Steve Pearlstein, business columnist for the Washington Post, 'guess-timates' that Americans have been living about 6% beyond their means (p.12) for some time now. As most of us know, the culprit is credit. It became very easy to spend $1.06 for every $1.00 earned. Taking into account the size of this country, and its vast population, it's easy to see this runaway horse galloping across the land, leaving a wide trail of debt in its wake.

Though information was out there, it has been suggested that many Americans were not really aware of our impending economic crisis until later in 2008. I remember hearing radio broadcasts predicting the disaster lasting until the first quarter of 2010, and I still hadn't really felt the pinch of it yet. In fact, it was news to me! It seemed to come out of nowhere. I wasn't that worried, as I've never had alot of money and am used to counting my pennies, tightening my purse strings fairly often. But I wondered, how did this happen? Where did it come from? Why didn't more of us see the signs? Pearlstein compares the apparently sudden manifestation of this financial malady to Wile E. Coyote, when he runs off the cliff, moving so fast that he just keeps going & going, still in mid-air, then suddenly - Whoops!! "That?s the dynamic, because there?s so much built in momentum, that it appears that that which should be happening isn?t,"Pearlstein explains. Looking back, I think my first indication of a coming economic meltdown was a subtle but startling change in the size of my favorite super-large Hershey's chocolate bar. Seriously. The price didn't drop, but the size did. Sometimes, it's in the small stuff...

Articles warning of the coming financial crisis appeared in the New York Times, as far back as about seven years ago, according to its senior financial writer Diana Henriques. Newspapers nationwide reported on troubling mortgage industry issues. But not everybody reads the New York Times, or the finance pages. The average American's interests are focused elsewhere, not on high finance. More street level, let's say. As for business moguls, supposedly very knowledgeable in their areas of expertise "...people were buying things in the financial world that they didn?t fully understand, and they were paying a great deal of money for them." (Ali Velshi, chief business correspondent, CNN)

Author of Give Me My Money Back: Your Guide to Beating the Financial Crisis, Ali Velshi (quoted above) explains how such an 'overheated' financial environment was initially created by the repeated reselling of mortgages,resulting in a handful of organizations holding multitudes of them. When homeowners couldn't make the payments...down, down, down came the 'house of cards', as Velshi calls them. Now, as we all know, rebuilding is necessary, one way or another, throughout our society.

So, I'm thinking, why were homeowners unable to make their mortgage payments? Well, why do any of us not make a payment, for anything? Clearly, not enough cash to go around. (And though there are many reasons this can be true, one of them is buying too much.} So we opt for - credit. (Even as I write this, I must confess that for the first time in many, many years, I was forced to avail myself of a credit card. I am grateful for it. Without this little piece of plastic, I'd be eating even less than I already often do. But food is essential...so even though, as a rule, I personally am against using credit cards, buying on time, there are exceptions. I try to live by grace, not law, so in faith I took the plunge and signed up. So far, so good...)

But overdoing the credit routine can result in disaster.

"The American dream made you feel that it was always going to be better and always going to be more. And, by the way, that better and more was available through credit," says the CNN correspondent. Your payments go up, you become strapped for cash, so you charge more, the payments go up...and the cycle continues. Well, here's a novel idea - "think of the way we spend money as maybe having it first, and prioritizing what we spend, " he continues, suggesting: "I think to bring it to its most basic terms, we need a society where you save for two years to buy a TV, not buy a TV and pay for it for two years." (See my post "What We Need")

I keep seeing the term 'unsustainable market' popping up. Makes sense. Eventually you reap what you sow, and things catch up to us. We're in this together, not only as a nation but as a worldwide community. Months back, at the World Economic Forum, discussion pointed to the belief that the United States has caused international economic crises, and that the United States is needed to remedy them, as well. (Alexis Glick, vice president of business news at the Fox Business Network.,p.14) As a nation, we are the problem and we are its solution, apparently. As America goes, so goes the world. Whether or not we individually contributed to the downfall, we feel its impact. It's to all our benefit to seek & implement solutions to this economic disaster, when possible. Ms. Glick, who has a staggeringly impressive business & economics background, sees the political risk of continuing financial instability to be 'incredibly dangerous', so, again, it behooves us all...

