Economic Awakening in the face of Financial Crisis

My readers and subscribers may be familiar with my whining rants of the hardships I've faced over the past eight years. After Hurricane Debbie in August, and Hurricane Helene at the end of September, let's just say life has been stormy in recent times. Though I can recall when I thought lightly of the phrase "The struggle is real" during a time when I was sitting fat and pretty and happily married - I am now considering how many new disciples of that phrase there will be in the states of Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Hawaii, California, and Florida. I'm sure that New York, New Jersey, Texas, Louisianna, and islands in the Carribbean already have masters graduates wearing the phrase on their hard-earned t-shirts. So is the subject of Economics a branch of politics, religion, sex, or all three? And if so, why are those three subjects considered "taboo"? I like rhetorical questions to get my readers thinking, but for me the answer is simple. People consider some subjects "taboo" simply because passionate conversations can lead to unwanted conflicts if the people engaging in the conversation are thoughtless about their manners and word choices. This is expecially the case when the communication is occurring between two people who do not speak the same language. Hence, interpreters and linguists are often called for peaceful negotiations to occur between different nations when business negotiations and treaties are being drawn up.

It has been over a week since Hurricane Helene caused massive destruction in Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. While the news anchors and newspaper reporters have to continue to report on all topics (relevant or irrelevant) to keep their business going, Americans recovering from recent storms are now aware of what the people in other places (the fires in California and Hawaii, and the storms that hit others like Puerto Rico, Texas, Louisianna, and more) went through before them. A tragic case of what goes around comes around except dished out by Mother Nature. Is it Karma? Does anyone really deserve to lose everything they have or worked for? Rhetorical again, I don't think that's the important question at this time. I think it's more important to consider the American Economy and what's going to happen to it in the future now that massive destruction has taken a toll on our land and resources in over 9 states. How much can the U.S.A. take? One writer I spoke with on another website is very optimistic about the courage, strength, and financial savvy that Americans possess and predicts that we will survive and grow regardless of these recent tragedies. I hope he's right, but I have some fears and concerns and I'd like to mention them at this time with the intention of being helpful to those who truly support the American economy.

Have you heard of cryptocurrency? Probably. Have you ever dealt with cash? Probably. Do you know anything about the Stock Market? Probably. Even if you're not an economist, you've probably dealt with money and trading exchanges at some point or you are at least familiar with the notions. There are some who seem to think that in a pure Communist country there is no such thing as money or trade. That is false. While it is true, that most communist countries do not have paycheck jobbers and the basics are supplied evenly to their citizens, they are not living in a world that is without a form of money or trade. When Russia was lead by their purest form of Communism, the Ruble did not cease to exist. The Black Market began to emerge and various currency was traded, similar to what is occuring here in the States and globally with credit cards, membership cards, cash, debit cards, and cryptocurrency. You can change the laws, and you can change the styles of the trading factors, but money is like evolutionary life - it finds a way to keep existing. That is what is really meant by the phrase "The Struggle is Real".

I predict (based on what I've read in the newspapers and seen of the destruction) that the next four years are going to show us some major changes in law and economic growth. For example, Insurance companies are going to take a beating. Think about how many types of insurance companies there are: Life, Health, HomeOwners, Rental, Car, Business, etcetera. It's enough to drive a person mad. Insurance companies do not profit from destruction. They lose money during that time. That is why they sometimes reward people with lower rates for not having a DUI, or a damage claim. It is safe to say that the Insurance companies who were paid by policy holders in the aforementioned states are going to suffer financially for awhile. But if they do not make good on their policies, the business of insurance in general will lose its reputation and become nothing more than a memory like Kmart. I recently changed my car policy from basic to full coverage even though it puts a strain on my personal budget - because my car value is worth it to me in case of some catastrophic event. I'd rather pay the insurance company a monthly payment and have something to show after catastrophe, than not pay them and have nothing. A car or a home is too hard to come by and too valuable to gamble on. I must admit that I do resent the law that tells people they have to spend at least $100 per month on car insurance for basic legality, when that policy will do nothing for them in a case of the car being "totalled". A very unfair legislation. I believe I am not the first American (or will be the last) to experience this awakening.

My next prediction is regarding affordable housing. A few years back I saw plenty of lobbyists sitting at tables in front of the Walmarts and other places requesting signatures for affordable housing. I suppose they didn't get enough signatures which is why tent cities in California and Oregon became such a large problem that military forces were actually called to help them clean up the cities and eliminate the violence and crime that were spreading. Do you think a merchant who just invested his time and money into a new shoppe wants to see some junkie sleeping on the sidewalk in front of his new business? He's got student loans to pay, a mortgage, and a family to feed. How is he suppose to attract the clientel he's looking for if they're afraid to walk up to his shoppe's door? If the government had eliminated the problem of homelessness (as I suggested, recommended, and begged about for years) these situations would not have occurred. Employment numbers are not directly related to housing problems which is obvious by the rent prices in comparison to the minimum wages. Basic economics and basic math supports my plea for affordable housing. If this housing crisis continues to be ignored, the entire economy could be shattered. It could be even worse than a stock market crash or Y2K conspiracy theories. We have seen what a plague of homelessness looks like. If that problem isn't solved immediately, crime will worsen, and the economy will not survive. Now is the time to awaken to the roots of the economical crisis if you care about free market, fair housing, and peaceful trade relations.