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Vinny
11-23-2001, 10:42 AM
Financially speaking . . .

As we embark on another holiday shopping season, it is time to consider The American Dream. That dream can be as different as there are people.

A message is being delivered to us by our political and business leaders. Retailers have attempted to influence our thinking (imagine that) with the false assumption that the American public will come out in force and spend a lot of money this holiday season. They want us to feel comfortable that everyone else is spending, so we should too. FOLLOW LIKE SHEEP. In the world of marketing, the term is called "Assume the sale."

Certainly the reason we work is to spend our money as we see fit. It's one of our freedoms, one of our rights. We spend for our needs and wants. Gift giving is good for the giver as well as the receiver. For many, spending is about competition and feeling powerful.

This year we are being influenced (brain-washed)even more than usual to "SPEND!" It's like a bunch of hungry dogs all after the same piece of meat (your money). Don't be too free to give it up. Our political and business leaders want their American Dream, they want your money to become their money (obviously).

My American Dream is for freedom, financial freedom. I would like to retire comfortably someday. It won't happen without discipline.

This year, I hope that more Americans will choose to invest more in their own economy and less into the economy of big business. I hope more Americans will buy that Roth IRA, additional principle payment, college fund, mutual fund or other financial investment for their futures.

Will I be spending more than in other months? Yes.
Do I enjoy gift giving and receiving? Of course!

Figuratively speaking, my American Dream won't catch more fish this season.
That's the whole idea! :cool:

[ 11-23-2001: Message edited by: Vinny ]</p>

ampersat
11-23-2001, 07:07 PM
amen brother vinny. tell it like it is.

here's a thought: how about instead of buying the new xbox for the youngster in your life, you could buy them a nice shiny new investment of some kind - an ira, a treasury bill, a few stocks, whatever you prefer. instead of getting your wife diamond earrings, you could put some money away into her retirement fund or maybe pay down one of her credit cards. get them all some 'stuff' too; half the fun of christmas is unwrapping the gifts. just don't go overboard on it.

it's amazing how the media has built up this entire blitz on how patriotic it is to spend your money in the stores that are owned by the parent companies of the media outlets that are feeding you this load of bull in the first place.

Hoosier Daddy
11-24-2001, 09:40 AM
Gotta chip in too. You're right. I'm as patriotic as the next guy, probably more so than most. But this whole business of hearing that all I have to do to fight terrorism is spend money is really starting to **** me off. There are commercials now that say exactly that "all I have to do is contribute to the economic cycle". Dammit that just irritates me. Go on with our lives and do what we would normally do, sure, spend more money to get the country going again?, no F-ing way. I have a certain amount of money to spend, and that's it, end of story. I'm not about to go and become an average American ($8,000 in credit card balance, look it up), just to show Bin Laden he is an a-hole, or because the media says I should.

Rant, rant, cuss, cuss, this crap p's me off big time.