Ironsuit’s Weblog

Recently, everyone wants to share his or her opinion about the market. Why not? It’s nice to talk about giant mathematical problems when most of us could not pass the math SAT test for high school students. Ironically, that also includes our government representatives.

Despite the lack of math skills, the majority of us good Americans are concerned.

I am concerned, but I am not concerned for the same reasons as the government, corporations, retired persons, and investors.

I was given a credit card for $5,000 dollars when I turned 18 years old. My wife had an offer for $100,000 credit limit by Chase Credit Card when she turned also 18 years old. I bought a house through Wachovia on the Internet without ever seeing my purchase until I arrived, a homeowner. I purchased vehicles without down payments, paid credit cards off with other credit cards; even hired a lawyer to settle my debt with my debtors.

I am not proud of these things. I am just a 29 year old, a product of the 90’s. Remember us? We are the ones who spawned Marlin Manson, death metal, mosh pits, hip-hop gangsters, drive-by shooting, tattoos, X-tacy, meth labs ect. We hated the system.

When I realized I needed to get my debt under control, it was to late to file bankruptcy. Which is now only a privilege of the super-wealthy. So I was forced to bear down, cut the food bill, stop spending and just pay.

Well that is not how it works. The card company sent me a letter stating that I was a high-risk customer. Really? I agree. They decided to move my interest rate from 4.0% to 29.9%.

Back to the mathematics:

You can’t pay more in bills than you make.   -1600 + 800= -800

Secretly I am not as concerned about the economy as I should be. I have been struggling with finding a good paying job for a few years now.  I worked for 2 companies that filed bankruptcy and laid everyone off. I worked for one company that sent their work to China and shut down. I survived.

I ate Ramen Noodles for lunch. Most American have. I traded my 65′ Ford for a motorcycle to save on gas. So have most of my friends. We are the true American Gang. Teachers, soldiers, farm workers, mechanics, shelf stockers, construction workers riding on Goldwing 750’s and Kawasaki Vucan’s.

I wish I could comfort these super-wealthy. Tell the corporations that I know it hurts to be broke. I don’t like cutting back on spending either. I would like to make more money as well. I also wish I had a bail out program.

So I am not crying right now. I hear the cries and I understand why; but the Truth is, lower gas prices make me feel good. When tomatoes are 50 cent per pound at Wal-mart, my wife and I buy chips and celebrate. If paint prices drop I may even re-paint my house. Now I am getting excited!