Why Both Economic Extremes Are Wrong
It seems like you can’t get on TV and talk about your views of the economy unless you’re either in one extreme or the other. Either the American economy is great and the Dow is going to 15,000 or you’re a gloom and doomer and think the Dow is going to 5,000. The reality is that neither camp is right in my opinion.
I’m of the opinion that there are structural problems with the economy. First and foremost, there’s too much debt. The debt overhang of the general economy and at the individual level will be a burden preventing future sound growth. Think of it this way, the debt service at the individual prevents you from investing in other activities or buying other things. More of your money going to banks versus productive investments or consumption is good for the banks, bad for the general economy.
Second, because of advances in technology and cheaper labor overseas, American workers are too expensive and under-skilled. This means that high unemployment is here to stay.
Now, does this mean the economy is going to crash or the dollar will crash or some other catastrophic event? I don’t think so. First, the policymakers are very good at extending the problem and preventing an all out collapse. This doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences to “kicking the can down the road”. There are. But, the reality is that America still has more leeway on this than most other nations because of the power of America. Is this power and dominance deteriorating? Yes, I believe so, but it is a very slow process.
Expect the US government to continue to prop up the economy and offer various deficit spending programs to infuse cash into the economy. Debt will keep increasing at the national level, and inflation will likely continue to increase at a measured pace. Yes, your dollars will likely continue to buy less and the standard of living will likely decrease for the masses over time. But the key here is “over time”.
If you’re hiding out in a bunker waiting for chaos, I think you’re wasting your time. Find opportunities out there to make money. It’s not easy and they aren’t obvious, but there ARE opportunities. The economic conditions just warrant being more cautious and more frugal and might make you have to work harder to get ahead. So be it. And yes, have a little emergency stash just in case I’m wrong and the world goes to crap next year.
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I agree with your assessment of the economy.
Have you heard of this book: http://www.amazon.com/Endgame-Debt-Supercycle-Cha… . It sounds similar to the scenario you are describing.
I think recent events have shown the fragility of pretty much all the major world players. EU has even greater debt than the US and a rapidly ageing population. China's economy is dependant on exports and it is unclear who has the money to play the role of world consumer now, and it has a very rapidly ageing population. Japan is still stagnating. UKs economy is contracting, more austerity.
By comparison the US situation is almost enviable.
With economic uncertainty there is also so much opportunity for the entrepreneurs. Go start a business and create your own certainty.
Kevin,
I really sad to agree with you, but your second point is dead on. "…because of advances in technology and cheaper labor overseas, American workers are too expensive and under-skilled. This means that high unemployment is here to stay."
So many people are focusing on the wrong things. We have to develop new skills and stop trying to save every company or government-sponsored that no longer can carry its own weight in the new economy. We have to be way more competitive and innovate – not just penalize the segment of society that is producing!
We are non-mortgage debt-free, and love it. However, I still feel a small monkey on my back just because I live in the US and we are SOOOO in debt. I wonder what measures are going to be put into place, and how the next 5-10 years is going to look?
I guess the one thing that is comforting is my husband have put ourselves in the best financial place we can be so that if anything tough happens to us, we're still better off.
Both extremes are motivated by laziness to do anything. The exuberant ones say it will fix itself so there's no need to do anything, while the doomsayers insist it will come crashing down anytime soon, so there's no need to do anything.
This nation needs to wake up and realize there's no free lunch. kc @ Psychomoney is right: get out there and make your own certainty happen!
It’s pretty obvious that the big-shot bankers on Wall Street have been getting richer and
richer during this economic crisis, while your friends and family members haven’t.
Well this really ticked-off my friend Mike Dillard, (who made his first million by the age of 26),
and he’s basically started a “movement”, in order to even the score and allow the rest
of us to profit from the current economic chaos just like they are.
Despite the fact that he’s not an investor, trader, or financial guru of any kind, he’s made a
300%+ return since 2008, while the rest of the world has lost 30-40% of their portfolio.
How?
Get this… He found a “map” back in 2007 that’s allowed him to basically predict the financial future.
Like I said… VERY COOL… (And yes, it’s the real deal).
Anyway, he recorded a three-part, “Year-In-Review”, video series this month showing how he’s managed to discover and use these little-known investment strategies, and has decided to share it with the public over the next few days.
I just finished watching Part I here about his economic predictions for 2012, and it’s a MUST WATCH.
I’d have to say my favorite part about his strategies is that you don’t need to be a trader, and you
don’t need to be rolling in money. All you need is the desire to learn how the rich are getting richer
these days, so you can too…
You can watch all three videos along with me this week by clicking here to go to his site…
The Elevation Group
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This is one of the hardest periods in the countries history. Their does not seem to be any consensus about the trends for the economy one week the economic news is good the next week its bad. Their seems to be no consistency what so ever when it comes to economic matters. Mcdonald’s recently hired fifty or sixty thousand people out of one million that applied maybe mcdonald’s should change their saying you deserve a break today at mcdonald’s to you deserve a job today at mcdonald’s. As far as those banksters go I say lets exchange those three piece suits and briefcases for a pick' a shovel' a bucket' and some pinstripes.
