...And steadfastness gives us the chance to exercise the character which we desire most to show the world: that part of ourselves we can feel good about. Sometimes when we see someone who appears as irresponsible, more than anything they are likely angry because they cannot be a rock for their friends, their families, and the aspirations they cannot hold onto. When we measure the economic value of our monetary systems, we are also measuring the degree to which it is actually possible for each individual to be steadfast, dependable and responsible.
The present good news is a continuing stability in the U.S. which needs to be encouraged wherever possible, for this affects not just our present generations, but also leaves indelible imprints on those born after us, as well. As a way to commemorate my first month of blogging, it seems appropriate to reflect on the more encouraging aspects of what the United States has been able to maintain economically, in spite of a severe recession and its continuing aftermath. While the Fed could be doing better presently (especially with a simple nominal targeting rule), the fact remains that it has already done much to keep the U.S. from falling into a depression comparable to that experienced in the last century.
Relatively speaking, of course, our economic scenario is not even close to the dire straits that some parts of the world continue to experience: a fact that weighed heavy on my mind even when I started working on this project a decade ago. Who was I to "complain" about what must seem like trivial matters to others in the face of gripping poverty and desolation...others in the world who didn't even have the kinds of expectations that so many in the United States seem to have been born with? Yes, many of us young and old have had our dreams dashed to a degree, especially in the last decade. Yet in a sense our burdens are oh so relative. Just the same I want to speak of how it also matters for mature economies to remain stable, for not every voice raised in a strong economy is raised in a manner so as to keep it so. Just as it matters for developing economies to find their way to stability and prosperity, it also matters for developed nations to make certain their own economic and social foundations still work as well as ever. In some ways, the paths of the two merge more than they may seem, especially in terms of maintaining economic access and integration.
Recent economic improvements have been quite encouraging. It is somewhat odd to hear talk of new "bubbles" as though people haven't really figured that scenario out, but we can be glad that there are deserving people who will at least get out from under mortgages on homes which had them completely immobile. Others are also breathing easier as loved ones are finally gaining work, as well. Perhaps the best part is that life doesn't feel quite so unsettled or uncertain, as it did only recently. Capitalism doesn't feel quite so fragile...but then that's just me, possibly being too concerned occasionally about an economic system which is still strong in many ways. Some people don't like capitalism particularly; others perhaps boast about its largesse more than necessary, but capitalism is not what sometimes makes the world a less than rewarding place to be.
This is also a good time to remind my readers that "I don't always know" the answers, so I just voice opinions like all of us! I welcome any rebuttals that come from a place of one's own thought processes, as well. It's only when we voice the ideas of others without our own "take" on those ideas, that the dialogue does not necessarily move ahead. For me, the part that is important is simply hashing out the possibilities instead of walking away from them. There are plenty of moving parts in this picture and it is worth my while to see how they might fit together, especially in that the process of doing so is quite intriguing. Ultimately this is why I'm here online in the first place: simply, to take part in this important dialogue of life and its possibilities. Again, thanks to all who have encouraged me to blog, and I look forward to many more days in this space we all share.
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