The perceived need to promote a growth economy is one of the deepest held meta-beliefs underpinning industrial civilization. Capital formation and accumulation is the highest goal of the economy, and debt is the vehicle. But whose debt? Well, just about everyone’s. The vast majority of citizens must take on debt to own a car, a … More Seeking the Good Life: Growth is Not Development
Giving thanks at Thanksgiving dinner continues as an ingrained ritual. At some holiday tables, those present state in turn what makes them most thankful. At others, the most senior member gives a Thanksgiving prayer. In most cases, that is about as far as reflection on the meaning of this peculiar American holiday goes. Nobody mentions, … More Giving Thanks for what?
Jubilado Jubilee “So much to do, so little time.” That cliché never meant much to me. The “so little time” part had no meaning. I was busy with my life and there was always tomorrow. It seemed as if I had all the time in the world. Careers go fast if you are busy and … More Diary of a Mad Jubilado: (first in a series)
Borrowing money is a tricky thing to talk about, even trickier than talking about money itself. We all seem to have a love-hate relationship with the stuff. Well, maybe ‘stuff’ is not the right word. People disagree about what money actually is. Some, who I’ll call “money realists,” believe that the essence of money is … More Borrowing Nothing from Nowhere: Phantom Money and Phantom Debt
Why Our Culture Keeps Us from the Pursuit of Happiness Individualism may be the most entrenched and pervasive icon of American civilization. After all, personal liberty was one of the founding principles of the republic formed in rebellion against the oppressive rule of the British monarchy and its economic elite. Rarely mentioned, however, is the … More Individualism and Its Discontents
Money and banking seem far too mysterious to far too many people. Read all about it and you may feel that much of your time was wasted, simply because at root it seems not all that complicated. Oh, the world of money and banking has been made quite complicated, but that’s because of who is … More Money: Banking on the Economy of the Absurd
Robert MacNeil Christie, Author 