I Hope You All Read This

[Issachar]

I looked in a mirror and debated with myself whether this should be in the Citizen Central forum or the Economic forum. I won. It's going in both. On the surface, it is talking about the economics of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, their creation, why, how they work, etc. So that puts it here.

But underlying that, is the political issue of fascism. That'll land it in the Citizen Central forum.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/rockwell/fascist-creations-fdr.html

Issachar

[Nova]

But underlying that, is the political issue of fascism.

I see it was something more basic. We, the government & the people both, feel we have the right to own/buy/consume things without regard to whether we can actually pay for them. The underlining problem is we are addicted to stuff. Not stuff we actually pay for, no, stuff we get on credit.

In this, the public & the government are in perfect alignment. It is a cultural value problem.

[Issachar]

It is a cultural value problem. Absolutely! The U.S. suffers from severe affluenza and is rejecting the only cure; Jesus and the cross.

Issachar

[Cowgirl4Christ]

Thank you Issachar for posting this. I am guilty of allowing myself to become infected by Affluenza.

In 2005, we discovered a horrific toxic mold problem in our basement (long story in and of itself.) In a nutshell, we lost a tremendous amount of our worldly possessions.... everything in our basement. All my homeschool material, ALL the kids games, clothing, furniture, the list goes on. We lost all porous items on the main and upper floors. Insurance covered virtually none of the material loss. MATERIAL. We watched as a man all geared up in a "space suit" threw away perfectly good AmericanDolls, books, computer.... none damaged, just exposed.

IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT EVER HAPPENED TO OUR FAMILY!!! We were wholly dependent on God's grace and His outreach through so many friends. We learned what it was to be wholly dependent upon him.

Did we learn our lesson? Pathetically and sadly, no. Not soon after, my addiction to a materialistic lifestyle helped to put us where we are today. Loosing our home to foreclosure. Our house will be auctioned off Thursday on the courthouse steps.

Yes, we are one of those irresponsible homeowners who had a subprime loan that adjusted. We desperately tried to maintain a lifestyle we couldn't afford on a small farm. But, I was very convicted by the Lord when we sat through a sermon in December about coveting..... we were guilty of coveting OUR OWN possessions. My husband and I were scrambling to try to plug so many holes in a Titanic mess and we ran out of fingers and toes to do so.

Yes, the mold problem created a financial disaster that we've had trouble recovering from, but my insistence to have things and maintain a lifestyle (horses) we couldn't afford, and mostly..... my refusal to allow God to direct my path and my blatant refusal to listen to my Lord .... ran us into the ground. He didn't cause this to happen. He just pulled His hands back because we insisted we knew better.

My battle now is with myself. I judge myself very harshly and really don't feel worthy of His grace right now. Don't worry, I know He awaits me with open arms to receive me back.

But, to anyone who reads this.... to anyone who reads and posts responses to the whole subprime debacle.... please be gentle with your words. Yes, there are many of us out here, I'm sure.... and some right here on RR. Let your words be gentle but firm teachings of God's word. But, please be careful of condescending remarks. I know many fiscally responsible people are very frustrated with people like myself. Right now, I am my own worst enemy and am already beating myself up and hanging my head in shame. Just last night, I was at the county fair (my kids were participating in various events) and it was THE LAST place I wanted to be. It's a VERY small town. People talk. And I was terrified of people asking if my house sold because the "for sale" sign is gone.

Thanks for reading/listening. ~Linda

[wasp]

The U.S. suffers from severe affluenza and is rejecting the only cure; Jesus and the cross.



I dont think you could have worded that any better. Bravo :thumb !! It would do us all well to prey that everyone would see it that way. :pray

[BrideOfChrist]

Linda,
I am so sorry about the situation you and your family are in right now. Please don't beat yourself up. We live in a very materialistic society and I think we're all guilty, on some level, of being addicted to things, myself included. I know I haven't been the best steward of the money God has given me. :ohno

I said a prayer for you and your family. The Lord will take care of you.

