It's Called a Free Market - Doesn't Mean Everything is Free of Charge

"Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something..." Bailouts are not Loans - did you read your mortgage documents? You did? 

Good, then you know what "ARM" stands for, correct? There is a great post over at the Caskey blog, here it's about Free Markets, recession, and "You, Incorporated." Bill really got me going on the subject of whining and feeling sorry for yourself and how easy it is to become a "victim". Granted, everybody wants to help a victim, even if the circumstances are self-inflicted. But to be perfectly blunt, and a little cold, "victims" are never "winners". 

Victims become winners when they overcome their victimization. The current atmosphere of "bailouts for all of your mistakes..." is nauseating. Because we are now rewarding those who make stupid decisions. We can't call their acts stupid, but we can call them "victims" - and victims are entitled to bailouts. 

The problem is, Free Markets change, demand for skilled labor changes and Change is Painful - Do you still use buggy whips? I imagine there were a few buggy whip manufactures who went out of business when Ford unleashed his Model T; and what about saddle makers, and feed stores? Yeah, yeah, I know, I know..." that was different..." phut! 

Like Bill, I am from the Detroit area - I grew up in suburbia, went to a local university, and Ended up living and working in the high-tech industry all over the eastern side of the state. I have had many lunches at the eatery Jimmy Hoffa was last seen. And I remember the "dark days" of the Seventies when Lee Iacocca went to Washington for a LOAN, not a bailout; a loan that Chrysler paid off early. The Times, they are different... 

 But the whining, the "entitlements" and the blame has festered, grown and spread - there are far, far fewer "You, Inc." people today. 

No more "Rugged Individuals", very few purveyors of Yankee Ingenuity with a Can Do attitude...nope. Tough Times - Wash Away Flotsam I have often said, "I don't participate in recessions." I don't. 

One shouldn't respond out of fear, but most do - and it isn't the sheep responding that are as bad as those who use this to manipulate the scared into believing they can do nothing without "a little help from my friends..." i.e., "the government". Tough times build character - if you win a game after losing one the week prior, the victory is so much sweeter. 

Of course, this assumes you keep score - how many youngsters play football(or any other sport)today and do not keep score, in an effort to save the loser from humiliation? 

The ultimate bailout. By shielding the loser from the pain of loss, we steal and shame away the joy of winning. And we destroy the opportunity to win with grace or lose with honor. If it doesn't matter, why should we recover to come back and fight another day? 

 The Times, they are different...Have all the Americans Gone? This is a great tribute and yet very sad - I fear the Americans that Byron is talking about have all left. 

Today's American whines, and paints his nails with clear polish. 

 Today's American wants to be loved for being "nice" not for being firm.

 

Byron MacGregor - The Americans Uploaded by DwightFrye

In Bill's article, he says about the You, Inc. mentality, "...You choose where to live, based on your means. You choose what career to pursue based on your interest and ability. You chose your friends. You choose whether you want to go into massive debt or not..." I wonder how many "Americans" view these thoughts as elitist... I wonder how many Americans see these words as treason... Click to email me.