THE ECONOMY

      I've been wanting to make a few comments on the economy for a while. It's been on my topic list . I just hadn't sorted things out in my head as to what I wanted to say. 

    This morning I was listening to a radio interview about people working more than one job. Historically we can look back.

    At one time there was only one wage earner per household and he/she usually worked at one job. 

    Today we have two wage earners in a family and in some cases both of them are working two jobs. 

    The economy has a number of tricks that keep people on a tread mill. A treadmill that keeps them purchasing more product. Build in obsolescence as in appliances that don't run very long. Same situation with cars. And while we're at it sell insurance on the poor appliance so they get to sell insurance as well as a product.  

    The way the economy is set up now it has to grow. So more product has to be made and sold. It's a vicious circle. Get more workers to work in factories to make things. More workers means more customers. 

    So people are caught with a huge amount of product to buy and they do buy too much. Customers must pay for the goods. You can use a credit card but that soon gets you into more trouble. So this morning they were talking about proceedings to help the poor folks who've come to the end of the rope with their money. 

  Families working more than two jobs started appearing before I retired from teaching. They wanted to do the right thing but didn't have time or money. They wanted to support their kids but didn't have time. It was sad. 

    The last few years prices have been rising very noticeably. Wages have not risen noticeably . So the economy goes into recession because it's not growing. The government pours money into the pot so people start buying things.

    I realize this is oversimplified. I'm not an economist. I took a political economy class in 1958. That doesn't do me much good.

    I am upset with the path the economy is on in the last few years. How long will many people have to work two or more jobs? 

IT'S MORE THAN GUNS

      Mass shootings are absolutely mind numbing. It's just impossible to understand.

      How can some coward blow away another human being let alone 17 young people.

      The gun issue always comes to the fore after a major shooting and then quickly loses steam as a discussion  topic.

      I can't imagine the horror that went on in that school.  My heart goes out to all those who've had losses.

      However, I think there's much more that has to happen along with major gun legislation.

      There are too many major divisions in North American society. There are major religious differences that separate people and cause friction. There are many Christian denominations and some of them fight openly. They don't like each other.

     There are racial divisions. Dozens of divisions which bring about all kinds of racial prejudice. Various groups are discriminated against.

     There are major economic divisions.  These divisions are becoming wider and wider. The poor and middle class have been exploited.

     What's the matter with good old unity where we work together for the good of all?

     Frustration grows up within marginalized groups. Marginalized groups feel that they are discriminated against.

      At some time people have to mix with others and get to know them. There's too much pressure from smaller groups who want  their specific agenda pushed forward whether others want it or not.

     So there are many reasons for anger. First, I would like to see major gun legislation but after that we have to change some basic parts of society. We have to work together for some common good. There are many different ways to live together rather than fight each other. Get to know the other guys. Some of the differences would seem very small and not worthwhile thinking about.