My question usually starts with, “How bad will it get?,” but inevitably devolves into the consequences for me. I didn’t grow up with a whole lot, and have managed my money pretty conservatively over the years. I’m one of those weirdos with no credit card debt, a few months of savings to get by on, and a mortgage balance that is less than the value of my 1100 sq. ft. suburban townhome estate.
So I wonder if my perspective is skewed. Relative to most Americans, I’m a “have.” But I’ve never really felt like one (those childhood-through-paying-my-own-college-costs ulcers, literally, die hard) and it makes me think about how desperate the Bushies will be to prop everything up, through next year, to make sure the bad times come down on the presumably Democratic Administration and Congress to follow.
A cynic would bet for a “good” (meaning for the have’s) economic year next year, as in, a couple of fingers in the dyke that I consider to be under enormous amounts of structural pressure, due to election year politics and the games that can be played to prop up the House of Cards, and just admit/pretend he or she is a “have.” Make some money along with the other haves.
I possess, without much question, a cynical side.
But I’ve moved my pittance to very conservatively invested, traditionally speaking. Is it because I can’t shake the “have not” attitude I have? And is that rational, since I’m not really one anymore?
I’m freakishly inclined to prepare for the proverbial “rainy day,” just out of background and the influence of my parents and depression-era grandparents, the latter of whom I spent a disproportionate amount of time with over my life. (Much to my joy and eternal gratitude, God rest their souls.)
Or, is it because I’m too idealistic (I also have a very strong streak there.) to believe that things could get as bad as my lyin’ eyes tell me will happen?
Hell, I don’t know. So far I’ve gone with my lying eyes. One of my fundamental life guiding principles is, your guess is as good as mine. And that works conversely, too.
