I read somewhere that 17% of Americans are skipping out on Christmas (the consumer aspect of it).
The FED is doing everything in its power to stimulate inflation. I disagree with everyone who's been predicting a rise in interest rates. I also disagree with everyone who's been predicting runaway inflation. Wall Street's greatest fear is deflation, as illustrated by last week's crash due to falling oil prices.
This Voodoo Economic scheme depends on eternal growth and inflation. If the planet is consuming X number of widgets in 2014, it needs to consume (1.2)X widgets next year, ad infinitum. The economy relies on eternal growth, but the system is finite.
Americans generally have everything they need to survive. The problem for marketers, therefore, becomes one of cultivating artificial needs for the consumer. But at some point, people take a look at all the crap piled up in their garages, and realize the ridiculousness of their consumption habits.
In China and other developing domestic economies, people are just coming into their consumer identities.
But for the American, the next stage in his cultural evolution will be one characterized by simplification. Buy less, consume less, work less, and enjoy the simple things in life. We're at the very first light of dawn in that process, that non-violent revolution, but it will ultimately bring our present economic paradigm down.
"The more you know, the less you need."- Yvon Chouinard.
The FED is doing everything in its power to stimulate inflation. I disagree with everyone who's been predicting a rise in interest rates. I also disagree with everyone who's been predicting runaway inflation. Wall Street's greatest fear is deflation, as illustrated by last week's crash due to falling oil prices.
This Voodoo Economic scheme depends on eternal growth and inflation. If the planet is consuming X number of widgets in 2014, it needs to consume (1.2)X widgets next year, ad infinitum. The economy relies on eternal growth, but the system is finite.
Americans generally have everything they need to survive. The problem for marketers, therefore, becomes one of cultivating artificial needs for the consumer. But at some point, people take a look at all the crap piled up in their garages, and realize the ridiculousness of their consumption habits.
In China and other developing domestic economies, people are just coming into their consumer identities.
But for the American, the next stage in his cultural evolution will be one characterized by simplification. Buy less, consume less, work less, and enjoy the simple things in life. We're at the very first light of dawn in that process, that non-violent revolution, but it will ultimately bring our present economic paradigm down.
"The more you know, the less you need."- Yvon Chouinard.
