When the wagers must finally be paid off
And the decision is in; the American government has declined to bankroll the gambling professionals, and the sky is falling (if you listen and believe the gang that feels they deserve everyone else’s money). Maybe I’m not rich enough, but the idea of taking money you can’t afford to lose and then gambling it (away) has always seemed like a loser’s lot.
Let’s go one step further. You gamble, you lose AND you expect the neighbours to take on your financial pain as their own. You never offered to share if you won, but you believe with all your heart, that the government should share bear the pain. Guess what? That’s about as realistic as believing that you will always win at the gaming table. Time to give your head a shake.
The refusal of the American government to assume the debt load of society’s chronic gambling club, the stock market, is both just and right. The paper loss is probably painful to the ego of those who play the markets, but there are just as many dollar bills on the table today as there were yesterday.
But what do I know? I obviously don’t see the immense tragedy of rich people finding out that they are just like you and me when the chequebook is finally balanced. The bank doesn’t own my soul, and my employer has a strong backer, so next week’s paycheque shouldn’t bounce. I can eat beans and weiners if the caviar runs out at my local supermarket, and my dog is as openminded. While the bonds burn, we’ll sit, side by side, and watch the campfire.
