If you are not happy or you don't like this economy it may be your fault

America is a place that is obsessed with being happy, having a good time, and “looking good” and we pay a big price for that. Mystic Wizard just did a poll (it is still under polls) and asked the question, “Are you happy”? Most people responding say they are either not very happy, all the way to feeling suicidal. Part of the reason we are in the economic free fall we find ourselves in, is from sub-prime mortgages, and the result of over spending by consumers.

Yesterday, my wife and I drove from the small island we live on in the Gulf of Mexico to a small town about 30 miles away. When I was a child, the area was almost 100% farming and rural, but now it is mile after mile of large developed subdivisions and large houses. Many of these homes would exceed 3 and 4000 sq. feet, huge garages and swimming pools, and I would guess equally large mortgages. Parked in the garages you will find big suv’s, expensive foreign jobs, along with boats and motorcycles.

There was a time, when a 3br 1 bath home and one car was the average for many American family, but now it would seem that a family of 3 needs at least 4 bedrooms, and a 3 car garage. How did we get to this spot? Part of it is about our obsession with being happy, concern that OUR children will have the same jeans, bikes, ipods, cell phones as their friends. In other words it is about “looking good”. How can we be happy if we do not look good and that means a big house, big car, big vacation, and expensive clothes. If there is not money, then there is credit. Why have we fallen into this trap? Can we blame it all on Wall Street, banks, mortgage lenders, advertisers, or should we take a harder look at ourselves. After all, it is much easier to blame someone else or some other entity than ourselves; we see that with today’s Republicans trying to blame Obama for 8 years of Bush mistakes.

There was comment made on another OEN piece recently by someone that lived part time in Thailand, and said that though there were many poor people, how happy Thai people were. I have also spent time in Thailand, and yes “the land of smiles” is true. The point was made that Thai people had their violence and problems that all societies have but that basically they were a happy people. Since 1992, I have spent 4 to 5 months each year in Indonesia with a great deal of time in Bali and I can absolutely state the Balinese people are unique to say the very least. That is one reason Bali has been, and remains one of the world’s great travel destinations. Like the Thai, Bali people are certainly not without their problems, but overall they are extremely happy people. I have watched and interacted with the Balinese people for many years and some of the big differences between them and Americans are they are of one religion; very community involved, live in family units, that is 3 generations living in one house, and are very focused on art and music. The biggest problem I have seen in Bali over the last 15 years is the “westernization” we have exported. You see more kids over weight, television that was relatively unknown a few years ago is now everywhere, and money has become much more important.

I like diversity, in food, music, and people and whereas America is certainly more diverse that either Thailand or Indonesia, perhaps America is paying a big price for diversity. We have Christian fundamentalist that hate other Christians, Christian churches that are constantly splitting apart, resentment against Jews and Moslems, Republicans against Democrats, far right and lefts in each party that seem angry with everyone and the whole country obsessed with money. Is there one person that is not nostalgic when you read a novel set in a small town that speaks of the local hardware store where men sit around the pot belly stove and talk; where everyone turns out for the fourth of July fireworks; where the county fair is a big event; where people do not lock their doors? Could it be that maybe a much bigger part of the economic disaster we now find ourselves in is more to our own making that we wish to admit? Now before I go too far, I know it is not me as we live in a small sensible house, drive two, 2002 automobiles, have no expensive hobbies. But, the fact is I have responsibility because it is my country, I am a citizen and just like Iraq, I was against it from the start but I do have my part of the responsibility for that immoral war. In America we want to blame the “other guy” for the problems and take no responsibility ourselves. Look at the recent circus in Congress passing the stimulus bill; Republicans voting entirely against it, screaming about physical irresponsibility after 8 years of driving the economy into the ground. Does it not seem that both parties would meet and admit the country is in peril, so we have to do something that maybe we would prefer not to do, but for the sake of our country this is what must be done? Could they not, just for a moment stop playing politics with our lives----or is that just too much to ask for? And before I go further, let me be loud and clear that Democrats play a major role in all of this as well. Perhaps when you have a job that is very secure, great health insurance, a wonderful retirement and promises of high paying jobs should you care to retire early, maybe just maybe you can afford to play political games. In the end however, WE elected each and every one of these people and therefore WE must take responsibility for their lack of performance.
Hopefully after we get out of this debacle we can learn that more is not necessarily better and many times less is preferable. Maybe we can learn to value integrity in a person more than their financial statement. Maybe we can teach children that character is more important than their ability to hit a ball. Maybe we can set an example that honor is much better than an expensive home, and to help another is much better than your name in a private club. We can blame Wall Street, Republicans, Democrats, China, and the media but after that we have to admit what each and every one of us has contributed and if you think you have not, then you are really in trouble.