Today help: What do you think is really happening to our economy today ? - Help.com

I think we are in a complex downward spiral, and that it is fueled by a culture of bad habits and the dominance of corporate influence. We certainly could try blaming other countries or entities, but I think that we don’t need to go that far to understand the problem. Our economic woes are probably a result of the majority of consumers taking it in the rear to boost profits for stock holders, which means making the most money off as little substance as possible, and discouraging competition (goodbye mom-and-pop, hello Wallyworld)

At it’s base, the economy is people. Essentially, the root of our problem starts with simple statistics and physiology: the human body works less efficiently when it doesn’t have proper nutrition. The vast majority of available food (supermarket, restaurant) doesn’t cut it (too many carbs,not enough protein, too many chemical additives), so most people are statistically not operating even near their peak. A culture of weak immune systems, lowered intelligence, reduced stamina and drive, add up to a weak economic base.

This ties directly into the next problem. Why is the quality of our food (and most other market goods) so poor? It’s because they are corporate products, and that they are engineered to boost profit margins (carbs are much cheaper than protein), not provide lasting or healthy solutions.

Another good example is the automobile industry, which maintains itself by engineering it’s products to break frequently and predictably. Car manufacturers maintain profits by limiting the lifespan of their product, so that consumers will have to buy a new car every 6-10 years. It also ensures the viability of dealers, as they make most of their money from repairing the vehicles that they sell (new car sales very rarely sustain a dealership). The net effect is that there is a constant drain on the middle class, who are dependent on cars to get to their corporately provided jobs.

To sum it up, we are building a house of cards. A very hollow one at that. Unless something drastic happens to limit the growth of corporate culture, this entire country may turn into a single Enron (if it hasn’t already).

A government that can’t seem to live within its means doesn’t help. A social atmosphere that encourages instant gratification probably has something to do with it, to one degree or another. These days there seems to be a lot of artificial stimulation of the economy in an effort to keep it going (Greenspan’s manipulation of interest rates is a classic example; Bush’s most recent tax refunds are a more modern, more blatant, and probably less effective one). It seems as though it should be more self-sustaining - though I’m not extremely well versed in economics, so even the little I’ve said is just speculation.

If you want a concrete answer, research shows that the average person follows their emotional intuition over logical evidence in politically charged situations. Meaning, you can present an eloquent, well constructed and reasonable premise, and people aren’t going to vote based on the factual evidence if they weren’t going to in the first place. It takes a lot to override emotional judgment. It’s possible to predict how someone would vote on an issue based on their party affiliation, with an accuracy better than 80%.

So what do people learn from? One of the strongest sources is authority. We do and think what our parents, bosses, preachers, and principles tell us to. Almost all people learn best when instructed by other people, it’s human nature. Throw the pressure of fear into the equation and you have the switch that drives humanity to the beat of it’s own drum (organized religion, politics, hate groups, neighborhood watches).

Very few people break through that layer of fear, it’s hardwired into our brains as an instinct of social preservation. Those that do usually have other issues with the status quo. If our current state of affairs is diseased, it’s equal parts human physiology and established cultural mores and practices. Either way you slice it, it’s probably going to take a forward thinking government and the collapse of the environment before things change quickly.

Our leadership has been corrupted by greed and our population’s too **** stupid to revolt. Greed is the Devil in disguise and can corrupt even the most innocent.

Our government fails to serve the people and only cater towards the BIG MONEY.

STOP buying **** at Wal-Mart, STOP buying the 5th pair of jeans - sew a patch on instead, STOP driving your car on short trips and walk, STOP sitting on the couch and WRITE your congressional leaders.

Start a recall effort on ANY local politician that puts their needs ahead of your children’s best interest. Call me, write me, Kevin