am not interested in such a path of action for myself, personally, at this point in time.
My issue is with those who wish to speak about this as a general viewpoint. I find such "discussion" to be pointless and destructive. You're either right or you're wrong about the inevitability of your worldview, and if you're right then there is only one thing to do - band together with others who also believe the same thing and do whatever you can to stop it, even if you believe it is futile, because you've already determined that the outcome cannot be avoided.
If you're wrong, then you need to shut the hell up, because leading others to their doom unnecessarily is both "not nice" and objectively harmful.
In any event trying to convince others to come across to your view of the world is of no purpose. Either band together with those who see things as you do then act as you deem necessary or face the facts - you don't believe your own BS and are just running your mouth.
The second group are those who see the problem, see a possible solution, but refuse to act.
Folks, in a few weeks the Congress will adjourn for Presidents' Day. All the Congressfolk will return home. Your Congressman or woman is almost certainly within a couple of hours drive of your home, and most are within a half-hour.
For those in the second group - why aren't you getting prepared to picket in front of your Congressman's office? Ask for an appointment to see him or her - not an aide, the Congressperson themself. If refused, chase him or her down as he comes out of that office and gets into his or her car. I'm not advocating lawlessness, but verbally haranguing him and making him very uncomfortable with his lack of representation of you, who are paying his salary, is not only your Constitutional Right but is your duty if you see something that he or she is doing wrong!
Whining will fix nothing. Complaining will fix nothing. Raising hell in a lawful and Constitutionally-protected fashion may or may not fix something, but there's only one way you're going to find out!
If you haven't noticed Congress is getting rather nervous about the second half of the TARP. Gee, I wonder why? 100:1 opinion against in their offices, they vote for it anyway, then Treasury doesn't even use it how they said they would, funds bonuses and buyouts, and the market crashes by 2500 DOW points as a consequence of their actions?
Now is the time folks. Are you going to let your Congresscritter get away with that?
You spoke before and you were right. Now it is time to let him or her know that you were not sleeping, that this was not some crackpot Internet protest, and that you really are pissed off and want this crap stopped!
Finally, there is a form of direct action we all can take. Tired of the games? Tired of the "pigmen"?
Take away their fun.
How?
Find yourself a local credit union and move your money there. Get their credit card if they have one, then cut up the ones from the major banks and financial institutions. Get all funds out of any institution that took TARP money, and tell them why. When you move your account, tell the NEW institution that if THEY take TARP money you're closing your account the next day. Buy only that which you need. Send a strong signal by saving; by not being a consumerist sheep. By not spending more than you can afford to pay for in cash. By not enabling the debt-binge.
To those who say this is "self-destructive", what is your alternative? We need to encourage capital formation but we can't get there from here until the bad debt is flushed out and savings are rebuilt and it isn't going to be painless.
So do yourself a favor twice - be prudent and spend only what you make, while at the same time sending a strong message to The Pigmen that you're not going to play any more until the fraud stops and you see perp walks.
If you're coming to the Tickerforum to organize useful and peaceful actions in protest - that is, civil activism, you're welcome there, and in fact there's already a place to organize stuff like this - its the "FedUP" message area. If you're coming to play "doomer" or run some line of crap like the "gold is money" crowd expect to find yourself in the "read-only" bucket immediately - I don't do "co-dependent", and as such refuse to be an "enabler" of that sort of behavior on The Internet or anywhere else.
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