Then, we got a washing machine. Wow, hope it runs forever. But, as we get a little wealthier, we will be able to afford some repairs if needed.
At that point, we had both a car and a washing machine. We used both and more or less assumed both would work and be available to us. Later, a danger was that we were "too far in" to be able to pay for everything if many repairs and replacements were needed at once.
Of course, we always had the option of simply suffering or doing without one or more things that needed repairs.
Now, zoom out to entire US: infrastructure of roads, bridges, etc. weather and other satellites we use all the time, big money needs. I think it is accurate to say that the whole US is not a small family and works differently from the way a small family does. In the typical family, there may be one or two income streams and the input from them must meet expenses. It is shortsighted to be too frightened of a little debt and borrowing but it is not wise to build up too much debt. The US includes many different sorts of activities and does not depend solely on a simple income or two.
Still, when I saw an article about budget problems possibly affecting the health of our satellite system, I thought of the problem of getting too big or too complex to be able to handle our entirety. The reputation of the nation as well as of the family matters in the way credit is loaned, hirings take place, and industry or commerce begins and is welcomed and encouraged. I know very little about the financial and economic difficulties of Europe but it seems from what little I have seen and heard, that the spirit of economy, of saving, of cutbacks and denial may be emphasized without a parallel effort as raising the spirits of the people and finding new opportunities for improvements and industry.
We should be past the idea that finding a mountain of gold is the way to prosperity. True, such a mountain would temporarily offer value in trade for other things that we need or want. But it is the trading that improves our situation. In the world today, new things to trade are being invented and that helps too. New electronic devices, new vaccines, maybe even superior education, counseling and training come along and are valuable stimulants.
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Bill
Main blog: Fear, Fun and Filoz
Main web site: Kirbyvariety
