We expect instant gratification, unrivalled perfection and complete satisfaction. Our lives are driven by quick decisions, fast moving information, and overnight resolutions. We demand an answer, an opinion, a judgement NOW. We live on the edge of defence where trust in authority and government is non existant.
And yet, we are reliant on technology, theoretical monetary mountains we buy and sell, and all the creature comforts we take for granted. We are an impulsive, obsessive, demanding, unsatisfied, ungrateful bunch of yahoos whose needs continue to escalate as we buy more material goods to tuck into our nests. If anyone gets in our way, we create a war, or rage out on the highway, or leave others in the wake. Why not? Others will clean up the mess. It's their fault anyways. It's never our fault. Oh, and we're way too busy to vote. What's the point really........voting I mean? They are all a bunch of crooks.
We eat too much, drink too much, talk too much, consume too much and yearn for too much. We own a closet full of shoes and yet we need another pair......and another and another. Our Pavlovian response to the gazillion dollar marketing which saturates our lives everywhere we turn is appalling. We have bought into the world of consumerism, commercialism, materialism, MORE-ism. And when we feel overwhelmed, undervalued and sad, we call on God to bail us out. "Hey God?" we bark out. "We need you. Please fix this situation we find ourselves in."
How spoiled bratish is that? Irresponsible, irrational little children who are making a big huge mess on our planet with the economy, the environment, the emotional balance of the collective, that's what we are......... So determined we are to put the whole fix up on God. As the messes continue to pile up, both inside and outside of our homes, both inside and outside of ourselves...........we get really testy with God and threaten him that are beliefs will disappear ....
"Hey God, where the heck are you? If you love me you'd be there right NOW when I need you and if you don't show your presence than I won't believe in you anymore. Got that, God? I demand that you show me you're there or I'll, I'll.............I'll runaway from you God....you won't be able to find me then. How would you like that? And I'll tell all my friends when I see them shopping next that you didn't fix things........"
We are nuts. We blame and shame instead of taking some ownership and responsibility start making some much needed changes. We love that fact that we have been given free will and the ability to think, to choose, to analyze, to reflect, to love and forgive, to savour and to reject but we avoid these gifts like the black plague because we'd have to take the lead on healing. Oh, and one other thing? We believe we have absolutely no control over what happens around us, so our white flag surrendering is a totally acceptable way of being for anything that happens. great. So, who has the big broom to sweep up the mess???
Tonight the stock markets are in a landslide. The economy of the most financially important country in the world has been temporarily (hopefully) annihilated by a greedy unruly juvenile government hellbent on continuing to flexing their muscles. The domino effect has begun. It may have started with the upper echelon where salaries and lifestyles are beyond the comprehension of 99% of world's population........this 1% think they are untouchable. Soon, it will be felt in the service industry, the manufacturing sectors, and all best supporting businesses. Money to help other people in other countries in need will dry up like a drought. It's a mess and the two last standing contenders who are fighting tooth and nail for the biggest office in the land of the free seem to be flailing their waffles while stumbling over their discomfort while the rest of the planet wonders how much this whole mess will impact their economies.
Canada has always been the little mouse living beside the sleeping elephant..........and it turns out that the elephant has woken up snarky and is having a very tough time finding its footing. Not good for little mousey underfoot. Our economy is showing some slight wounds because of the recession which is financially eroding the lives of real people living above their credit means south of the border sending thousands and thousands into financial bankruptcy....... No doubt in my mind that this country will follow suit. Our surplus is gone........you know the one Paul Martin created while financial minister.?
Our illustrious Prime Minister Harper meanwhile is completely downplaying the ramifications of the bailout on the buyout in the U.S. of A. He's simply focused on the task at hand.......winning the pending election.......God willing of course.
I'm all for messy living. But this is beyond the pale. Who should we turn to?? Personally, I'm putting my support behind the skills and talents of Denny Crane. Why not? It's his last season. Maybe he can work a solution into the scripts and pull a few others to fight the good fight. Sam Seaborn perhaps?
8 comments:
You have made some very true, powerful, regrettable points in today's post....it's easy to look all around, and see who is "guilty" of this long list of sins...but, I am among those guilty persons, as much as I hate to admit it. I have consumed too much, over the years of my lifetime...and still do so, to this very day.
Who do we turn to, in the midst of these troublesome, fearful times? I attend a Bible Study group, and right now we are studying the book of Exodus. The nation of Israel cried out to God in their bondage and suffering. The point was discussed that we often "postpone" crying out to God, until we have exhausted all our own efforts and useless solutions...thinking we have it all figured out, and can be completely self-reliant. When we realize how deeply and how fully we NEED God in (every aspect of) our lives, then we may begin to get our priorities in order. Some things we just keep learning the hard way....
