tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3346738123111144789.post5396781978665052342..comments2023-07-20T02:42:57.116-07:00Comments on Alibi for Ignorance: What Do We Do?Chuck Strommehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04161613923797294928noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3346738123111144789.post-64375747950276888362009-03-21T18:12:51.164-07:002009-03-21T18:12:51.164-07:00Excellent advice! And the best part is that we ar...Excellent advice! And the best part is that we are doing this stuff it (except for the burger flipping job)...EdytheAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441567265784511353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3346738123111144789.post-61605459564808511832009-03-24T21:30:00.537-07:002009-03-24T21:30:00.537-07:00So . . . what you've said raises more question...So . . . what you've said raises more questions for me:<br><br>1. If we shouldn't trust the group of people you listed (in government, one way or another), why NOT consider some kind of radical change to the present leadership (beyond the "you can vote" solution)?<br><br>2. You're a much more accomplished historian than I'll ever be. I'm wondering if during the 30s, 50s and 80s you mentioned, there actually were those who prepared for the downturn and weathered it well (besides the very wealthy)? Could we glean some kind of direction from them as to how to embrace what's ahead?<br><br>3. Is saving today's dollars really a good approach, considering the inflationary period we're entering? In 1975, we bought a 3 bedroom, two bath, two car garage home on an acre, it included a water well and septic system. The price? $19,500 That same home today would cost $300,000 to $400,000. Is it worth more? No - the currency's just worth less. Maybe exchanging today's dollars for tires, or tools, or seeds, or cloth, or whatever might have intrinsic value. Don't really know . . . but I hate to think of the value of those funds in the bank just shrinking away.<br><br>Maybe I'm just tired tonight. It's been a long day after all. I've worked hard. Yeah, that's it, I'm just tired.<br><br>RansomRansomhttp://www.cottonwire.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3346738123111144789.post-61217488126291669562009-03-26T17:32:56.935-07:002009-03-26T17:32:56.935-07:001. 60 days isn't enough time to judge the eff...1. 60 days isn't enough time to judge the efficacy of an administration. That's why we have presidential elections every four years. That interval was decided for us and has not of late been up for reconsideration. <br><br>We have congressional elections every two years because two years is enough time for us to weigh the current administration and change our congressional representation to express our mood. <br><br>Losing an election is a humbling experience. It brings into question one's core beliefs and sense of worth. That's not the fault of the winners, though. They won and our responsibility is to support America, not one party. If the Dems are in charge, fine, they benefit. Same for the Repubs.<br><br>There simply isn't going to be, nor should there be, a <i>Seven Days in May</i> answer for dissatisfied Americans, now or ever. Did Curtis Lemay's hatred for JFK or his apocryphal coup plot really inspire that movie? Doesn't matter. Little else would galvanize <br>American opinion and action more than an internal revolt, and little else would harm America's world standing more. <br><br>We're going to stick to the alternatives our forefathers handed down to us. We re-learned them in 1861 and from time to time since. Two many have died to preserve them for anyone to give them up now. <br><br>2. I don't know that much about The Great Depression. Studs Terkel did, though. Consider reading his outstanding <i>Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression.</i> There are lots of lessons for us there.<br><br>3. I am unqualified to advise on currency speculation except tp advise against it. Some fortunes will be made in that field but mine won't be among them. Some will be lost, too, and I won't be among those either. Some of the greatest financial losses and crimes of the 20th century involved currency speculation by people who were supposed to know what they were doing... and didn't.<br><br>For all but a miniscule number of Americans, our only political responsibility is to be an informed voter, then vote. That's it, all of it. If you are moved to participate, go for it. About the same number of people will love you as hate you. That's just the way it is and it's an arean I'm not drawn to.Chuck S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03256037837196091181noreply@blogger.com