Literal Disteria

I've just finished reading an article over at the Atlantic detailing the pessimism some in Obama's transition team have when it comes to the economy. And in reading this article I have realized the significance of where we are in our country's history. We are treading into new waters, charting a course that has not been discovered yet. And in the unknown there is much to fear and to be optimistic about.

For one our economy continues to crumble away. And although I am trying to convince myself that I am simply seeing a hyperbolic view of a financial system I know very little about, the effects of a world economy in recession is becoming more apparent with each passing day. I am minimally comforted by the prospects of an Obama administration steering our nation and world through the rough road ahead, especially with Obama's fine choices for most of his Cabinet.
But I am beginning to think this is something one government cannot simply fix, and it may even be something that cannot be overhauled by a group or majority of governments. In each and every country around the world we are seeing a receding economic landscape. And in it's pathway countries like Egypt and Pakistan and many more are enveloped in political and militaristic uprisings. Government's are being crippled by the weight of deficits and are struggling to provide for their country's own. We in America are facing similar problems. Our government is throwing around vast sums of money to simply keep our economy afloat. There is now talk that if the auto-industry bailout does not pass the Senate and White House, it could be the tipping point for an even steeper economic decline. Talk of an approaching depression is becoming not only more prolific but more believable.

And so although it is not an appealing thing to do, I believe we need to start considering what 2009 might very well bring us. Although I am keeping hope alive that an Obama administration along with world governments will join together to work this thing out and bring economic prosperity back in fashion, I am also seeing the beginnings of a very dire time in our world's history. Where unemployment rises to levels unseen since the depression and those in developing countries fighting to get even the most necessary goods. It is a bleak outlook and by god I hope it never materializes. But I hope this serves as a call to all to start paying close attention to what is happening in our world today. We are in a very fragile state. One failed bill, one bankrupt company, and we might find ourselves in the shittiest of shitholes.