It truly is frustrating because for the most part, the people who have even the slightest influence in the system are the people who like the system exactly as it is because it works to their benefit. The best we can do is limit the systems influence in our lives. I don’t think it’s as hard as we may think it is. Yes it’s true we need to have insurance so that’s not an option. But there is so much we can do if we simply decide to do without. I remember looking at my cell phone and deciding that it was something I can do without. One of the happiest days in my life was when I kicked AT&T to the curb. I’m would like to do the same with the cable company and just do the Netflix but I don’t think I can convince the family of that just yet. One step at a time. But trust me, I’m working on them!

Peace

As a nation we’d do a lot better to live within our means, collectively. But that’s hard to do. The system of financial exchange that forms the basis of our culture’s economic workings, it’s founded on credit. And it’s founded on people having access to artificial funding sources — for example, look at the cost of medical care. Do you think anyone would be able to pay for medical care without medical insurance companies footing a big part of the bills?

What would medical care pricing look like if there were no insurance companies in the middle of things? Wouldn’t it have to be more affordable, because nobody would be seeking it otherwise? Maybe, maybe not. That’s market-based thinking, and it sounds appealing to me, but I’m not sure that the “market” is so concerned with people. It seems more about pure profit, at the expense of people’s physical and mental health.

No easy solutions, obviously. Especially for someone in your position, with a family to take care of.

We’re not going to see any relief from McCain or Obama, since both of them have been bought by the big money interests of insurance companies and corporate “health care” businesses.

It’s a frustrating picture.

I saw that Discover card commercial. All of these commercials about credit and going into debt are ridiculous. The problem is that we’ve been using our credit to make up for our relatively lower pay. It used to be a man could go to work while the wife stayed home and they could still afford a nice house, car, furnishings, and etcetera. Now, even with two jobs we can’t afford the lifestyle that the advertising says we must have in order to be happy. But knowing for a fact that your happiness doesn’t depend on materialism? Priceless!

Peace

Any encouragement to get folks to live reasonably and to give up on material enticement is good, BPM. Once weaned from the credit fix and the Christmas Morning Buzz of a new toy every week, a person can start to see that what matters is people and the connections between and among them… and not the stuff we buy to show off, or to convince ourselves we have “purchasing power.” All these things are false. They have no real meaning, they don’t improve relationships between humans.

There’s an obnoxious commercial I saw last night for the Discover card, where the voice-over says “we’re consumers… and there’s nothing wrong with that” as if to convince people that always wanting new trinkets is the right way to be, the best way to be. It’s sickening.

An easy way to wean one’s self from credit addiction is to stop watching television.

Good essay, BPM.

You probably could. Me? My mom constantly tries to give me her credit card and send me to the store to buy something for her. I could never use my own credit card without being carded and asked for picture identification for confirmation. Bank of America refused to accept my debit card as proof of identification. I once had the guy in the Home Depot refused to let me use my debit card with me entering the correct PIN unless I produced a picture ID. Even though I had it I refused to produce it because it wasn’t necessary. The line was held up until the floor manager came over and gave him an education in when a picture id is necessary. The way Free Credit dot COM tells the story everybody’s credit is being jacked by other people. Not my problem!

Peace

As for your description of the newest vehicles and all their little doo-dads….I wouldn’t have the slightest idea how to operate the damn things, much less know the difference between them and anything else!

Great Post!