Somethings is very wrong here folks. They want us to spend spend spend and not save anything. Don't think about the future folks, just borrow money today to prop up the broken consumer driven economy. Got last years model ?- throw it in the dump. Don't worry about the environment.
Don't worry about fuel costs. Don't worry about people in other parts of the world that want a part of the consumer life we lead in the US. Just treat them as a market, cheap labor, and if you think you can get away with it maybe a dumping ground for chemicals we won't allow you to throw out here.
HERE IS MY FIX on both a personal and Government level.
Stop spending money indiscriminately. If you have to buy something buy a good quality version that will last. Consider hand crafted goods.
Start saving more. Make sure you are putting at least 10 % of your salary in your 401k. Max out those Roth IRAs. Pay off consumer debts like credit cards and then stop using them. I think the next place the credit crunch is going to hit is the availability of credit cards and consumer credit, so guard your credit score zealously. Did you know employers now will check your credit when you are applying for a job? If your credit is already bad, don't despair, just start cleaning it up little by little. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will your retirement.
Government promoted savings accounts: We need a tax incentive for people to start saving. If people have better savings, it protects them from so many ills - payday loans, driving without insurance, even homelessness. When you have no cushion of savings, when life's surprises come at you you are just not prepared for them. We need a tax incentive or some sort of incentive for people to create a savings plan for themselves. Perhaps a government match of a percentage taken out of the paycheck and put into savings that must be left there for at least 1 year? This is money that can be used for things like buying a car, a house down payment, etc.
US Must continue to Lead in High Tech, Green, and Sustainable Markets
As a country, the United States can continue to be a global leader. But lets not just be a behemoth of hamsters on wheels buying the latest Chinese manufactured goods on sale cheap at Walmart. (Note - please no offense is meant to either the Chinese people or to Walmart employees) What is going to work better for us is the following.
Dominance in High Technology: High tech is the answer to doing things cheaper, better, more efficiently, greener, and safer. How do we continue to dominate in high tech - put money and attention into our school systems. And not just how well kids do on a standardized test either, but well rounded education in arts, and sciences.
Tax incentives to companies working on Green and Sustainable technologies: These are the answer to overflowing dumps, running out of fossil fuels, and the dreaded global warming.
If you got this far, thanks for listening.
Marianne
