Capitalism, A Love Story

Last night Greg and I watch Michael Moore's latest documentary.  I wish we could have been video taped watching...because we ran the full range of emotions, from shock,  smiling...#$%!...depression...saddness...crying...and ultimately anger.  We tend to view life in small segments, trying to pay bills, save for the future, raise our children and when you are getting up at 4 am in the morning going to work, coming home, fixing something to eat, trying to relax and head to bed...to begin it all again...you have little time or energy to really keep up on who is screwing you and why.

It is a must see.  Sure it is one sided  but even so if you only take in a small percentage you will be pained.

Everyday the paper is filled with property defaults and deeds where people have bought from the bank because the original homeowner lost their home.  Sure, we have to take some responsibility for our choices and monetary decisions but we as a nation were primed to believe we deserved a good life.  We had been sold a dream of nice home, cars, vacations and children who will get and deserve a good education...all on credit.  No longer.  My generation is the first that has not done better than their parents.  It looks like we have done better but, as you see the repo guy collecting cars and the banks defaulting on homes you realize that it is all an optical illusion...we just look like we have done better.  Our children will have to work harder and be financially smarter...but we raised them in the optical illusion of the good life.  They are going to face an even harder reality.

Now our children have to have a "come to Jesus" moment...if you need a credit card to purchase something...you can't afford it.  If you use your savings to go on a vacation...you can't afford it.  If you can't pay for car insurance...you can't afford the car.  And pretty much guaranteed there won't be social security in your retirement time...so you had better start saving for your retirement now...in your 20's and 30's. 

Our marriage is solidly in the middle class.  We have to work, we want to work, we do not use our money on vacations other than to visit family, we pay our bills, we use the library, we take care of our cars because we will have them a long time.  We get our joy from the happiness of our children. For our part...we are going to work longer to try and not burden our children. 

Capitalism, A Love Story....a must see...if you care about your life.