Your Economy
This is not a formal report backed by mountains of research and statistical data. This is a simple comment based on observation and listening to people.
It’s interesting to listen to people talk about the economy and what should be done or not done to fix it. While listening, I often get the feeling that people are talking about something that they are definitely affected by (the economy) and want it to be better but at the same time disconnected from. They talk as if the Economy is something “over there”, something somehow or to some degree separated from them - the stock market, real estate, unemployment rates/statistics, the GNP, whatever the media says the economy is, such and such report etc. etc. which are all actually just indicators of the economy. We, thee and me, “are” the economy. The collective “we” are the economy. It’s not really something separate from us. This point of view has its advantages. If we are the ones that make up the economy then obviously we can do something about it. No special bail out plans, no stimulus packages that actually create more problems than they solve, none of that kind of thing is needed. It is well within our powers and abilities to “fix” our economy. The word “Economy” goes back to a Greek word meaning “One who manages a household”/”household management”. And forgive the pun but I guess the derivation of the word pretty much brings my point “home”.
The economy, like our currency, is backed by confidence. This is not anything new or inspired or something that requires much insight. My goal here is to instill in those that read this comment on the economy that “we” can fix it and, more importantly, that it is up to us to fix it. It’s not going to get done by someone else. It is up to me and you. It’s not the government’s job to fix it and if both recent and distant past history is any indication of things it wouldn’t work if it was the government’s job to fix it. How “we” are going to do this is not a complicated expensive plan.
First, whether one really believes it to the core or not, simply Decide that the economy is YOUR economy and you can do something about it – own it.
Second, get your own personal production up. Whatever it is that you do, whether you’re a housewife/husband, waiter/waitress, plumber, factory worker, self employed or an executive it doesn’t matter – get your production up. If more goods and services are being produced and exchanged then obviously the "economy" would be better. It's interesting that it's made into a complexed problem. However, it comes down to getting out more products and services.
Third, manage your household. This is not necessarily limited to your residence. Manage whatever you consider to be your “house”. This could be you, your family, your residence plus whatever you do for income. It could be you, your family, your residence and your department at work. If you own or run a company it would be you plus your company. By manage I mean get things under control – make the dollars you put out perform and generate the results you need, plan and act so that you can keep your production increasing in a profitable manner. Again, manage your household corresponds to whatever you consider to be “your house”.
Like when the opposing football comes to town and the “not in our house” attitude permeates the team and crowd. The “Bad Economy” team has been in town for too long now so it’s time to rally and win one for the home team and send the Bad Economy team down the road in defeat.
Fourth, demand that your local media sources start delivering “balanced” reporting. While “we”, as a group, seem to have a thirst for bad news and the media is more than willing to supply an ample volume of bad news to quench it, how about mixing in some of the success stories in an equal or even greater amount. There are companies and individuals that are doing great right now so let’s hear about them. If one wanted to deliver bias reporting one way or the other, how about being bias in the direction of things that are doing well and better than expected instead of the other way around. Write to the editor of your local paper and demand “balanced reporting”. This is a key point in rebuilding the collective “we” confidence. As it is vital to turning things around, insist on it. If no change in what the media deems newsworthy results then simply stop watching, reading and listening to it. The media will catch on sooner or later. They could play a huge role in helping change things around faster but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Fifth, encourage & help others to do the same steps 1 through 4. Support individuals, activities and organizations that are producing and working towards improving conditions. Discourage individuals, activities and organizations that insist that doom and gloom is the only way to go, “it’s just the way things are” and/or have a “nothing can be done about it” attitude. Don’t let such individuals/entities blunt one’s efforts & intentions by rewarding the non-productive and penalizing those that are getting something done. So spread good news and help others get their production up. Grant nothing to those bent on sinking us deeper into the mud.
That’s all there is to it. Enough with sitting on sidelines waiting for somebody else to handle it. When is the last time you had fun waiting? Get off the bench and back in the game of life and pursuing those goals and dreams. It’s up to me and you, so let’s do it. The overall economy will be as good or bad as we (you & I) make it. Your Economy will be what you make it to be. We are the economy.
Dan Pittsenbarger
Bellingham, WA
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