Reply #130: Think Twice About Catastrophes

[mkb]

     In the late eighties I read a book by Ravi Batra called
"The Great Depression of 1990".  I can testify that
metaphorically he might have been correct, but in actuality,
not.  The predictions, if read in the normal way, stated that
there would be another long depression with catastrophic
consequences.  At the time, I thought it was argued well.  So
did many others, because it made it onto the N.Y. Times
bestseller list.
     Sometime before 1990 I realized, even though I might have
been in a depressiion, that the most accurate forecast did not
include a classic style depression.
     We cannot be certain about things, but we must learn and
think as clearly as possible.  This was one example of how my
thinking progressed from agreement with the author to
intuitively taking an opposing position, which I then stated
on talk radio.
     My general belief stems from the consequences that would
befall those who have the good life if a large scale economic
catastrophe were to hit.  Then everything that is not being
discussed now, including Communism, with all its negatives,
would reappear in mass consciousness.
     What I did say on the radio, and I still tend to believe,
is that we are being steadily lowered into economic and social
decay.  There is research I've done regarding purchasing power
relative to the relative wage that would support this thesis. 
Some of it I wrote on Stan Goff's website a few months ago.
     So, I don't pretend to have a crystal ball, but state
that predictions of disaster can cause you to become
frightened and lose sight of your fundamental direction in
life.  Those with power probably don't wan't their lives
ruined by change, so keep that in mind to help you avoid too
much stress and distraction.