Monday, February 01, 2010

The Razor's Edge

I doubt I am the only one who feels a strong sense of walking a razor's edge, both personally (in my case at least) and at a global level.

On a personal level, the edge is financial. Without going into too much detail, I will just say that my and my family's financial situation is somewhat precarious. Our resources have grown very thin and the opportunity for income is still restricted until some kind of short term operating funds can be arranged. Obviously this is a sticky situation since the vultures are eyeing good farmland all around the world. I hate to think that we might have to sell more land in order to continue with what is left...just doesn't seem wise in the long term. I will do just about anything to avoid that.

But on a global level, I cannot help but feel that all this personal stuff might be moot. This is where I feel the razor's edge analogy fits best. Anyone who is looking at the world through rational and truly honest eyes knows that the economic situation is highly unlikely to be on the path to a stable recovery. Quite the opposite, we are waiting for the other shoe to drop...that shoe which threatens to crash right through the floor when it finally falls, likely taking the whole house of cards down with it.

Then there is the increasing tension between the world's powers, this tension heightened by issues such as climate change, peak resources (most importantly peak cheap energy), and understandable concern about the aforementioned economic situation which is also fueled by the first two listed issues.

And all this happens as the world's greatest power seems to be marching right toward being the most recent failed Empire. We all know these empires do not go down easily so the increased police state style measures are hardly surprising, but still terrifying. Nor is it surprising to see this crumbling Empire engaged in significant foreign military activity. Only this time, a major global conflict is likely to be like nothing we have ever seen before. Yet still swords are rattled, threats made, intrigue plotted. I can't help but feel closer to this catastrophic conflict that at any time growing up in the 70's and 80's.

All told, its a little hard to get up and get going some days. Thank goodness I am not in a city, I think I might go mad.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's pretty clear we're heading for some wicked shit. Sometimes it's overwhelming; sometimes it's liberating. A lot of dross is getting burned away and the outlines of the important things are starting to become clearer. The little things that make no sense and never will add up to much: you just have to keep at them one day after another.

Cheers! Nice blog.

Aimee said...

I agree with everything you've said. I just don't see how sane, intelligent people can close their eyes - denial is a powerful force, I guess. I'm sorry to hear about your family's financial trouble - I wish you the very best of luck, and I know that whatever is fixable through hard work on your part will get fixed.
Best,
aimee

Walter Jeffries said...

Things have been worse before. They'll get worse again. Sharpen those skills for getting through hard times. We'll get lots of practice. My best wishes to you and your family in your personal travail.

linda said...

In the city, we have distractions. I keep thinking people will start to panic, even in little ways, but its business as usual. I feel like the lone survivor of Invasion of the Body Snatchers half the time.

I am sorry to hear that your family's finances are precarious. I wish the best to you and yours and I know how you feel.

MoonRaven said...

I will echo what others have said about being sorry to hear of your family's financial woes. May things improve at least to the point you need to worry less--much less.

But I fear that you are right about the overall economic situation. I think each of us needs to begin to prepare for things to get more difficult. And I think one of the best ways of doing this is to build better connections with each other.

I hope that you and your family can rely on each other and may you find some likeminded people around you.