I dont know what its like in the states, I have never visited the place, and I dont see a time comming where I will be able to afford to .
All I know , is that because of how I grew up, and the financial situation I am used to being in, this whole crisis has really not affected me in the least. Im too low down the money ladder to worry about any of it. What I am trying to say is that I believe that the majority of people in my nation know what I am talking about because we have a massive underclass here in Britain. Huge swathes of my fellow countrymen have never had enough assets to even FEEL this crisis, or at least are low enough down that we merely take it in our stride and keep doing what we have always done, and will always do. Make sure theres food on the table, and be happy with that.
The government say that we are slowly comming out of the storm. I believe that it will rage on for a time yet, but again, its going to go right over my head . Alot of folks my age complain that they will never afford thier own home ... they are right of course, but I feel sorry for them. They actualy managed to fool themselves into hoping that there was a future for them. I always knew that my generation would be without the things that past generations had a right to expect from thier lives, and so nothing that has come to pass has shocked me , or dismayed me. I saw the foundations of the hell to come, being built when I was a little boy. The dumbing down of the education system, the jobs market being ransacked by corperate interest groups and banking officials, making it near impossible to advance ones self. I saw average pay packets shrinking when compared with growing house and home prices, and knew that by the time that I myself came to manhood, there would be no prospects for my security in terms of dwelling, in terms of the simplest of human needs.
I have lived on traffic islands, under bridges, in hedgerows, and in abandonded places, and that was BEFORE the banking collapse. Now things for me are a little more stable thankfully, but I am still in the position of not even being able to RENT my own accomodation. I still live with my mother because of this.
We are forced by way of expense to aquire loans in order to function a home or a dwelling. Loans that the government are more than aware, are evidence of how badly wrong the system has gone. Surely a mans monthly pay ought to be based on how much he individualy requires in order to live somewhere, eat food, and pay bills? Surely that pay ought to go over and above that ammount so that he may build his saftey and security for the future? Surely the government cannot be unaware that the more we rely on loans and cards, the less secure the markets are going to be, the more toxic the debt will become? Surely this cannot have been an accident ?
The only thing that does worry me , is what are they going to try next to make us all give up and kill ourselves? What new depressing circumstance will they foist on us to make us break ? How will we survive?
I dont know. But they will have to try hard to break me. I have been at the bottom, and I can survive that without a problem. I only hope others can walk that path without overmuch pain.


[edit on 30-1-2010 by TrueBrit]

Wow, thanks so much for this incredible list. With it you've given me a few new names to research. And the others whom I know of are economic powerhouses or experts. I've always taken Stiglitz to heart as I feel he's sincere. Then you have Simon Johnson, Soros, and Nassim Taleb- an amazing voice in modern thinking IMO. I really recommend his book Black Swan- very interesting.

Again thanks so much, this is very helpful.

TruBrit- man I feel you more than you know. My preconceived notion of Brittan is one of a good deal of wealth but then that's the same as others view of the US. Let me tell you, our GDP per capita is hugely offset by the upper crust whereas our cities are rife with poverty. Even if you're flat broke you can manage to get by, obtain food, etc. I could really care less but my heart does go out to the families and especially the children. No child in the whole world needs to starve or suffer because of this cruel global economic slave system.