My Personal Predictions For 2009 Must Go On The Gloomy Side
Posted: Saturday, December 27, 2008
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
I wish my outlook for this coming year was brighter than it is. I am not normally a doomsayer and I do try to look on the bright side of things whenever I can see where there is one. I do not see such for 2009. Everyone who reads my articles knows that, ideologically, I hold conservative views. The fact that we are now facing an entire government of opposite views to mine, doesn't help my outlook, yet it is not that which causes me to predict severe problems ahead for the good old U.S.A. At this point, I see little prospects of our avoiding many, many problems regardless of who is doing the driving.
My country is like me, we both run through our money like there is no tomorrow. We love to borrow from China. China has more money than it does people. They love to loan us money. The day is coming when there is no possibility of our paying our debt. We can't now.
We have recently paid out some $400 billion to bail out banks who have encouraged people to over extend themselves in personal debts, and then failed. The institutions then waste the bail out money and become highly indignant when questioned as to how it was spent. The auto industry is a brick wall. Our big three cannot compete with foreign automakers simply because they have grown too extravagant with their expenditures. I read recently where the U.S. Auto companies average payout per employee, counting their pay and benefits amounted to over $72.00 per hour. In comparison, the foreign automakers here, are paying for salary and benefits an average of about $35.00. I cannot be sure those figures are accurate but it is as I recall reading. Now I have a daughter who works for a nearby foreign automaker and she is earning well above the average in salary and outstanding benefits. Far more than I would have ever dreamed of earning. In fact, her salary is about double the norm of most industries in this area. Something is amiss here. Certainly our auto industry cannot compete if they must pay double that of other high paying companies in their field. It doesn't matter how much you "bail them out".
Our national finances are strained to the point that it would be near impossible for us to mount an all out war, if this nation faced the need to reinstate the draft and double our military strength in personnel and weapons. And we face such a possibility on every side. I do not believe our security will be enhanced by negotiations. The real enemy we face cares not for negotiating. Their stand is non-negotiable. They will only be satisfied to see us dead. I fear that negotiations will only bring about a lowering of our guard.
There is little question, that we waste enough money to alleviate our national debt. If we would outlaw lobbying of congress, eliminate every pork barrel request, give the president authority for line veto in all cases and remove any member of congress found abusing his expense allowance. Sounds like mighty little to ask to save our nation, but it will never be done. I read a quotation once and although I cannot quote it verbatim nor can I recall whose it was, it went something like this: "A government of the people, for the people and by the people cannot long endure. Once the people learn that they can vote themselves gifts and favors, they will vote themselves into destruction".
I am one who believes that nations rise and fall, some are overrun and become subjects of other nations, all in fulfillment of the will of God. He has historically punished His people when they depart from Him. This application does not apply to those nations who are almost totally separated from Him to begin with, either by non belief or following false gods. When He chose the descendants of Jacob to be His people to furnish the lineage to the messiah, Jesus Christ, His blessings upon them were made conditionally. All of His promises to them were IF they would keep His commandments. When they strayed into worship of idols and other gods, He allowed their enemies to overrun them. Then, even while in captivity, they rejected His Son and he allowed the Romans to destroy the Israelite nation with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
I published a book in May 2004, now out of print, in which I expressed my thoughts that the discovery and settlement of America were by the providential guidance of God, where His children might have a new and free land in which to worship Him according to His will. I still firmly believe that and I also believe that this nation found favor in His sight for a number of years. But as so many empires and nations before us, who became arrogant, selfish, greedy and self willed as they became powerful and wealthy, I believe we have followed in their tracks.
Nineveh was a great Greek city whose king and citizenry were steeped in worship of pagan gods. Everyone has heard the story of Jonah as he attempted to avoid doing the will of God in preaching repentance to those people. God had promised that He would destroy the city if they did not repent, but they did and God spared it. I am quite certain that we are no longer in God's pleasure, but sadly, I see no evidence of the possibility of nationwide repentance.