Thank you for a thought-provokign post...
Elephant to Mouse: sorry. We really know how to mess things up down here. I don't even use credit cards....a lot of good it does one individual to be financially responsible. Its always that way isn't it? The majority of good people paying for the mistakes of the greedy?
You're comments are brutally honest about the state of the world and that is human beings are so consumed with more and more of nothing....and never ever be accoutable for their role in the society as a whole. No wonder we maybe deserve what is going on today but sadly, why would the rest of the world will also suffer its because in particular the US of A attitude towards greed is shameful? Its not fair! I think what is going on right now in the USA is a sign of the times and that is to eat a "Humble Pie" for a change and not too raise more awareness of EGO. Maybe if USA will exercise Humility for a change perhaps they too will see their role in the world's economy because of their greed has a ripple effect on everyone but of course they wouldn't never even consider this is the case. The country is in denial. Let them all go and feel a little discomfort for a change and see what happpens. It might do them all the world of good to be accountable for rather than catch them when they always fall? The world is sick and tired of subsidising their economy when they themselve cannot manage their accounting hence the state of their economy is such a great mess!!!! I put it simply, there has got some sort of legislation or regulation on their financial institutions surely? Or hasn't? It seem to me that their banks or great financial institution just running amok and the government sitting and do nothing in terms of legislation or regulations and that is to safeguard their own people's savings and investments from the large corporation & banks who invested other people's money and not at all have conscience how they used it. Oh boy I got myself started here...if recession will happen I reckon it might do them the world of good and start all over again. Not blaming here but someone has to be accountable for a change. Simple.
Aw, Awareness, you are way too hard on yourself. I am sure you are not that evil greedy planet destroyer.
Seriously(now), you hit the nail on the head. As far as I am concerned, the economy is like a house of cards, like a Ponzi scheme, we need consumers to feather their nests, and for a really booming economy, where many more are at the trough, we need lots and lots of consumers with more credit than they should have and on and on it goes and finally the bubble bursts. (And poof, my RRSP drops by 15%.) This however appears to be the mother of all bubbles, it will make the dot-com blow up seem like a minor bump in the road.
So how are your RRSP's doing?
Poof?
Kristin...I read an interesting essay by Philip Yancey recently on his trip to the Soviet Union in the early 90's. He seemed dumbfounded by the reception and the ongoing admissions by the citizens and journalists he and the group he was travelling with regarding the lack of connection to religion. The essay described the deep expressed yearnings for a relationship with God and the fact that it had been erased from their society as THE issue in the Soviet Union rather than simply an economic one.
I believe we need to nuture our own personal relationship with our Higher Power as consistently as we can muster like you do rather than yelp for help when we screw up. It seems like so many race to God when all else has failed and then get mad when no "sign" is given.
oh, and I believe we are all guilty of living beyond our means.
Layla....it's all part and parcel of living next to the elephant. For the most part, we thrive and benefit greatly from sharing a border. Unfortunately Canada won't be the only country to feel deeply the ramifications of this fiasco. Let's hope that cooler heads who know what they are doing will prevail.
Jennifer....it was a piece which basically wrote itself after spending the day close to the TV and radio listening to the unfolding of the mess....brutal! :)
What struck me so vividly was how selfish and all consuming we really are. We are all responsible for the fallout even if it doesn't appear that we are on the surface of things.
How we turn it around is beyond me. Financial stuff is not my forte whatsoever.
As for humble pie....? Chances are there isn't much insight into how their messes will affect the rest of the world. It simply isn't covered in their cable news. There is a myopia to the dissemination of information, even in the land of the free which I find so unbelievable. There borders seem to reflect back to them.....
Canuckguy....you don't know how powerful and power hungry I really am. :)
RRSP's ? my future pension too I think. I know it is invested, but need to look into the sate of that as well.
I think you're right about the size of the bubble. we ain't seen nothin' yet.
Poof??
"my future pension too I think"
Awareness, aren't you a government employee? Government employees don't have to worry what with their gold plated indexed pensions guaranteed by the taxpayers.
the pension money has been used in investments. don't know what the portfolio is, but it doesn't really matter now does it? Like I could do anything about that.
I know the Ont. teacher's pension fund has taken a big kick in the pants over this debacle, so I'm assuming there are other pension packages which have as well.
SAm Seaborn would no doubt be a better choice...! LOL!
WHAT A MESS, INDEED!
It is frightening to me in so very many ways....I cannot even express it. I guess I'll have another Brownie!
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