Herman: John L. Herman Jr., Author

Surviving Takes More Than Wishful Thinking...

We are at the beginning of hitting the bottom, and that is a wonderful thing. You see I am an eternal optimist. That doesn’t mean I think it won’t get worse because I believe it will get far worse than others will admit; it means, I am the kind of person who says you can’t fix something until you admit it is broken.

Don’t you wish we could have the same kind of meltdown in the Political arena? Hey, we just elected our first Black President and if that doesn’t say something positive about America I don’t know what you are waiting to happen. And now, my hope is that with the truth about our government interventions in business, and the coming collapse of the economy helped by a lack of oversight by regulators, maybe Americans will throw every person now holding office out in the next election.

It will take fortitude to make it through this next phase we all face. Every business will suffer as unemployment rises, credit availability shrinks, and fat cats lose their grip on the ability to steal us blind. Each person will pay the price whether they have sinned or not…something good people know happens all the time. Society always makes the good ones pay because too many people believe too much in others, allowing bad acts to continue and giving not just second chances but a third and a fourth and more. Let’s stop recycling old politicians and get some new ones. Let’s run our business enterprises fairly and give credit in a reasonable fashion. This will mean that yachts and mansions will be available as some topple over for living under the crush of debt.

Today a new voice spoke out and it is chilling and wonderful to hear. Caroline Kennedy says she wants Hillary’s Senate seat. Wow! The dignity of the life Caroline has lived under extreme circumstances make me happy she will step up and perhaps serve the country. Never have you read a bad word about this woman and she has the opportunity to do much good.

Obama brings a new wind to Washington, Caroline Kennedy could serve there as well stringing some of the past we cherished here into the future. These are significant acts, not wishful thinking.

Listen, this could the best Christmas ever for many people…not because they will get piles of meaningless stuff under the tree…but because this Christmas they will give more feeling and less fluff…and we will all realize that being happy and sharing the holidays with each other doesn’t require mountains of plastic junk for the kids, piles of clothes that many take back to the store anyway, or perhaps the most worthless (my opinion) trinkets of all, overpriced jewelry. Can anyone tell me why you want diamonds that do nothing or a watch that costs thousands when a twenty dollar Timex keeps the exact same time?

Have your pain, feel a little sorry for yourself if you must, and recognize that all of us will have to adjust to some extent to get through this mess…but don’t close your eyes and wish for it to disappear…start taking action to move yourself forward now. The first ones to recover will be the ones who start their process now, the last will be those who refuse to see the truth or take action until later.

• Posted: 6 December 2008
• Comments: 1
• Category: Business failure

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