mary54

Would We Even Recognize a Depression if We Had One?

An interesting aspect not covered would be where mod-cons such as cell phones (contracts), cable (contract) online access (contract) might fit in. Proportionately, these have become major expenses accounting in our family for about $200-$300 per month, and that is just two adults. This is an area that bleeds people dry, when you consider that about 20 years ago, there was only the home phone cost minimum of $15.00 a month plus long distance.

These are LUXURIES that have become neccesities through the belief that we cannot live without them. I do have a friend though who has none of it except for online at work and is doing just fine; in fact, has a richer social and intellectual life via books, films, friends and running group.

Convincing my younger friends in their 20s who are living close to the edge that their financial well being is being jeapordized by these expenses is like telling them the moon is made of green cheese. Unfortunately, they don't seem to be using these technologies to their best benefit and instead use texting to provoke each other during conflict and use MySpace to publish pseudo-porn poses meant to present themselves as sexually attractive, sharing reminiciences of their evenings together "wasted".

My young friends can't make their rent and ask for financial help, yet it would never occur to them to give this stuff up. Use rabbit ears and get just a few channels? Never. The inconvenience of going to the library to use the services there? Never.

These financial choices will further facilitate the separation from the poorer from their money, further enriching the corporate sector at the expense of those who have been conditioned to believe we "MUST HAVE" these things. In some ways it's true, we have a new standard, but people must get creative with these "requirements" and look to their financial well being first.


On Nov 18 07:58 AM investor88 wrote:

> A good description of a modern Depression, we might he entering one.