Linda Powers’ Guide

The lack of competence, ethics and honesty in “trickle down” economics

January 4th, 2009

Competence. Is it so much to ask? And how about a little honesty and ethics. Along with millions of others, I am counting down the days to Mr. Obama’s inauguration. It can’t come soon enough.

I have sat across the breakfast table and talked to people who are about to lose their homes. It’s heartbreaking. The people I spoke with had done nothing wrong. Some were in trouble because of medical bills; others had been undone by mortgage brokers who sold them a bill of goods.

It makes me angry when people talk about how citizens got greedy and somehow expected something for nothing. That’s not what happened at all. Many low-income people do not have the understanding of personal finances that those who make a more comfortable living do. They have aspirations to be more than they are, but many don’t have the first clue about money management. Shoot. My husband and I have had to teach young adults how to use a checkbook, for God’s sake. They sure don’t know enough to second guess that suit-wearing church member who promises to look after them when he puts them into a sub-prime loan. And they certainly don’t grasp the finer points of bundling loans and selling them to overseas investors.

These people, our friends and neighbors and fellow taxpayers just like us, are now not only losing their homes but also their jobs. Their futures are pretty bleak indeed. And where is the Bush administration in its waning days? Certainly not looking out for anyone who makes less than $1 million per year.

Here’s where competence comes in. Henry Paulson I’m sure took more than a few economics courses when he was in school. These courses teach basic things like the fact that when people spend money in their neighborhood grocery store, that money goes to pay the workers in that store, who then go on to pay taxes and spend their money in other stores, and on and on. At each step of the way, a little money goes to the owners of those stores who then use the money to hire more people and invest to make their stores bigger, better and more efficient. The money touches many hands and multiplies all the way up. This is Econ 101, and it’s basic. Money moves up the chain, and a little sticks to everyone’s paws on the way up.

Now we’ve come to pay the price for this idiotic ideology of “trickle down” economics. If money starts at the top, it’s going to stay at the top. Always has; always will. Ask any medieval lord who benefited greatly from his serfs. Those lords had a great deal of wealth to spend of private armies and great estates; the serfs didn’t do so well. The people who strive to become lords aren’t planning to look out for the interests of those they wish to make their serfs.

If ever there was a fraud perpetrated on the American public, “trickle down economics” was it. Where were the people who were supposed to make us aware of this flimflam? Where was Sixty Minutes and the investigative journalism that should have brought this to light? And if this was such a big part of the Republican agenda, why weren’t Democrats speaking loudly in opposition?

Of course, maybe I missed it. I was busy in the eighties when the whole thing began under the Reagan administration. Things felt relatively okay under the Clinton administration. I didn’t really start paying attention until this administration. I’ve been keeping a pretty close eye on things for the past eight years, though, and I don’t remember anyone criticizing Bush’s economic policies until it all started to fall apart a few months ago.

My husband and I have had stocks, and we’ve had investment property. We’ve managed to lose a ton of money on both over the years. It’s enough to make one just a tad cynical. What I have learned is what the fat cats aren’t telling us. Yes, it would be nice for their bonuses and stock options if we all go out and spend money we don’t have, provided we can borrow it. But no, that’s not the wisest thing to do. What I have learned the hard way is that the only security in this world is having a home that’s paid for and being debt free. Then your capital is locked in, and the whims of the markets and the idiocies of the powers that be can’t touch you.

I know of an honest-to-God program that will do this. It’s proven. It’s tested. It’s recommended by experts. Click here to see what it’s about — United First Financial. We can’t always protect ourselves when the idiots who have power over us have little competence, honesty or ethics, but we sure can help ourselves by erecting a cash wall around us. And then, we should complain loudly and often to our elected officials that protections need to be put in place for us.

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: competence, economics, ethics, financial, first, honest, trickle down, united