Media of Negativity

If you've turned on the news in the last 3 months, you surely have noticed the onslaught of negativity. News is a very central part of policy-work gets completed in Washington--I know few who will argue this point. However, it troubles me that all of the shows are focuses on how "bad" the economy is, instead of any marginal good out in the world. The world is in a reset period. Anyone who has studied anything about economics knows that there are cycles, and that this storm will be weathered. I personally think this economic downturn is in someways good for US citizens.

Our country for most of my existence has lived under the facade that we could live beyond our means on borrowed money. The "spend it now, pay it later" attitude was viral for the past decade. Credit flowed to the point that banks started making sloppy decisions. It is no more evident than in the real estate market: People bought houses they could not afford and banks permitted them! Consumption was rampant. Our country is addicted to things. We see things. We buy them. And we're not satisfied, so we want even more things.

Through this whole mess, I think it's difficult to point the finger at one person. It's convoluted. The banks were at fault. The government was at fault (especially at deregulating derivatives). Corporate America was at fault--there clearly is a ceiling of CEO's salaries. Individuals were at fault--we know better than to live on borrowed money and spend beyond our means. Lastly, the media was to blame--the writing was on the wall and the media did not scream loud enough.

Now they screaming. We hear them complaining about how bad things are and interviewing countless people about the "...deepening recession." Well if they keep preaching this message, the media and public perception could forecast a deeper recession on us.

Take home message that we all could live by: Live within your means. If you have extra money: Spend, save, or donate it to charitable organizations--they are all hurting right now. Support local small business. Buy local food. Try to live sustainably.

If we all followed this simple advice I learned from being raised on a farm, we would all be better off. Trouble is, it's terribly tough to implement.