Comments on: Why is a Recession Required? http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2009/08/04/why-is-a-recession-required/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:31:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Caitlin http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2009/08/04/why-is-a-recession-required/comment-page-1/#comment-30768 Caitlin Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:01:04 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=879#comment-30768 Great post! I think this is a much better way of looking at progress than a simple GDP. I'm with you - let's all skip the boom/bust cycle, and just be happy with slower growth leading to a better tomorrow. Great post! I think this is a much better way of looking at progress than a simple GDP.

I’m with you – let’s all skip the boom/bust cycle, and just be happy with slower growth leading to a better tomorrow.

]]> By: Canadian Dream http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2009/08/04/why-is-a-recession-required/comment-page-1/#comment-30697 Canadian Dream Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:41:46 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=879#comment-30697 Adam, "but it will also be the eventual demise of society." There have never been truer words. I'm reading a book that is saying we are already screwed for climate change. Interesting read. I'll post a review when I'm done. Jo, Thanks for the quote. An excellent summary. Tim Adam,

“but it will also be the eventual demise of society.” There have never been truer words. I’m reading a book that is saying we are already screwed for climate change. Interesting read. I’ll post a review when I’m done.

Jo,

Thanks for the quote. An excellent summary.

Tim

]]> By: Jo http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2009/08/04/why-is-a-recession-required/comment-page-1/#comment-30676 Jo Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:39:27 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=879#comment-30676 This was an awesome post - maybe you know the quote from Robert Kennedy below? GPI makes way more sense than GDP. Why can't I find a single fella who thinks this way?! "The Gross National Product includes air pollution and advertising for cigarettes, and ambulance to clear our highways of carnage. It counts special locks for our doors, and jails for the people who break them. GNP includes the destruction of the redwoods and the death of Lake Superior. It grows with the production of napalm and missiles and nuclear warheads... And if GNP includes all this, there is much that it does not comprehend. It does not allow for the health of our families, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It is indifferent to the decency of our factories and the safety of our streets alike. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, or the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials... GNP measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country. It measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile; and it can tell us everything about America - except whether we are proud to be Americans." This was an awesome post – maybe you know the quote from Robert Kennedy below? GPI makes way more sense than GDP. Why can’t I find a single fella who thinks this way?!

“The Gross National Product includes air pollution and advertising for cigarettes, and ambulance to clear our highways of carnage. It counts special locks for our doors, and jails for the people who break them. GNP includes the destruction of the redwoods and the death of Lake Superior. It grows with the production of napalm and missiles and nuclear warheads… And if GNP includes all this, there is much that it does not comprehend. It does not allow for the health of our families, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It is indifferent to the decency of our factories and the safety of our streets alike. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, or the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials… GNP measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country. It measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile; and it can tell us everything about America – except whether we are proud to be Americans.”

]]> By: adam http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2009/08/04/why-is-a-recession-required/comment-page-1/#comment-30668 adam Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:12:55 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=879#comment-30668 The GPI is great in a 'we are the world' sense and I think it would be fantastic if we started focusing on more cause and effect measurements. I also think I have resigned my thinking to the understanding that the world's wealth belongs to the very small group that care very little about the effect of operations but make the majority of the decisions that control those factors. The cash generated protects them from the effects of those decisions, they can afford expensive proactive health care privately and can isolate themselves from pollution etc. Capitalism has been the most effective system in all of history and allowed humans to reach levels never seen previously by any other system, but it will also be the eventual demise of society. As for the necessity of a recession, well it's necessary because the real money is made in timing markets, not buy and hold. The system in place benefits those who understand that ;) The GPI is great in a ‘we are the world’ sense and I think it would be fantastic if we started focusing on more cause and effect measurements.

I also think I have resigned my thinking to the understanding that the world’s wealth belongs to the very small group that care very little about the effect of operations but make the majority of the decisions that control those factors. The cash generated protects them from the effects of those decisions, they can afford expensive proactive health care privately and can isolate themselves from pollution etc. Capitalism has been the most effective system in all of history and allowed humans to reach levels never seen previously by any other system, but it will also be the eventual demise of society.

As for the necessity of a recession, well it’s necessary because the real money is made in timing markets, not buy and hold. The system in place benefits those who understand that ;)

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