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World Going Bankrupt ?

CD Erthuik | 28.06.2002 14:43

Enron, World.com, what next ? what can we reasonably do ?

Its beginning to look a bit more serious this time; booms and slumps have happened at several times in history, as have large scale wars. but there have only been two World Wars, and only one Wall Street Crash, none of which any of us less than 70 yoa have any first-hand experience.
In the first place, it becomes clear that the state of the economy is largely a matter of opinion, so try to fathom how much time we have before the slump sets in. your guess is as good as mine, or your bank managers, so read the financial press daily, and look for the signs. Rememeber, the 'Crash' was in 1929, but the 'slump' didnt really hit until about 1933. When it does hit, no part of the economy will be immune, so whever your personal wealth, or that of your friends, will be guaranteed an exemption, no matter how affluent you, or they may be at present. Money may become worthless overnight, property may be requestioned by the state, and the semi-war currently smouldering may suddenly erupt. activism will become a much more serious matter in the eyes of the state, so decide whether you want to continue, or perhaps if youre doing it for the pose, just drop the pose. try to find a job that is not excessively linked to the money-markets (thats a problem in Britain where the financial sector is about the only one that seems to carry any cache in the eyes of the public.) Think in terms of consolidating your life, and dont increase exposure by taking unecessary risk. In a phrase, if the world is heading for a 'bear-market', then consider your life as a bear-market too.

CD Erthuik

Comments

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Holy Fucking Shit!!!!!

28.06.2002 16:00

I see a bad moon risin... Yep, you may be right there, fella. And I don't think our new style anti-capitalist type activism is gonna work. Unless...unless... With class struggle connections... Hmmm, it's a long shot, but it might just work.

I mean, can you imagine the reaction at the factory gates when the anti-globalisers turn up in carnival costumes offering radical yoga sessions?

So, lets get serious folks. Capitalism is a strong and adaptable beast. A crash or slump doesn't mean it is destroyed. But it may be the time to really get started...

A little less conversation and a little more action, anyone?

Apocalypto


look at the clock

28.06.2002 22:03

There's a time and a place for pink bloc. i don't like the way people slag it off. If people want to use radical yoga as a way of getting communities together then cool (cause that's what it does, it spreads skills and keeps people healthy and brings people together. that's an important part of community building). We need to do more than that as well. We need to plan, prepare and fight against capitalism together. Don't slag off tactics like pink bloc and radical yoga and whatever else is available. The occurence of these things is a result of people realising new freedoms. we simply need to expand on these and our previous tactics and work on using everything we have to bring the system down.

NTG


a prognosis needed

28.06.2002 22:28

all we need to give is a prediction - in a deliberately collapsed economy - such as happened in Argentina, the banks will steal your putative wealth represented by savings, pension, investment or current account by denying you access. Should you protest too much, the legislation is enacted to lock you up without charge. The solution demanded by all the dispossessed - New World Order - world army, police, currency modulated by chip - you obey or you have nothing.

dh


Not unprincipled to apply tactics

29.06.2002 11:57

Having read that article yesterday, I went home and heard immediately that Xerox had literally made a carbon copy example of Enron; I took the advice and checked the Finance pages, only to read that dear old Kwik Fit (you know, you cant get better, they're the ones to trust!) had been implicated in the accounting meltdown. The radio news this morning suggested the whole episode might alarm good citizens to spend less (thereby defaulting on their holy duty to capital circulation).
In short, I agree the whole thing certainly has a 'Wall St' feel to it, and we need to start applying some tactics in our lives without becoming opportunistic about it. I find muself looking at my Building Society statement (if it still is a BS and not a bank now) to see who the accountants are. Perhaps I'm glad I dont have too much of a pension to fret over, but I might split my savings into different currencies, and clear that overdraft which costs so little at the moment.

Auntie Capitalism