The Forever Recession (And the Coming Revolution)

Seth Godin's Blog

By Seth Godin There are actually two recessions: The first is the cyclical one, the one that inevitably comes and then inevitably goes. There's plenty of evidence that intervention can shorten it, and also indications that overdoing a response to it is a waste or even harmful. The other recession, though, the one with the loss of "good factory jobs" and systemic unemployment--I fear that this recession is here forever. Why do we believe that jobs where we are paid really good money to do work that can be systemized, written in a manual and/or exported are going to come back ever? The internet has squeezed inefficiencies out of many systems, and the ability to move work around, coordinate activity and digitize data all combine to … [Read more...]

What Hurricane Irene Can Teach Us About the Jobs Crisis

Arianna Huffington of The Huffington Post

 By Arianna Huffington Originally Posted: 8/30/11 01:40 PM ET on HuffPost’s Daily Brief With the death toll at 40 and rising, historic flooding in Vermont and parts of upstate New York, millions without power and an estimated $7-10 billion worth of damage, we can hardly say that anything about Hurricane Irene is cause for celebration -- but it would have been much, much worse were it not for the amazing collective action both by the federal and local governments, and by neighbors and communities. The storm's proximity to the 10th anniversary of 9/11 gives these efforts added resonance. At a time when the nation seems paralyzed and polarized, the pending milestone has already been cause for reflection about a time -- in the days … [Read more...]

What “Hawaii’s 25 Most Expensive Homes” Reveal About the US Economy

A $30 Million 3rd Home?

  Originally published by Charles Hugh Smith, Of Two Minds on Sep. 15, 2010 This article first appeared a half a month ago.  As we enter into the final push of the mid-term elections in October/November of 2010, I think that this article can help bring clarity to the degree of excess that we Americans have come to accept as ‘normal.”  Please let me know how you feel about this article and its assertions. - MB "The 25 Most Expensive Homes in Hawaii" reflect an economy based on financial speculation whose wealth is concentrated in a parasitic financial sector. The glossy Mid-Pacific yuppie advert vehicle Honolulu Magazine recently ran a cover story of irresistible real-estate pornography titled "The 25 Most Expensive Homes … [Read more...]

The Next Generation of FAITH and HOPE

I am here!

My son Evan returns to college for his senior year on Sunday.  He is full of hope, excitement, anticipation and joy.  He has the energy and determination of a freight train barreling cross-country, throttle wide-open in the vast and flat mid-western plains.  As a parent, I worry. Ahhh.  What must it be like to be young and not so aware of the impact of the nasty global economy, the frightening challenges ahead in our domestic economy and the pitiful job market?  I am tempted to warn him (again) about the uncertainty of America’s economic future.  I am also tempted to advise him (again) about the benefits of pursuing higher education and an advanced degree.  I want him to be careful as he experiments with new ideas entering into … [Read more...]