Quoting the CEO of General Electric, Dick Gregory, host of Meet the Press, said this past winter, "The economic crisis doesn't represent a cycle; it represents a `reset.' It's an emotional, social, economic reset...." I'll wrap up this post with the response of one of his guests that week, leaving you with a wonderfully practical, hopeful outlook -

"...I love that he said "reset," because--I am actually glad that we had this recession because we were on a path that we couldn't get off, and we did need that reset. We need, we needed people to step back and stop taking on so much debt and really go back to the basics. The basics are the basics because they always work no matter what the economy is. Live below your means, don't take on so much debt and save.

But, you know, there's hope. This, too, shall pass. And if people do the right thing, take the message that you can't keep on the same path that you were before, we will be OK." -Michelle Singletary, Washington Post financial columnist (source)

Source: The Kalb Report

Afghanistan - a New Approach?

"And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees..." (Luke 3:9. KJV)


We continue in our seemingly endless battle against the Taliban in Afghanistan, a force that at present is reported to be gaining ground, a "growing...insurgency" in that area. (I am reminded, as I write, of the Biblical account of Jacob wrestling with the angel of the Lord, 'til the dawning of a new day, and how he would not let go until he got the blessing. Not to compare the Taliban with the angel of the Lord, rather to emphasize persistence unto victory. A new day dawning...)

Last month, the top U.S. commander in this particular theatre of war, General McKiernan, was replaced by General Stanley A. McChrystal, who has espoused a different approach to dealing with the insurgents. Rather than a primarily outward thrust, with the intention of locating, uprooting & capturing Taliban forces from their mountainous strongholds, U.S. and NATO troops would focus more on protecting the more populous locales from enemy invasion. McChrystal's strategy is now becoming even more defined and specific, and will be requiring more troops, both U.S/NATO and Afghan.

As a person who almost can't help but analyze, war--time strategy has begun to intrigue me. This particular strategy appears solid, to me. With a dose of genius. "...an intensified military effort to root out corruption among local government officials..." is a large part of its aim, and calls for "more unconventional methods" in its implementation. A strategy assessment team, comprised of expert advisers and national security specialists from Washington 'think tanks', considers corruption at local government levels to be as much a threat to Afghan peace and freedom as any top Taliban commander. Consequently, as stated above, US/NATO involvement in exposing and removing such elements is also to be a prominent aspect of General McChrystal's plan. A writer on FiscalRangers.com, a site dealing with the corruption issue in Iraq and the rest of the world as well, VJtraveler says, "I have reported several times about the lack of serious actions by the State Dept or other donors in fixing fraud and corruption problems before dumping lots of money into "developing or conflict" countries." VJ cites diplomacy not being used "to ensure corruption cases are actually prosecuted, which is a major deterrent."

Falling in line with McChrystal's 'inward rather than outward' push, "commanders will be encouraged to increase contact with Afghans", actually living inside the towns, and spending more time on foot patrols, as opposed to in heavily armored vehicles. Climbing out of their trucks and interacting with the locals puts our soldiers in more of a position to identify the tribal "power brokers" and connect with them, influencing policies and decisions. Strong emphasis is being placed on partnership, Afghan and U.S/NATO troops living, training and carrying out missions together, throughout every level of rank.

A less than enthusiastic response is expected from the Obama administration regarding the increased troops request.

(Source - Washington Post)

ooo

I particularly like the idea of getting to the root of corruption in the local and/or otherwise Afghan government. In the Scripture cited above, I see the concept of 'rooting out the truth'. The 'axe', I believe, represents the Word of God, the One who also identifies Himself as the Way, the Truth, & the Life. I've always understood that verse to be an illustration of the truth of God's Word being applied to any school of thought, teaching, process, practice, etc - you name it! and exposing fallacy & falsehood, that which deceives, corrupts and eventually kills, should it get that far.

Having checked out a little bit of FiscalRangers.com, it is becoming clear to me that the pursuit of corrupt government officials & practices is far more essential to peace than had ever occurred to me before. Knowing this now, it seems that it should have! Benjamin Franklin, in expressing his concern over America's possible return to monarchy, declared that such an event could at least be long delayed. His solution? Not making "our posts of honor places of profit", thereby sowing "seeds of contention, faction, and tumult." (A.H. Smythe, ed., The Writings of Benjamin Franklin).