I think it had a lot to do with people just trying to get attention, or these are the only views the media think people will read. It is very hard to get readers if you just say you aren't sure, or that not much will change etc. but it is an unfortunate situation as it restricts the range of views that are expressed.
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So well put, thank you. There is nothing wrong with someone buying 5 or 6 of something they will truly use in the next 3 months rather than greed taking over one person to hoard everything they can get their hands on. It is a sickness. As with most tv, that show is not realistic and I hate that it will and already is causing coupon policies and manufacturers to change what is beneficial to those of us who don't abuse it.
It is clear that unemployment is here to stay, I'm from Spain and look at the rate we have. The situation tends to impoverish the population and working conditions more complicated. As China and the Asian countries we continue to produce all wrong.
Manuel
I think it is the problem of two party politics, it causes polarisation so they distinguish themselves from opponents
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I agree, too. If I hear one more person say "there are no jobs" or "it's not worth looking for a job because I get $400 per week on unemployment, so I'd be working for less than minimum wage" I'm going to pull all of my hair out…
I agree. I think we are on a very slow path to recovery. I think another major slump comes from the housing market. Banks are trickling out the millions of foreclosures that they have, which will cause prices to stay low. Since housing wont lead the recovery, employment needs to. Scary if you ask me.
I personally believe that there is goig to be even bigger crisis.
That $400 per week for the unemployed is wrong. Taxpayers are burdened by this and the freeloaders will will become lazier because they get paid for not working. I guess the policy-makers enacted this in order for the unemployed to get by while they find jobs. It's a good idea but it's open to abuse. The problem is, there are jobs but some don't pay as good as the stipend so what does the unemployed do? It's an easy answer sit back and wait for the check to arrive next week.
I agree, nice piece of information you got there. In this word there are so many uncertainty. Just go with the flow, be patient, create your own way to success.
At least you have pointed out all the important reasons here and with this simple blog, many people will be aware and they may have their own opinion about this. VZ 58
The media likes to play to both extremes because that is what draws numbers. Get people excited, or get people angry – whereas the realistic approach to understanding the market is boring. It's never as good or as bad as it seems.
Right on about economic extremes being wrong. The same is true outside of economy. For every extreme opinion that ends up being right or, at least, insightful (e.g. Einstein) there're several thousand very literally crazy ones.
In fact you're still being quite pessimistic in expecting living standards to slowly decline because of debt or anything else. History of the world and many countries is full debt crises and burst bubbles even as global standards of living increased through the centuries. The same will continue into the future barring some Hollywood-style catastrophe. If you think that today's debates about how to tame healthcare costs or reduce budget deficit are going to be even remembered in 50 years you're kidding yourself. These are all local, self-imposed problems that will be resolved one way or another. There will be some bad years and then life will go on as it always has. I do agree that it's unlikely that the economic growth of 21st century will match that of 20th century, but there's no doubt that we will still see plenty of growth, both in aggregate and per-capita.
Too much of a good thing is a bad thing, as the cliche goes. Unemployment is here to stay but that doesn't mean that we should give up looking for opportunities to earn for a living. It's not going to be easy but I know that if you have the drive and persistence, there will always be a way.
All extremes are wrong, not just economic ones, but especially in politics, IMHO Port of Miami shuttle
No quick fixes with your financial choices. It's a question of saving for a rainy day, not living beyond your means and looking into the future. When faced with a choice whether to have simple wedding dresses most people go for opulence though, which is why we're in a pickle we're in.
I’m of the opinion that there are structural problems with the economy. First and foremost, there’s too much debt. The debt overhang of the general economy and at the individual level will be a burden preventing future sound growth. Think of it this way, the debt service at the individual prevents you from investing in other activities or buying other things. More of your money going to banks versus productive investments or consumption is good for the banks, bad for the general economy.
I agree. I think we are on a very slow path to recovery. I think another major slump comes from the housing market. Banks are trickling out the millions of foreclosures that they have, which will cause prices to stay low. Since housing wont lead the recovery, employment needs to. Scary if you ask me.
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Every one of you has a point, but the question is who is to blame?
Even how many president is elected we will face the same problem on and on.
No one can predict what is going to happen for next coming years.
However, the government cannot undone what is already done.
What they must do is find the cause of the problem to be able to get a better solution.
I find this blog relevant and informative. I am certain that many people who will be seeing this will have their own reaction or feedback about this. Thank you once again.
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