New Era to balance materialism with other important aspects of life

We seem to be entering a new era. Expectations need to be readjusted. What lies ahead is a positive because we need to contract to balance out the excesses and sweep away the dead matter. I trust that delaying it through government intervention is to help us collectively be prepared. What may seem bad is a healthy cleansing and correction of our patterns so humanity can be uplifted. We can clearly see how the burden of debt affects companies, individuals, and so on. It's time to start to move away from materialism as the 'only' focus and allow a higher quality of life on a nonmaterial level. We can only see this new path by losing the material aspects that have controlled our lives.

The stock market is staying buoyant from company earnings exceeding expectations. Keep in mind they have trimmed their employee base to do this and the numbers are reflected in the unemployed. There needs to be a focus on the small businesses in encouraging them to take the responsibility in creating jobs. There are incentives to support this, but our leaders are moving in the opposite direction; still looking as to how the government can create the jobs.

The contraction of consumer spending is very good. Including savings as a part of our personal budgeting process is essential. We need to look at how to export more goods and services to consumers in other countries instead of relying on us to do the buying.

Deficit spending is on the increase as Mr. Geithner tells the world a strong dollar is important which means reining in our spending and increasing interest rates. We continue in the opposite direction. I know they are waiting for the right timing, but I think that when we arrive to what that is we shall see the error of our ways, and it will be too late in that we will have to experience the magnitude of that mistake.

FHA, the government controlled housing lender needs a bailout. Add them to the list with the others like FRE, FNM and so on that I have mentioned before. This is another marker to see that foreclosures and the housing foundation is still trying to find a bottom.

The FDIC has run out of money i.e. insolvent. They now have ordered the banks to 'prepay' $45B to keep them in business of closing down 'insolvent' banks. The banks with the biggest bill received the most TARP money. I look at this as a creative accounting action of the government borrowing from the government in an indirect way.

I'm smiling as I write this. And I'm glad to be around for this part of the world's journey. :) :)