| I am nervous. Mildy. But still nervous about about the economy. About my savings accounts, and my retirement accounts, and interest rates, and the business I've poured so much of myself into. Part of me wants to believe it's all a false alarm. But realistically, is it? Seven-hundred fucking-billion-dollars?! I'm not opposed to paying up, with my taxes. (Is there really another option) But I'm pissed. What the hell's happening now? For the first time, as the adult I"ve been for 10 years, I'm questioning what I've always believed in (economically): capitalism and free market. Capitalism, to me, does not equal GREED and non-responsibility. Capitalism means I (or anyone else) have every goddamn right to invest my money, and my time, and my intellect, and my elbow grease, into a venture I hope proves profitable. Capitalism does NOT mean, to me, opposing government involvement, untill you need a bailout. It means accepting reasonable and responsible regulation, that does not adversely affect your ability to make a profit. I want to know just who the hell is responsible for this mess. "Bush Adminstration" and "hedge-fund managers" and "golf-playing-middle-aged-CEOs" isn't enough. I want names and specifics. And, as a tax-payer, and as an honest business-owner, and as an employee, and as a retirment-fund-contributor, and as a fiscally-responsible person with a stellar credit score, who's taxes are going to go up because of this, I have the right to know. Full-disclosure: I'm not hurting financially from this yet. I'm not feeling the pain at the pump, or worried about my'job, or worried about my high insurance deductible. I'm just plain pissed off, because I've always been responsible about my money. I spend what I can afford. I invest aggressively what I can afford to lose. And I invest conservatively, what I feel I can't afford to lose. So I'm mad. My (obvioulsy naive) faith that other capitalists have the same ideals I had has disappeared. I'm pissed because for the first time ever, I almost believe it might be a better idea to put my money under my mattress, rather than in a bank or investment vehicle. I don't put faith in a lot. But what I did put faith in, is failing horribly. |