[Issachar]

Linda, thank you for your totally open honesty. (you're brave!) I think it is nearly impossible to grow up in an affluent society like America and not have some level of "affluenza". Most folks that appear to be doing ok or really are doing ok (for now) almost all suffer from it too; it's just not caught up with them yet. I am hoping you and your family have a roof over your head? At least, after Thursday? I did not know this about your situation. My wife and I will pray for your family. What you are going through is this (imho): When we are born again, God begins to apply the cross to us. The cross, being an instrument of death, is very effective. It will bring death to the desires of the flesh. Those desires are common to 100% of human beings. It is the fallen human nature. Testing in life is to bring the unbelievers to Christ and believers to a place of being more Christlike. I have an awful long ways to go. But God is faithful. He'll "fix" me. :) I have a saying that I've passed on to my children (to me, that means it's important - :) ) that says, "Never waste a perfectly good trial. I don't want to get through a trial and all I can say is, 'I'm glad that's over.' ... but rather, die to self ... grow in wisdom ... anything other than just be glad it's over." :hat

We too are only a hop, skip and a .... from foreclosure. Of course I hope it does not happen and I am trying everything I can to prevent it, but :idunno
With no permanent job presently, I couldn't even rent somewhere. Wouldn't matter ... with no income right now, I couldn't pay rent anyway. The fact that we are possibly facing being houseless (I can't say homeless because a home can't be had with money - wifey and I are at home wherever) is weird. A bit scary too but that is merely the flesh. Our situation isn't due to excess really ... we have no credit cards or car loans or any of that ... just a house payment and bills like everyone like utilities, insurance, food and gasoline. Oh well .... I'm ramblin' now. Blessings to you in the name of Jesus during trials.

Issachar

[sojourner]

this materialism and hedonistic lifestyle that has been the formative influence in the characters of people over the past five decades, has built itself up into a frenzy. People have been given over to nothing but pleasure and entertainment, easily obtained with cheap debt. They have sold their grandchildren and great-grandchildren into debt-slavery, just so they can have their big plastic houses and suv's and just about any other thing their heart desires. This is a powerful narcotic, from which, horrific withdrawal symptoms will emerge. A maddened society wanting their toys back, like spoiled brat children. And, just in time for them to make a deal with the ac to get it back...."hey, here's a brand new world currency...want your part in it? just step right up, and we'll put a couple million to your credit on this little atm-tatoo that no-one can steal from you....." etc. They will rush forward for it. Since they don't have solid faith, they don't care if they have to worship this guy....that's fine,,,they don't worship anyone or anything else anyway,,,except themselves. The ac's house in this way will be divided and fall, cannot stand...because he himself will demand to be worshipped by a world population that says,,"hey, yeah, here's your worship, now where's the cash?"...........all these people worship themselves, too, they are self-absorbed self-worshipping reprobates. Nice job satan, the worship you receive from these reprobates, will be pretended, phony, and you will have to "buy" this worship with promises of economic benefit.....good for you........
a house devided against itself, cannot stand..................:preach

[Witness4Jesus]

Linda your response has really touched me. Thank you for that. I am praying for you and your family. Do you have a place to go after Thursday?

Issachar, I am praying for you and your wife too. I pray that permanent work will become available to you.

Witness

[Nova]

This whole situation is pulling everyone down. Whether you lived by Biblical principals about money or not.

It is very hard to sell a home right now because the market is glutted with properties either in pre-foreclosure or bank owned. And those lower prices are dropping neighborhood values. And eventually will effect services funded by property taxes like schools, etc. With delinquencies rising, I don't expect it to get better anytime soon.

Cowgirl, don't you have a farm? I thought agri properties were holding up well. But with a mold problem that would be a tough sell regardless.

If I thought we were going to turn the corner anytime soon, I'd say find a way to get thru for a few more months. But I think food & fuel costs are going to keep rising. And although it sounds unsupportive, I do think consolidating households is one of the better solutions. Not one anyone wants to hear. But the most practical one I've come up with.