It should serve as no mystery to anyone that the world is undergoing an economic turmoil with far-reaching impact. Precipitated by a near-collapse of the financial industry, we are going through the times that force a natural correction into all system (trade, monetary, investment, stock, real estate, etc), and offset the unsustainable growth of the past decade.
It is indeed a correction, similar to what the US market has seen at the start of every decade, going back to the start of the twentieth century. But what makes it different is that the global equilibrium seems to be shifting, with massive changes in global trade, availability (or lack thereof) of skilled labor, manufacturing imbalance and a clear disparity in the prevalent infrastructure of competing nations.
It is a matter of time when “this too shall pass” and we’d return to the “good times.” But how long it takes is anybody’s guess. And for us to sustain ourselves in these times, we need to undergo a massive shift in our mindset: instead of frolicking in the present with no regard to the future, we need to get into our reserve gear and focus on survival. Even if we have tangible resources at our disposal, future holds no guarantee, and we would all be well-advised to start preserving – today!
In other words, we need to hunker down, and wait for this period to end.
This site has come about to provide a public forum for users to share their thoughts, experiences and tips, and to help everyone get past this phase. We need to re-learn the lessons on survival; to re-educate ourselves on the differences between wants and needs. We need to pool our collective resources, within our families, support networks and communities. We need to help others, and expect them to come through for us if we ever have a time of need. We need to look for every scrap of muscle, skill and intellect we could muster – God knows, we would need them all during these times.
There is a small group of social thinkers behind this site. But it is not a tool for our own exaltations or glorification. It is a forum for everyone. If we all participate, we all win. Most importantly, we all get through, and come out at the other end with stories to tell and no scars to remind us of the misfortune.
We invite you to come back every day, read the postings, and provide your comments. Whether you agree with the postings or not, your words will provide validations or correction to others. If we post polls, please provide your thoughts. It would not only allow us to steer the conversation into a certain direction, it would also ensure that the crucial topics rise to the top and get a wider audience.
The notion of hunkering down is age-old – has been around since the beginning of time. But the demands of the current world, and access to and reliance on some particular resources make these specially trying times. Let’s come up with a special way to handle this.
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These lines are being posted at 12:25 on the morning of January 1st, 2009. Half the world has seen the light of the new year, while the rest of us await the clicking hands of the clock. Let us take a moment to bid farewell to 2008, and get ready to welcome a new year. Let’s start with a clean slate. It’s a new beginning. Let’s all stay positive and remain hopeful. It’s all going to be fine!
Happy New Year to all our readers!
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