Low interest rates but lenders dropping left and right? Institutions on the rocks(FANNIE & FREDDIE)? Foreign governments with "Soveriegn Funds" so overloaded with U.S. dollars that U.S. banks and lending institutions, companies, and real estate are purchase targets. Foreclosures increasing, rents rising, and home prices in many areas at record lows? Pent up demand of home buyers to purchase a first home, their next move up home or their downsize home? Frustrated sellers with often the same desires as the buyers, but they cannot get enough money from their current home to move on or the house cannot be sold without a loss? Politicians with promises for the future but no reason these promises were not delivered in the past when they were legislators? A war being waged half way across the world with implications for our children and a huge drain on our economy? So Many Issues to be attentive to but so little time as most folks are working harder than ever for less money than ever, spending more than ever for food, fuel, credit card interest, heat and electricity and so much more?
More answers than questions? More risk than reward? More opportunity? That my friends is the key in my humble opinion...........OPPORTUNITY!
Americans are innovators, hard workers, free thinkers, and possessing a never give up attitude. Opportunity is all we have ever needed to become successful. We are greeting opportunity today as problems need solutions.
Americans, as well as our elected officials, public and private organizations have made some great strides in the past years. We have enhanced the lives of countries, peoples across the street and across the globe! We all individually and collectively have made mistakes along the way. Some of these mistakes have created some of our crazy world we live in today.
We are at the proverbial crossroads. We are on the edge of a cliff. We can view the edge of the cliff as a horror because we may fall off......or we can view the edge of the cliff as a fantastic vantage point looking into the valley below, of our future as a great nation-people in an emerging global economy!
Great civilizations face these moments in history. Can we as a people, individually and collectively, face this challenge? It all starts with us individually. Become involved, educated, aware of your surroundings, resist the siren song of advertising, politicians and others seeking to sway your view, put you asleep or otherwise anethisize you to what is going on in your home, your neighborhood, your country and the world. If we can help each other in a positive way, be kinder and more considerate of each others daily struggle, become excited about our lives, involved in our communities, rengaging with our country, we can continue to grow as a nation. Our politicians are the public's servants. In the past 50 years this concept has become subverted. The cost to become a politician has become intertwined with corporate entities and influence peddlers. It is time to hold our elected and appointed officials accountable. They are public servants and need to focus on the people and the promise of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the greater good of our nation, not special interests.
We as individuals cannot expect to act upon opportunity within a vacuum. Speak to your friends and neighbors, your co workers and people you meet in the store, at a soccer game, about the opportunity in front of us, about hope and invention, about pride and accomplishment. Set aside negativity and despair, if even for a moment, every day.
Quoting an unknown, but obviously very wise author:
"Remove those things less than excellent from your life, and you will greatly improve your integrity"
Let's create a positive dialog to support the vast opportunity before us!
rob murphy 9-12-08