The up side to this though, is that any who desires, can always repent and obey Him. The worldly things become unimportant in that even death is rewarding. The apostle Paul made this remark when he knew that his time was short upon the earth:
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:" (Philippians 1:21-23 KJV)
And then the Psalmist writes: " Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones." (Psalm 116:15 NRSV)
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)It's easy to believe that things are going to heck in a hand basket however to discount the innovative nature of us Americans is a huge mistake. You read about about back yard innovators such as Ron Ace who has come up with a computer model to curb global warming that has PhD’s throughout the world scratching their heads; you read about Burt Rutan, an aviation innovator, who with the financial backing of Put Allen has built a rocket plane that in 2004 flew to a height of 212,000: you read about the Virginia based company "Space Adventures" which is a private company with a goal of being the 1st private enterprise to put a man on the moon & it's easy for me to believe that with this caliber of person with fire in their gut we can once again be the leaders that we once were.Thank you for reading and commenting Anon, I don't question ingenuity and high achievements such as you mention. But what you don't mention is the very things that I did, the greed, selfishness, arrogance, corruption and more. You read of those much more than the people you mentioned...and besides their in our government. Things got so bad in the late 20's that they closed the banks and killed the currency. If that happens, and it could, nobody is going to accomplish what you mention. I'm just trying to be realistic.
hi joel,i agree with the dire outlook we all seem to be facing. i also agree that we can change if we are guided by the right people, and powered in the right direction. my son is leaving for the air force jan. 13th, and i'd give anything, my right arm, leg, hip, etc., if i could stop all the wars, and all the places he may be sent. i do, however, believe in negotiation. 16 years ago, when i was attending 12 step meetings, that's all the faith we had to go on, that if we negotiated our lives in the right way, we wouldn't need to use alcohol as a way out. the theory works, if accepted and practiced. we'll have to see how it works on the outside of those rooms, in this new government body.thanks for sharing your thoughts,my best regards,sueThank you Susan and it's good to hear from you again. I hope you have a great year in 2009.
Hi Joel -- I thank you for your courageously honest perspective for the coming year. Not being particularly politically savvy, my feelings about America's torment are based on her becoming a Godless Nation which I had begun writing about 2 years ago. Personally, I agree that we are facing very critical times that will absolutely worsen if America refuses to repent -- And, Joel, as I've always said, my fear is not for us but for our children and what they are inheriting. Good job, Mr. Hendon and hoping your holidays are blessed.Thank you so much, Judi, but wouldn't it be wonderful if it turns out I'm totally WRONG?All we can do is pray and hope for the best. Thanks for your comment.
Isn't one of the reasons China has so much money is they do not pay semi-skilled workers $70 an hour.As one CNN commentator said, "The 'Big 3' auto manufacturers are already bankrupt." Since you have no lobbyists influencing your thoughts, join me in making a list of the pros and cons of letting them go bankrupt next March.Hi Gerry, thanks for commenting. Yes, I'm sure the Chinese people don't eat that high on the hog while their Leaders hoard money. But, you know, I read recently where a survey was made of Chinese (and several other countries, including the U.S.) and the Chinese were among those who rates their satisfaction with their living standards,etc, highest! And we had a very low percentage.As to the bankruptcy of the big 3 automakers, first of all I don't expect it to happen. The Obama administration owes too much to the UAW. We will see a number of concessions made by the companies as well as UAW, but in the meantime, taxpayers will have to carry them, for how long...who knows?But the implications if they were to bankrupt are complex and I do not know all of the things involved. But right now, my understanding is that it would be the best route. It would give them a black eye, but they deserve to wear one. Their groveling and begging for a handout is kindly like a black eye anyway.But if what I hear is true, they would be able to start anew, with NO obligations to the UAW, they could even hire new people if they wanted to, but there seems to be little reason for them to do that.If they came back with a strong conviction to build the cars that customers would buy and build them with the quality found in the foreign automobiles, they could probably become the companies they once were. I have never owned a foreign car. I have, for the most part, driven Chriysler products and I love them. They ticked me off a little when they dropped my Plymouth line, although I know that they had become twins with Dodge.I will research a little and see if I can come up with more facts on the ramifications of corporate bankruptcy. But I know that airlines have done it and they came out smelling like a rose.
Great article! Clearly puts thing into perspective! Keep up the good work!
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