I found the video “Crash Course” to be truly mind blowing. To think that we, as a nation, are creating money out of thin air to cover our debts is extremely concerning. Chris Martenson’s example of the destruction of the former Yugoslavian currency helped put it into perspective for me. To have an inflationary rate of 37% and prices doubling every 48hours would be shocking! It must have created chaos in the consumption of resources. His concrete example of the buying power, or lack thereof, when he talked about having a billion dollars and in less than five months it would be worth one cent helped me to see that we might MIGHT be headed for disaster in our country. Or, we may have already arrived. The ability to keep up with the cost of living and save money is incredible difficult.
The flip side of this video for me is that we cannot predict the future. Yes, the past can be a good indicator of where we might be going, but it not for certain. We I do keep hearing is that in the past ten years the message our country is in trouble is being communicated in many different venues and by many different groups. Maybe it is because we are in the last five minutes of Fenway Park being filled up by water and can see that we are in trouble? Maybe it is because the major recession our country is going through? Maybe it is because people believe that there is still hope of turning the economy, energy and environmental crisis around; for the United States of America, as well as, the rest of the world.
So, are we on a crash course for disaster – perhaps? I cannot say that I understand all the economic implications that Chris talked about in his presentation. Although, he presents many thought provoking concepts and topics. I’ve watched the video entirely once, gone back on two different occasions, and can see where it will need to be revisited again.
Mike
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I agree it was mind blowing. The idea that our money in the future and even now is going to be worth little to if that is depressing! So what are we supposed to do? How do we save!?
ReplyDeleteI think it calls into question the entire principle of what money is/represents. There ARE alternatives (Ithaca has a local currency, for example).
ReplyDeleteBut, one thing that worries me is that, as our local governments (including NYS) find it hard to pay the bills, that this will be felt in our local schools. Many of our smaller towns and villages have little infrastructure left, except for their schools. If Albany can't support schools, and the local taxpayers are out of work and basically broke, will they be paying teachers in chickens and eggs?
I think the implications for teachers and communities are not explicitly covered by Dr. Martenson, but it's something I think we should be thinking about now.