We see demonstrations and riots in various European countries because their leaders have determined that they are so far in debt they MUST implement austerity measures. Friends of mine were recently in one country where the ordinaary shop keeper, worker, or young adult, were angry and pretty much without hope. Our world has grasped the idea that "we can better our lives" and when that is taken away from us, we choose between "fight, flight or despair".
What about the USA? Millions of people have been unemployed, and millions more are underemployed, or over-exploited on the job. Not long ago a team of Federal investigators looked into the problems with the State of Colorado because so many people were being required to work overtime, sometimes as much as 80 hours per week, without any compensation. They were told that if they didn't, they would get a bad review, and lose their job.
Of course, that's been commonplace in the private sector for more than a decade. A friend of mine watched the company he worked for downsize, downsize, downsize until he was the one person doing nine people's work. Your are right! He was not getting any extra pay, and his job was in jeopardy.
What can we do if we hit a depression? or our own "depression"?
It's not just, "What can we give up?" That's a bassackward way of approaching the issue, although that may be the common way.
It's not just, "Who can I blame?" ala' the Romney/Ryan campaign.
It's, "What can we do?" What positive, life-enhancing moves can we make before it happens and when it happens? Can we provide details? Who do we have to get 'permission' from? Will what we do help us and a segment of our society, or will what we do damage others?
The next article will focus on some ideas, but we'd like to hear from you. What can you do? Leave a comment and let us know.
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