Just watched some economists argue over "what is good for the middle class consumer"... old tax cuts, inflation, union bashing, free market baloney we are use to. An elaborate finger pointing scheme where everybody is their own worst enemy. Textbook economic solutions to emotional and human problems.
Now I'm no economist, but I've done alright and i think one of the keys to my success has been a staunch refusal to be a consumer. Funny how in the news story photo they have some rube in one of those big stores that sells everything and they have a big cart full of plastic and Styrofoam and some things edible and the headline runs to the effect "price of goods going skyward".
To me, accepting that level of consumerism is just insane in the first place, so arguing over how to keep this status quo is a point not worth making in my non humble opinion. It's a shame that nobody would ever get hired, or elected with the idea that economic growth itself could be the problem. Rather than arguing over how to keep people, who are referred to as consumers, able to keep purchasing plastic garbage at a rate suitable to expand "growth", shouldn't we be seriously rethinking the source of the problem.
This is crazy talk of course, but crazy is the new sane... haven't you heard. I think there was a social media thing people were sharing and i expect it to make a difference. It's like the voters choice doesn't coincide, electing business is always suicide, status quo knows, sad suckers stand in sympathy.
It's kind of like were all just losing our minds, as if serendipity came calling, I'm like you and your like me, can we live together.
OK enough with the song lyrics, but you know there is a point there... clearly humanity is not going to come to it's collective senses.
So what to do? Time to start following Superenomics... don't be a chump when it comes to spending your money. Chump fools whine when they are broke... they don't see the wheel has a spoke. They are observers of nothing and students of none. They set out to see, but they do not see what they need to see. Think about it in terms of a board game... you want to finish the game in a good state... you don't want to be mauled mid game by the debt avenging society. I must state, if you think that the government will be there to help you in a time of crisis, you thought process needs to be re-examined.
For me it's all about living within my means with the focus on a secure tomorrow... kind of sounds like a good conservative election press release. Of course the only person you can trust for your good is yourself. That's what an MBA in the Music Industry taught me... MBA standing for Me Being Awesome as the Music Industry insists upon. The Music industry would have you climb a flag pole in a jackass suit on patriot day to get some press to sell some records, and then charge you for the stunt. Sorry, didn't mean to get off on a tangent, even though it was marginally relevant to our little discussion here. Discussion or man with a drinking problem sending his thoughts into cyberspace... i can live with either... i don't need to be important to the world, it might actually cramp my style, and these cold IPA's are singing my tune.
But seriously, don't be a moron with your money... you money is your security. Squirrel it away rather than waste it on things you don't really need. In time you may find yourself on the right side of the interest equation and when you are older and not able to do the work you can do now, it will pay plenty dividends. Did i just use "squirrel" as a positive? I would delete that but it's kind of funny for some... right?
OK, seriously i want to help you... I'm a 44 year old civil servant/ child caregiver/ artist with a dozen albums, who is living the good life. Did i mention i still don't have a cell phone, or is it called a smart phone, cause i can't really afford it... i drive wife and 3 kids camping in a Toyota matrix... we need a bigger vehicle but we can't afford it... so we do without. It's that line you need to be able to walk... what is really important. It's so easy in life to think you really need something... but what you really need is freedom.. freedom from bills that just keep piling up. When you relate to yourself as a consumer, clearly you think of somebody who consumes goods before the person.
I can't tell you how many times when i was young (20's) and making music how many people i knew where buying gear the couldn't afford thinking it would push them over the top. I caught a break in that our drummer worked at a studio and we got free time, and although I'm happy how things turned out i can't help but think that the other option was the 4-track, which in our case might have been more productive. If you are in a band then learn to play great and learn to record great before you start spending your money. That said, spend the money on a good engineer when you are ready... that money is better than any pedal or amp can buy. The proper team with efficient operation should be able to make a decent record in a few weekends for about 5 grand. If you are in a band that can't raise 5 grand then don't do it.
Funny how the points around here always come back to band dynamics... but this is part of our economy lesson. It's like buying a house to live in, not one that you think will gain value... maybe it will maybe it won't, but is your living good? Common economic policy is to buy the worst house on the best street, but then you walk home to that house every day of you life... why not for cheaper buy the best house in an average neighbourhod? Then you come home every day to your nice house and your neighbours are less money grubbing maniacs.
In my life experience, i have found living with poor people far more gratifying than living with rich people... mind you i currently live among the dwindling middle class. Poor people can have fun with very little where i find rich people have a deficit in that decree. Poor people throw fun potlucks where you learn things about cooking... rich people have catered parties and comment on the catering service.
Sometimes i dream about being rich... driving around in my Toyota Tacoma collecting free firewood... wait a minute, a rich man would have his firewood chopped and delivered. But if i were rich would i want to rob myself of the action of chopping my own firewood? Perhaps i could send a text message to a fire wood delivery guy because i could afford a smart phone... being rich and all.
Even in my dreams of being rich I do most of the work... it comes from the idea that if you want something done right then do it yourself. I think an important component of life is that ability... and when the shit hits the fan, as it will i believe, that skill will pay in spades.
Rules of Supereconomics:
1) a dollar you save today will be worth more in the future
2) fuck with telemarketers
3) own your identity
4) free fun is always better than paid fun
5) if somebody comes to your door try to sell them an album
6) don't buy what you don't really need
7) be fluid
8) grow your own food
9) become proficient at fixing things
10) don't be a sucker
11) never feel bad for yourself
12) rest is better than work... understand that for all it means
13) 13 is an unlucky number to superstitious fools
14) the list is too long for an internet conversion