That old love-of-money problem is always rearing its ugly head, isn't it? Many will do whatever it takes to satisfy their lust for it, at the reckless expense of every and anyone else's well-being, welfare, safety and/or liberty. I applaud this new strategy being considered, and am excited about the possibilities inherent in its successful operation.

ooo

An afterthought - Regarding the partnering of our Troops with the Afghanistan soldiers, I was reminded of the Greek word 'parakletos', which is translated into the English word 'Comforter', in the New Testament, and refers to the Holy Ghost. Breaking this word down into its separate components, 'para' (Strong's #3844, Greek) and 'kletos' (Strong's #2822,Greek), rather than just the idea of comfort or consolation, the concept of being near, beside, and/or in one's area is also presented. Or, in today's lingo, "getting in one's space"!

And I'm also reminded of the Saviour, who came to where we were and became what we were so that we could, by degrees and over time, become what He is, so that our 'station in life' (this one, and the next!) could be vastly improved.

Brooks & Dunn meet Isaiah & Co.

"When the day comes that I don't love you

every star will fall out of the sky

every mountain will tumble down

and every river run dry."

- Every River

(Kim Richey/Angelo/Tom Littlefield)

-BMI/ASCAP

Listening to Brooks & Dunn perform their heartfelt rendition of this song, earlier today,(Steers & Stripes, Arista-Nashville) (besides being deeply touched by the serious intensity of it), my brain patterns registered a similar expression of eternal commitment. Now where?...oh, right...

Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night...

If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, the seed of Israel also chall cease from being a nation before me for ever."

(Jeremiah 31: 35, 36 ,KJV)

"My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips."

(Psalms 89: 34, KJV)

and, lastly, even though those unthinakble and presumably impossible events actually should come to pass -

"For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be

removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD..."

(Isaiah 54: 10, KJV)

ooo

Who is my Brother?

Around the world, peoples of all ages and from all walks of life, have taken up a hue and a cry against governmental oppression of Iranian activist citizens. Protesting the outcome of Iran's recent election, which once again placed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in power, these people have been beaten and arrested, and in at least twenty cases, death was the result of police crackdown.

In London, a reported 600 protesters gathered outside the Iranian embassy. Several hundred people demonstrated near Times Square in New York City, and a small group of Iranians living in New York have formed protests outside the U.N."to call on the world body to investigate human rights abuses in Iran." In Brussels, Amsterdam, and Geneva people carrying placards, listening to speakers or wearing green headbands symbolic of this protest movement have gathered for the cause of freedom. The Eiffel Tower bore silent witness to several hundred rallying at Trocadero Square in Paris. Vienna, Rome, Norway, Copenhagen...near 3000 demonstrators showed up in Stockholm. The list goes on, people - and is this giving anyone else chills?

In smaller yet nonetheless potent groupings, the Australian cities of Sydney, Melbourne and others hosted the voices of protest, as well as Tokyo and Seoul. Activists outside the Iranian embassy in Prague denounced the brutal treatment of Iranian dissenters of the election results.

I have never, in my lifetime, been aware of such an international gathering & outpouring of public support for oppressed citizens of another country. (Although it is true, not that long ago I wouldn't have been paying attention to events on a larger scale...so I may have missed it.)

Here is what I'm seeing - because the world has witnessed the liberation of Iraq from the tyranny of a Saddam Hussein, and the inception of a democracy, and because the world is now witnessing a powerful helping hand being extended to the people of Afghanistan, that their lives may be freed from the threat of Taliban control, citizens around the globe have taken heart. The cause of freedom is just, and they know it. Some will not be silent. "...Iranian Nobel Peace prize laureate Shirin Ebadi urged the international community to reject the outcome of the Iranian election and called for a new vote monitored by the United Nations." (USAToday)

To Shirin Ebadi, I say, "Rock ON!!!"

The Iranian people and their com padres worldwide are crying out against killing, imprisonment, mistreatments and abuse of rights, against dictatorship and injustice. Thomas Jefferson's prediction of over 200 years ago (link) that "this ball of liberty...is now so well in motion that it will roll around the globe..." stands true yet today.

It has not stopped rolling.



(Source)

They wanted a King !....or, The Evils of Monarchy

"And ye have this day rejected your God...ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us." (1 Samuel 10: 19, KJV)


It almost breaks my heart to read through the eighth chapter of 1 Samuel in the Old Testament. It was so not in the heart of the LORD to place an earthly king over the people of Israel. He could not have been any more clear, nor more specific, in His warnings to the people regarding such a form of 'leadership'. But "Nevertheless the people refused...and they said, Nay, but we will have a king over us:" (1 Samuel 8: 19, KJV) Eerdman's Handbook to the Bible (p.235) points out that, in those days (and I point out, in days yet to come!) "having a king mean{t} conscription, forced labour, taxation, and loss of personal liberty. But even this does not deter them."

