Economics and the angst of the newer generations

Just some thoughts that crossed me head this day, while a very MEAN sun was beating down on my brainium while herding the 2 watt bulbs on flicker mode

First thought came about 2pm, when we tapped into a hot line feeding the house.   Long underground run to the juice box straight from the transformer on the pole (no breakers other than the one on the t-former,,, EEK!!!!)   Been down there so long the owner of the house (original owner!!!  whoa!!!) thought it was several feet further away.   Long story short, local power guy came out, did s trace to mark the lines of its location for us, and is coming back out tomorrow to shut off power so Your Blogger of many Hats can put in the splice to repair the one broken line.   NO JURY-RIGGING THIS ONE,,,  its 4′ from a pool, and the hole we were punching is for a metal post: serious Murphy moment in the making if jury-rigged.

But, on to that Economics thing.    Some of the angst I see from the guys I work with is sort of understandable.   When they see me, tools, nice truck, slightly better pay (that is not due to just time but long gained experience and reliability) and see how much they must work to gain that ‘level’, they tend to get a bit pissed.   Its not envy, its realization that some of the gains they see me holding (tools, other stuff) are so far out of their reach in this economy, they lose hope.   My tools for example.   Built up over many many years, mechanic stuff from the early nineties, other stuff from the early part of the 2000’s, more and more along the way, a piece here, another there, but If I were to add it all up, probably twenty-thousand or more in tools over time.(likely overly conservative estimate.   Machine tools are not just heavy,,,)  Thats the norm, right?   

well,,   No, not exactly.   IF something were to happen, and I needed to replace those tools today, fifty grand or more is most likely the REPLACEMENT costs.    These boys are lucky to make 15K a year.   And when it costs over a hundred bucks to feed two in basic groceries (less than 1000 calorie/day diet),,,   plus all the other shit that has become necessity.    

I try to tell them, “put aside 10% every week, you won’t miss it that much, and by the end of the year, that has built up to something you can use to get those tools that help you make more money, or even pay for the classes to learn the things you can’t on your own, so you can rove around and not be locked into a dead-end job as a general laborer.“

That goes over like a lead balloon,,,  whumPF!!!    $20 a week out of their spending appears to be a breaking point for these boys.   They have no clue that I DO, do that 10% and my 10 is a bit more than that stinking lousy 20 they should be.  Won’t lie, there is currently a low number in the savings, but then, its been an exciting couple of months with some surprises built in that ate that ‘nest egg’ up pretty quickly.   But its growing back, slowly but surely.

While I do understand the angst of seeing the rising inflation with corresponding shrinking of the checks, meaning what went well 5 years ago, doesn’t go as far today, I also know there is more than a little ignorance of how money actually works, VERY LITTLE discipline/self control, and almost no ‘plans for the future’.   That last, I also understand because I have been quite hesitant to make some plans due to the shape of the world and the sheer darkness of the future as it seems to be unfolding.

The real problem for US, Ameri-Cans, is the angst the young are feeling, is PERFECT fuel for Marxist ideologies to grab and twist.    I am doing what I can with the few (very few) that will listen.   the Tuttle Twins people (see lower side bar) are doing what they can to teach the young basic REASONABLE and LOGICAL foundations to law, government and economics, and helping the parents do what the schools do not.

And the hardest lesson to teach?   TANSTAAFL.   There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch,,,,

more later.