THE ECONOMY -- NOT SO HARD TO FIX

The Federal Reserve -- helping to screw up the economy since 1913

There is a very old trick in politics and academia that we should all be aware of.

It's the trick of making things sound far more complicated than they really are. When pols or academics do this, they're kind of saying: "See, this is very complicated. Only WE can handle it. You ordinary people just take it easy and leave it all to us."

Well I'm here to tell you that most of the time this is a load of bull.

Most fields of inquiry can be distilled to simple explanations. How the hell would anyone ever learn a discipline if they had to begin at the advanced level?

Economists are NOTORIOUS for this. And yet, like weathermen and consultants, they can spout a lot of fancy talk, be completely wrong, and still get paid. Try doing that in YOUR job.

So, as a non-economist, with a vested interest in the economy -- just like you -- let me give you my version of what's going on in the United States in terms of our money.

I see it this way:

If a system isn't working to the advantage of the majority, all the tinkering and talk in the world won't fix it. You need a new system.

Now, I'm not here to advocate one system or the other. My understanding is that we have rarely had an economic system be left to operate uncorrupted by greed and elitism: be it communism, capitalism, socialism or anything else you can name. There are some inspiring exceptions. I'll talk about them next time.

I DO believe we need a new type of economic system. But in this blog post let me just take us the first step and address what we already have: We do not have real capitalism. There is not fair and open competition, free markets, or survival of the fittest.

For example, corporations privatize their profits (capitalism) but often socialize their losses (as when taxes from the people are used to bail them out). So forget about this being a capitalist system. It has some semblance of that, but it has taken the worst aspect of capitalism -- a lack of fairness and compassion -- and run with it.

What do I suggest? This:

1/ Don't listen too hard and long to the boss of the Reserve or Obama or the Secretary of the Treasury. They talk nonsense and are in the pockets of people who don't give a damn about you or me.

2/ Slash unproductive, cynical spending like the enormous military budget and corporate tax breaks, and redirect those billions into public works, social services, helping the poor, ramping up education, bolstering (not plundering) social security, and instituting universal health care. That kind of good stuff. And guess what: Unemployment will plummet -- although some rich folks might have a few less mill each year. It's just common sense (and we haven't used terms like "stagflation" or "commodities" or "fiscal policy" or "supply-side economics" to confuse the issue).

3/ Get money out of politics. It's corrupting the system, keeping honest people out of Washington, and, well, wasting money.

4/ Make your voice heard. I say this time and time again. And if we do it, in numbers, the politicians will have to listen. It works on single issues with single politicians; and that's the way to work up to broader change.

We don't need a "stimulus package." We need a reallocation of resources (i.e. our taxes). Sure, there's a lot more that can be done, but that's a big step in the right direction.

And remember, that's just mending the capitalist model which isn't all that great to begin with.

At the base level of our economy are some basic truths. One of them is that we have a very unfair system. The second is that it can be made fairer and more efficient if we cut the leeches out of the picture.

Those who benefit from a system, however corrupt, will tend to defend that system.

And one of their best defenses is a lot of complicated talk that confuses the hell out of us.

Let's call them on it.

Take care,
Adrian Zupp
FOOTNOTE, NOV. 13 I just read that Obama is "offerin" to spend $4.1 billion on the U.S. nuke arsenal. That's a lot of jobs to you and me.
IF YOU FOUND THIS BLOG POST INTERESTING you might also like THE GROSS MISCONDUCT OF THE NEW YORK TIMES

FIRST THOUGHT, WORST THOUGHT

I wish this were a joke but it isn't.

I was looking at a website that had parent ratings and reviews for the elementary school my son attends. Just checking in on the general consensus; taking an interest in my boy's education.

Most of the reviews were pretty positive and ranged from so-so English to quite articulate little passages. Okay. Then I saw one that simply said: "i think that they give to much hoework"

I'm not kidding.

So I'm not sure whether the kids are being put to work in the fields when we aren't paying attention, or if I've stumbled upon a mutant form of self-fulfilling prophecy -- one that is determined to maintain the hereditary trend.

Things that make you go hmmm.

Take care... and keep tabs on your kids' education,
Adrian Zupp

WE MUST ATTACK IGNORANCE AT EVERY TURN

I just responded to someone else's blog post. I can't condemn them outright for their misguidance -- at least they took the time to post their thoughts. So I will assume they were sincere. If not, at least they got off their butt -- metaphorically speaking.

There are so many misconceptions and plain falsehoods that are passed off as truth.

This is why we must continually educate ourselves in the facts about what is going on in the world and then use those facts and our own energy to rebut those misconceptions and falsehoods.

Bit by bit we will break down the propaganda wall that so many have come to believe represents the truth.

And bit by bit, in doing so, we will build a new wall of truth that will keep out the lies and protect our efforts to make this a better world.

THIS IS THE BLOG I READ (Title: US Defense Spending Has Doubled In Past Decade)
(URL: http://digg.com/d31Qdnv)
(It had a chart of "defense" spending for the years 1940 to 2010. The figures allegedly come from government sources -- and they probably do.)

It read:
'Since the September 11, 2001 attacks on US soil, the defense budget has risen steadily year after year. This year, we will spend twice as much as we spent before the attacks. Obviously we needed to step up our spending after the attacks, but the question is, how sustainable is this? Defense Secretary Robert Gates posed a question in a speech this weekend:

“Does the number of warships we have and are building really put America at risk when the U.S. battle fleet is larger than the next 13 navies combined, 11 of which belong to allies and partners? Is it a dire threat that by 2020 the United States will have only 20 times more advanced stealth fighters than China?”

His argument focuses not on cutting spending, but making sure that we are using the money more efficiently. When we spend more money than the rest of the world combined, you would think we could get the job done without steady increases every year. Read more about the speech Gates delivered here and here*.'

*"here" and "here" were hot links to the CNN and New York Times websites respectively. More on those monkeys another time.

THIS WAS MY RESPONSE:
There are no grounds whatsoever for the assertion that "we needed to step up our spending after the attacks [of 9/11]." The U.S. spends far too much on "defense" and has for decades. Stockpiles of nuclear weapons. Invasions of sovereign nations. Contracts for o-rings that cost a fortune, purchased to boost the coffers of corporations that have their hooks in Washington. As you have cited, it is a bloated budget that eclipses all other nations. Money that could go to the poor, infrastructure, education, universal health care... you name it. Improving those things would make this a much safer place to live. Think about it.

And what are we defending against? Where is the invasion? This is OFFENSE spending. And, yes, it is offensive.

Best wishes,
Adrian Zupp

Knocking down the propaganda wall doesn't take a huge intellect. Just common sense and the facts. But the cost of silence is a bleak future for our planet.

Take care,
Adrian Zupp