Now wouldn't you think such dire consequences as outlined in 1 Samuel would stop Israel dead-in-their-tracks, so to speak, as concerns demanding a king? Plus, the LORD spoke his warning through the prophet Samuel, a man of God well-known by all, and a force to be reckoned with. If the people would've listened to any human, it surely would've been Samuel. But Biblical history tells us otherwise. The elders of Israel "said unto him, Behold...make us a king to judge us like all the nations." (1Samuel 8: 5, KJV)

ooo

We see here the tendency of man to progress towards 'kingly government'. It may surprise you to learn that this concept was expressed by Benjamin Franklin, during Revolutionary times!

His concerns for American liberty seem to mirror those of the ancient prophet of Israel. "I am apprehensive, therefore...that the Government of these States may in future times end in a monarchy." (Albert H. Smythe, ed.,The Writings of Benjamin Franklin) Franklin believed that the American citizenry might eventually fall under the illusion of 'kingly government' providing equality among all. (W. Cleon Skousen, The 5000 Year Leap) In a word, security? Which engenders survival, promotes happiness and makes possible liberty and its enjoyment. (Another way of phrasing "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"?) Author Michael Novak writes "liberty needs the sunny warmth of culture and ideas and the nourishing rain of favorable institutions of politics and economics." (The Universal Hunger for Liberty) Conditions must be right, as with the blossoming of any planted seed. Franklin and other Founders shared with the prophet Samuel a great concern for the manner in which those conditions were courted.

In this lure towards 'kingly government' which so troubled Ben Franklin, and the clamor of ancient Israel for the same, I see the deceitfulness of law (as opposed to grace) wreaking its havoc. I see in the physical world the demonstration of a spiritual dynamic. Many people seek a structured formula (Old Testament law, or just plain law, period!) which, by adhering to it, will let them rest assured that, before God, they are 'okay'. In similar manner, 'kingly government' will guarantee 'security', or equality. Everything will be 'okay'.

Wrong. On both counts.

In God's realm, "...by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight." (Romans 3:20, KJV). Doesn't work. Not gonna happen. Worse than a waste of time, because "the letter {of the Law} killeth." (2 Corinthians 3:6, KJV). Conditions are not only NOT 'okay', they deteriorate into destruction.

In the earthly realm, government by a 'king', or monarch, has never worked, either. Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to George Washington ( from Paris in 1788), wrote this: " I was much an enemy to monarchies before I came to Europe. I am ten thousand times more so so since I have seen what they are. There is scarcely an evil known in these countries which may not be traced to their king as it source... " (Edward Dumbault, ed., The Political Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Ch.3, The Blessings of Free Government) Previously, in the spring of 1785, Jefferson had strongly urged James Monroe to visit him in Paris, for the express purpose of gaining a sharper, more clarified view of the American system of government compared to that of monarchical Europe. He wrote "My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of and which no other people on earth enjoy. I confess I had no idea of it myself." (Ibid.) Though Jefferson was fully aware of defects in the American system, as is true today still, his belief was that government of and for the People could be repaired and improved by the People - "whereas the evils of monarchical government are beyond remedy." (Ibid.)

A single human ruler wielding all power is the formula for tyranny. And if you think about it, why would an individual even want to be all powerful? To dictate concerning the lives of others? The answers do not bode well for those under that individual's rule. Reinforcing a god complex is one answer that occurs to me. Which brings to mind another Old Testament event, when Lucifer (which means 'day star', btw - interesting...) made this determination in his heart : "I will exalt my throne above the stars of God...I will be like the most High." (Isaiah 14:13, 14, KJV) Intending to exalt one's self as God, however, has this result: "...thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit." (Isaiah 14: 15, KJV). God complexes are not healthy. They do not bring health to the people.

ooo

Power and authority are with God, and come from Him (Romans 13: 1). Our use of it, when it is in our jurisdiction to do so, whether in the family, on the job, or in the governing of a nation, needs always to be to protect and serve. The temptation is to abuse power, applying it to meet one's own needs/desires - the challenge to effectively handle it requires His grace, which as its pre-requisite requires in turn our willingness to receive it.