Liberty Maven

I grew up in the 1970′s. My parents didn’t have much but they had me. They got married because of me. They loved each other though. They are still together, for better or worse. I recall being excited about moving into our first house. My parents were renters until they purchased their first home in 1979. It was a duplex. I find myself reading economics books these days. Invariably, the 70′s are frowned upon as rather dark days in America’s economic history. As I read about these dark days I think about my family situation at that time. I had no clue about what was happening economically.

I was aware of the Iran hostage situation though. I recall thinking how much I was supposed to hate Iran. In fact, there is a grainy 8mm home video of me doing an impression of Jimmy Carter saying “I’m going to flush those Iranians down the toilet!” It’s quite embarassing, but I was 10. I forgive myself. I hope you can too.

I’m reminded of this time because of the current economic crisis. I have two young children. I fear for their future. With each passing day and each new bailout I worry about the kind of America they will see once they reach their teen years. Will we even recognize ourselves or our country?

To predict precisely when the dollar will collapse in the next decade or beyond is a fool’s game. The economy may recover for a time. It may not. Are we witnessing the end of not just capitalism, but America herself? As the Federal Reserve’s printing presses continue pumping out new money each dollar will purchase less. This is a fact. It is fundamental. We have history as an omen for what is to come. The only question is how long will it take? We are told by Ron Paul and others that the longer it is prolonged the harder the fall will be.

The market is a cruel truth seeker. As the Fed drops new dollars into the pockets of the banksters and pseudo-private companies that are “too big” to fail the market is an insensitive sniper ready with a head shot. I’m not much of a praying man, but I find myself praying to the gods that when the economy falls the country of my youth doesn’t fall along with it. I still believe in the American free market liberty loving dream. Don’t you?