Debt Shmedt
CNN has a countdown clock on their screen 24/7 for the last few days, counting down to the August 2nd deadline for a deal on whether or not the US would raise our debt ceiling. It’s the talk of the town, from DC to Shanghai, apparently. Can you believe this? I mean, seriously? We need a clock counting down to potential disaster? Come on…Really?
My problem is not with the debt issue and that’s not the point of this post. BUT, I do have a problem with this debt countdown clock. Do we really need to feed this uncertainty and notion of complete disorder and disarray going on in our lives? Do we really need to be reminded every second that our country could go into default? My feeling is: NO. 
Sure, I care about our country’s debt and our ability to fund our commitments but is it really necessary to feed this hysteria? I don’t think so.
So I’m going to try something I’ve never done except for when I go on vacation. And that is, I will make a promise to myself to ignore it all. I will not listen to or read the news until August 3rd. I am choosing to ignore it. There’s enough anxiety out there in the real world I am living in that frankly I don’t need more anxiety brought on by this media driven cataclysmic economic event that is supposed to happen on Aug. 2nd.
I can’t control it. I have no influence on this huge event that’s supposed to take place. My opinion about it does not matter one bit. Sure I may be affected by it but I can’t control it and I can’t do anything about it. So, why worry about it? I will not read or watch the news and simply ignore it. I will use my time that I would have spent thinking and talking about it in a more productive way that helps me feel better. To use the time to do something important. Working. Living life. Playing with my kids and focusing on the here and now. Because at the end of the day, life will go on. The world has survived worst times. We’ve gotten through more uncertain times from world wars to epidemics to economic disasters. We’ve survived them all. We’ll survive this debt ceiling crisis. Life will go on. So, I’m not going to worry about it.
[Rule#6 Be Present]
Tags: anxiety, countdown clock, debt, debt ceiling, debt crisis, economic uncertainty, Life, uncertainty
July 31st, 2011 at 10:24 am
Reminds me of Y2k. Remember the hype. Turned out to be nothing but a chance for China to make money by selling really cheap trinkets we all purchased with Y2K all over them. Let’s hope it is the same situation!
August 1st, 2011 at 3:26 pm
Right on. Let the world evolve around you. Take control of things you’re able to control and let the variables in life that are way beyond our reach move and evolve. We need to keep the stresses of a global scale out of our minds or else we could go insane! They may impact our lives in small and sometimes even major ways. But the honest truth is all we can do is adapt and move on and do our best to keep our lives fulfilling in our own way. If the country goes into default, well, I’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now Im going to eat my chicken gyro and watch a bit of netflix and let the chips fall where they may.
August 1st, 2011 at 9:56 pm
love it…nextflix and gyros. I’m with you!
August 3rd, 2011 at 2:28 am
I think that not reaching the deal eventually would have eventually put us in a rough spot in regards to interest rates, rating agency’s value of US securities (which may get lowered anyway), as well as the repercussions that the a Moodys or S&P downgrade from AAA would have on big corporations that have AAA ratings.
On the other hand it would be really nice to see massive cut backs in Federal Spending. I would love to see 80% cuts in foreign aid, slashes of unprecedented proportion to security, entitlements (Yes Medicare and SS to!) , and other cutbacks across the board. The failing to reach an agreement on the debt ceiling increase would have been a massively effective way to not fund Obamacare. As clear as it may seem that this WAS the answer to the Tea Party and Republican prayers the Republicans still supported a bill that didn’t cut into the heart of the pet projects that the Obama administration has been manipulating for the past 3+ years. Even today with the manipulation of health insurance premiums to make everyone subsidize the cost of birth control at the expense of business and individuals who do not want to pay increased premiums for services they may never use and would not be something most would elect to have included in their premiums.
The Republicans have really stood idle while the Obama administration has trashed civil liberties and used the Constitution to dry their hands on. Its no surprise to me that the Republicans didn’t do what needed to be done to really put this country back on the right path and that is why so many are confused on who actually “won” in this standoff. Democrats say Republicans won and Tea Parties say the Liberals won.
Regardless of who won, it is certainty the American people who lose when we spend months of active congressional time jockeying for position over artificial cuts when the debt continues to balloon at an exponential Proportion.
August 3rd, 2011 at 7:09 am
Kevin – I understand what you’re saying but honestly, I gave up trying to figure out who’s right and who’s not. Over the last few years, our economy has seen a lot of rough spots and maybe there will be more to come. What I am sure about is that I’m not going to worry about the things I simply cannot control but try to embrace the things that I can.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment and look forward to hearing more!
Bob
August 3rd, 2011 at 5:57 pm
I understand what your saying. I have always struggled with trying to change everything and all at once too. I realize now if its something I want to change I will have to put myself on course and propel my self forward with firm targets that help me insure I stay on path. I am starting work in late September with Deloitte and Touche in their Audit Department. I’m really excited about the opportunity and realize that if I utilize my time there to become more educated on the issue, build connections and develop full-bodied solutions I will be able to make an impact down the road when I have more flexibility.
I want to work on keeping my fiscal house in order first and planning for my future and then would like to help the country once I help myself first.
August 3rd, 2011 at 9:27 pm
Good plan Kevin. Helping the country is a truly noble cause. Kudos!