Living in History

Of course, at all times, we are living in history. Sometimes, we find ourselves making a little history, too.

But to spend my working days watching the present-day stock market, one cannot help but feel like one is living through significant history. I don't know where this current recession will take us. I don't know what I might be trying to explain to my sons years from now about this period. If they are enraged about the position this country finds itself in, I would not be surprised. There is a profound dearth of people in this country who have a sincere grasp of what is at stake right now.

This country's sense of entitlement is in the process of dying an ugly death. My sincerest hope is that it is replaced with a sense of sacrifice, learning, pluck and common courtesy. Call me a dreamer.

So, seeing the times as I do, what would I propose for the USA in the present circumstances?

A short list of to do items:

Freeze all existing, and outlaw all future, credit default swaps. Unwind them pronto.
Downsize the empire. Close 50% of our foreign military bases, esp in Europe and Japan.
Launch the Repletion Project. Double the gasoline tax.
Transition the Treasury from income taxes to electricity royalties.
Construct a national seed bank.
Subsidize drip irrigation and water condenser systems.
Construct a national electric rail network.
Replace the World Bank with the Grameen Bank.
Refocus foreign aid toward microlending.
Drop the Cuban embargo.

A start.