Addendum to doom.

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Though the future is bleak, in a thousand ways, regardless of which candidate makes it to the White House; because of the financial difficulties we are about to face, real, harsh, and humbling as they will be; and with enemies in and out of this nation doing their best to damage it the most; I have a reasonable amount of surety, and some faith beyond that, in that what will be will be just fine. We do live in a nation of achievers. We do live in a nation of people who, when pressed, will push back. We still have most of our rights intact and functional, if there are constant challenges to them, steps forward here, steps back there. There is room for a correction without a complete loss. As a fact, despite the pain of it, a correction is in order, in many ways and for many reasons. A more humble America would not be a bad thing, a more grateful America would be good, and a more family oriented and religious America would be splendid.

Financially, I think the corrections will be harsh. People who have become used to living alone and living large may have to change their notions. People who have split out on their own via the fiscal fictions of the unsustainable economic model we are in will lose some of their freedoms. Our independence as a nation has gone too far, splitting families, friends, social groups, and society as a whole. Some of this, maybe much of it, is based upon economic fairy tales. The debt ridden will need to learn to live within their means. Those who bought houses as investments based on artificially inflated prices will have to re-assess. I think the trick is to keep the government out of things. The take-over of Fannie and Freddie is not good. The potential for more take-overs and bankruptcies of major institutions is harrowing. I do not see how that will be solved, unless that hot potato becomes even too hot for the feds and they fold to some degree. No matter how much paper the feds press, they cannot help Mae and Mac, California, Wall Street, and home owners, while shelling out for every domestic program currently on the plate. It will hurt.

Even with that, a careful buyer can probably get into a previously unattainable home for a song. And though things are still sliding, and though the government is, once again, trying to stand in the way of the hurricane and trying to slow the inevitable, work is still worth this, wood and siding will be worth that, and land will always have some value. A smart buyer can aim low, buy well, and at worst and probably temporarily lose only a little while potentially holding even or better. I do believe that. As a fact, I am beginning my search with that faith and surety in mind. First, however, the paperwork! What a pile of… paper work.

I think, for this shake-out to work without losing what is right, our government needs to get out of the way of the things which need to happen and make sure they are ready to stand in the way of the things which should be ended immediately (massive civil disorder, corruption, and such). As well, once the difficulties have passed, the government will then need to secede any powers it assumed to ensure civility. It will need to be wise. In this, more than anything else, lies my worries. Will, when the darkness has passed, the government give up the power? Will they, like Washington, surrender any claims to a throne (or in this case, socialist bureaucracy police state)?

Whatever happens, I will just be me. I will remain a Catholic. I will attempt to be decent to my neighbors. I will try to hold hope, faith, and charity above my wants and false needs. And if there is a price for these things, then I will pay the price. I pay now, why would I change with an actual gun at my head? I know there is better. I know men fail. I know the world, to include you and me, is imperfect. And, I know I can take one more step, then another, then another, until I am able to take not one more. And, at some point, I will be home. Any suffering or sin I have borne or committed will be lifted. Pain, fear, doubt, dread, age, disease, and death will be lifted. Not that I am seeking the worst with all of this, but if it be God’s will, then let it be. If it is only status quo or slightly bad, there is where it is more difficult. I am learning to do that too.