Our Economic Connections

I don't like payments.  I like to keep as much of my money as possible.  In fact, I'd rather not work too hard for my money, and I don't think there is anything wrong with that.  I do work for money, though, in case you were speculating.  I have credit cards, and they have interest rates.  I use them occasionally, but pay them off as soon as I can.  I aim to save money in one fashion or another when I use them (lower interest then taxes, perhaps?). 

I know people who squander their money into debt, after working long sweaty hours in the commercial jaws of our economic nest.  I hate seeing it:  for seven dollars a month, somone in the family will get some cool gadget for the kids.  Buy stuff.  Use credit.  Go into debt.  Is this what we are being programmed to do?  We accept a low paycheck for our chance at peace and financial fitness, only to find our money growing into some kind of financial cancer. 

If I could, I'd live on $15,000 a year if it meant no one had to work and our bills were paid.  I could take boat trips with friends, save a few bucks for gas for extra trips, but the doodangles of plastic and denim we forfeit our hours of life through employment to in the retail store are not on my list of priorities.

This notion that we need to be spenders to save the economy started back with those economic recovery rebates.  What stimulates the economy is not debt.  Not only did Bush incite Americans to spend, but even Obama spoke about helping people borrow money with those big corporate bailouts.  Wealth dangling into the gummy mouths of heirs, overseas investments, and a major squeeze on the working class seem more likely the cause of our economic distress:  not our inability to spend our little carrot-dangles of money.