Armageddon, Apocalypse or an Incontinent Truth?

Are we facing a melt-down of gigantic proportions? And I’m not talking about the usual gumph of global-warming, save-the-planet and other woe-paranoia (all the usual suspects that tend to occupy much time in media spewings and other human interactions.) What is at hand will have a greater impact on the everyday decisions of your average jack-and-jill, for it impacts on the corporeal.

A report by Ruthie Ackerman of the Sentinel Management Group states that “When money market funds, which are typically thought of as ‘safe,’ show strain, investors worry that the credit problems have begun to spread to the broader market.” Ruthie further attests: “As the Federal Reserve and foreign central banks funnel money into their respective markets to squelch liquidity issues, problems such as Sentinel’s continue to arise, unnerving investors who are left to wonder how deep the tentacles of the subprime fallout reach.”

It must be noted that the above report followed on the heels of the $64 billion bailout of the U.S stock market by the Federal Reserve.

Further to the above, Peter Dunay of Leeb Capital Management, goes on to say “As the European Central bank and other financial banks continue to add additional funds investors get concerned that they’ll have to do more and that the problem is bigger than currently though.”

Sarel Oberholster of CCPT, in his e-newsletter asserts: “I have warned over the weekend that economic conditions have become perilous. I have described the economic problems in “The Strategist” but in short, interest rates dropped too much and people borrowed too much easy money all over the world. The debts are now falling apart as people are unable to pay on a large scale. It is causing a sort of “run on the banks” similar to that which happened before the crash of 1929. In our modern world the “run” is on investment funds and hedge funds.”

Now if the above does not put the fear of god into one’s financial perspective, then nothing barring a ground zero nuclear explosion will.

It is understood that the powers that be cannot afford to have the masses running around in a state of panic, withdrawing vast amounts of hard currency, causing greater pandemonium and consternation. That is why huge amounts of money are spent by the powers that be on ‘happy’ propaganda which is designed to keep the populous happy, content and under control; all under the paternalist rite of ‘for your own good.’

Having said that, it is by no means asserted that keeping a positive outlook is bad. Life in all its guises needs to be lived, and lived it shall be. But a little wariness will go a long way to fortifying one’s resolve when the financial walls do come tumbling down.

What is worrying about the stated economic situation is that it affects the tangible, unlike the emotional inconvenient truths that might affect the globe in years to come. Going hungry and or loosing a home and or a mode of transport and and, is not only detrimental to one’s mental health, but also very debilitating i.e. loss of self-esteem and self-worth.

I know that for years, the financial markets have suffered major upheavals and many disconcerting storms, which have all been circumvented by nifty footwork on the part of the banks, governments and other financial institutions. The quandary being that mostly the problems have been overcome by throwing money at it. Now reason dictates that sooner or later the seemingly endless pot of money will run dry for there are only so many resources available on the globe. What then?

The situation is dire but, for the moment, manageable; hopefully.

In view of the above, the desire for ‘wanton’ buying, should be more circumspect, more penny wise, more prudent. Getting rid of debt (more like minimising it if one is up to ones eyebrows in debt) should take top priority when considering future financial options. Not that any of the aforementioned will help if the bottom falls out of the market.

Then again, living off the bank’s money might just be the way to go!?