Positive Thinking and the Credit Crunch

• Young bankers for decades have been told to get the results and not to worry about the trail of devastation they leave behind. They’ll be working somewhere else when it comes to light. They’re probably not the only ones bothered about a quick fix rather than looking for a global holistic solution.
• The price of oil drives everything – because at some point everything needs to be driven. But we need an alternative to fossil fuel. “Too expensive to develop,” they cry. Come on, that’s a slave to money answer, rather than a master of money one.
• And actually, there is more oil than we thought. There must be. The price has gone down. “Have to artificially raise the price,” they say. Why? We can all spend more if oil’s cheaper. Of course, it might be better for the planet if we burn less oil. But even that’s an arrogant thought. The planet – or more likely the universe —will probably destroy us before we can destroy it.
• Money represents labour and raw materials. There’s plenty of both to be accessed. So, there’s plenty of money to be had. Credit Crunch or not, people still need shelter, clothing, food and something to make them happy.
• Just exactly who is going to buy the repossessed houses? With what? And how are the repossessed going to pay the difference between the price the building society can get and the price the defaulting borrowers owe? The could go bankrupt. Bad news for everyone. They could just pay a bit more slowly. Good news for everyone.

Are we missing an opportunity?

Yes, there are problems now and they are escalating. Woolworths goes under, so the people who used to work there can’t pay their mortgage to the little High Street mortgage provider who then also goes under. And the people who work there can no longer shop at M & S who close down several of their stores, so their workers can’t send their kids to private schools any more … and we all miss our ‘Pick & Mix’.

Gordon Brown puts his finger in the dyke and claims to have saved the world. But it’s just a patch and it’s paid form the tax-payers’ money so something else isn’t happening that should be. We really need a whole new dam or even a whole new water system.

It’s probably sensible to hang on to the idea of money. But couldn’t we take this opportunity to realign everything? Get rid of cash and extortionate credit cards at the same time.

The will of God, the nature of our planet or an incredible number of coincidences – according to your won religious beliefs – give us the right to live comfortably in this universe. We have the right to decent shelter, clothing and food and to be happy. We have the duty not to be greedy and not claim more of these items if it means someone else does not get a minimum basic level of them and we must make our fair contribution to the work that needs to be done.

So, get all accommodation up to scratch. Ensure the food supply chain. Give everyone a good allowance to get going. Scrap the old systems.

Reasons to be optimistic

I suspect that some may find what I suggest a tad too radical.

But I’ve sorted my own world out. I know that whatever happens, I’ll meet my basic needs through my writing one way or another. After I finish writing this, I have proofs of a book to read and I have to phone my son. And I feel grateful.