Memphis & Simon Black: A New Nomal Is Coming

[UNEEK]

Memphis:  "I hope that thru such pondering, and on the back side of economic change, we will all be prepared to take care of others because I submit that many of them will be in serious need of someone who has had....vision."


Memphis Comments:  I was just reminded of a favorite bible verse that reminds us where to keep our focus in life.  It starts out with these simple words:  "Looking unto Jesus..."

In today's western world these words have been largely re-written as we are told to look to government for all things.  I reckon that this truth will be among our worst enemies in the years to follow as it will single-handedly bring ruin to many who know nothing else.
 

Today's blog is an important reality check from Simon Black.  He has a unique flare for taking the ugly mess in the world and weaving a story, a lesson, from it.  What you will read here is both very funny and very troubling.  But hey, Argentina?  Greece?  What have they to do with us right?  

Reading this has prompted me to consider something that has not been among my highest priorities and yet it is deserving of much thought!

As we watch Europe enter a slow economic meltdown that will spread northward from it's southern shores, we need to recognize that there is a 'new normal' coming and it is coming to us all.  

This reality seems far off to Americans but is it?  Is the current rush of capital flows into the USD a sign that all is well or simply a case of our economy not stinking as badly as others with money flowing into our economy as it seeks both security AND a return?

My point today is not to get into the problem but rather to project ahead and look to the effects that will be felt when things shake out and settle into the realm of everyday life.

There is a future date coming when our promised benefits will no longer be paid and basic services that we take for granted will no longer be delivered.  This is not speculation but fact and we must have a plan.

This plan however will require more planning than most of us have considered because it must cover many more than your immediate family.  Think for a moment of all the relatives that have not a clue that our current system is not only destined to fail but in reality is already failing.

 Make mention of 'Detroit' to your 2nd cousin at the family reunion in October and then make note of the blank stare that is to be your only reply.

And being generous here, let's pretend you come from an enlightened group of people where global economics and unsustainable debts is the hot topic while roasting marshmallows.  

How many of your family have the economic means to actually do 1/2 of what they say they want to (or plan to) do?  See where I am going with this?

I could wear you out with endless examples (in evidence) that we are facing a new normal but Simon's blog here will do just fine for now. 

I hope that thru such pondering, and on the back side of economic change, we will all be prepared to take care of others because I submit that many of them will be in serious need of someone who has had....vision.

Blessings,  Memphis
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Simon Black:  September 18, 2014   Santiago, Chile
 
Imagine coming home from work and finding that a group of men have broken into your house.  What do you do?
 
I have a gratified feeling that for an increasing number of our readers, the answer would be to draw their firearm and defend the home.
 
But it’s safe to say most folks would… call the police.
 
This happened in Greece recently, as recounted to me in an email by a colleague who was visiting his family in a rural, seaside town in the country’s southern mainland.
 
There’s recently been rash of home burglaries in the village-- a remarkable turn of events for a place accustomed to leaving windows and doors unlocked.
 
In one instance, a local resident came home and spied a thief in progress; he immediately called the police to dispatch a unit as quickly as possible. And the police reportedly told the man, “We haven’t enough fuel to come out there right now.”
 
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to hear that public services are being cut back in Greece given how messed up their economy is.
 
But protecting citizens against crime is supposedly one of the sacrosanct terms of the social contract.
 
Citizens around the world have exchanged their freedom for security. It’s a completely absurd trade. . . but nevertheless it’s happened.
 
And in doing so, governments have essentially monopolized the security business. By and large, police and security are public services provide exclusively by the government.
 
And supposedly the taxes that we all pay go to fund those services. . . ensuring that someone from the government will come and ‘save’ us when the bad guys approach.
 
That’s the promise, at least.
 
But in difficult economic times, bankrupt governments routinely set aside promises they’ve made to taxpayers.
 
They slash pension (social security) benefits or use funky gorilla math to understate cost of living increases.
 
They completely violate the sacred vow of maintaining a strong, sound currency.
 
And they drastically reduce or even eliminate funding for critical services that people have come to depend on.
 
Of course, this situation isn’t unique to Greece. Every bankrupt nation reaches this point sooner or later.
 
Recently in [bankrupt] Argentina, a single police officer was left in charge of an entire jail in the Buenos Aires area which was housing several dozen prisoners.
 
The lone officer, who was clearly in over her head and poorly trained, heard suspicious noises somewhere in the building. So what did she do? She (a police officer) called the police.
 
Argentine media has published a recording of the officer’s 911 call, where the emergency dispatcher told the officer to get a colleague to ‘try and stop by.’
 
Oh hey, I hope you’re not too busy issuing parking tickets and providing security for thieving politicians-- would you mind making sure we don’t have a prison break on our hands?
 
But the police officer’s response really reveals just how desperate the situation is, “I have only one vehicle to patrol the whole district.”
 
Again, these aren’t isolated events. This is a major trend that is due to befall any bankrupt government.
 
Think about it: are we really so arrogant to believe that a bankrupt government can continue to borrow money forever without consequence?
 
Bottom line: independence is key. You cannot rely on a bankrupt government to provide the services that they promise.

 

That goes for anything… from providing basic security to insuring bank deposits to paying out Social Security benefits.
 
They simply don’t have the financial means to make good on their promises.
 
And this is a reality that’s important to recognize and prepare for before it’s too late. 

Until tomorrow,  Simon Black