Prepare for Change

http://www.businesspundit.com/the-cost-of-being-poor/ Amazing information on how many in the US are in very weak financial positions.

http://www.powerofcommunity.org/cm/index.php "When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba's economy went into a tailspin. With imports of oil cut by more than half – and food by 80 percent – people were desperate. This film tells of the hardships and struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people during this difficult time. Cubans share how they transitioned from a highly mechanized, industrial agricultural system to one using organic methods of farming and local, urban gardens. It is an unusual look into the Cuban culture during this economic crisis, which they call "The Special Period." The film opens with a short history of Peak Oil, a term for the time in our history when world oil production will reach its all-time peak and begin to decline forever. Cuba, the only country that has faced such a crisis – the massive reduction of fossil fuels – is an example of options and hope." I just saw this movie tonight. It's ...

http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/joint-chiefs-staffers-issue-paper-say "In one sentence, the strategic narrative of the United States in the 21st century is that we want to become the strongest competitor and most influential player in a deeply inter-connected global system, which requires that we invest less in defense and more in sustainable prosperity and the tools of effective global engagement." This is a great paper.  It fits nicely with my belief that the US needs to stop wasting its money and effort on its own paranoia and start living in the current world.  As the author notes, "The 21st century is an open system, in which unpredictable external events/phenomena are constantly disturbing and disrupting the system. In this world control is impossible; the best we can do is to build credible influence – the ability to shape and guide global trends in the direction that serves our values and interests (prosperity and security) within an interdependent ...

http://newsjunkiepost.com/2011/04/15/tax-day-a-third-of-your-tax-money-is-spent-on-wars-and-security/ Are we really this paranoid?  Are we still over-reacting from 9/11?  We also hold the most prisoners in the world .  Why?  Are we the worst people in the world that we must incarcerate such a large number of our fellow citizens?  Is the rest of the world so bad that we must maintain a military larger than all other militaries put together?  Is this the kind of world we want?

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2011/04/03/20110403vacant-homes-phoenix.html "We can't overestimate the impact of vacant homes on everyone who is part of the Valley's housing equation," said Jay Butler, the group's director. "Buyers aren't drawn to the blocks with too many run-down, empty homes. Homeowners surrounded by empty homes often feel trapped and even depressed about their situation."     It's going to take several years to sell that many houses, especially with Arizona's new draconian laws on citizenship that have angered the large Hispanic community.     I sold my house in Scottsdale in 2005.  The speculator who bought it put probably $30,000 into the house before reselling it.  Today it's listed at $80,000 less than I sold it for.    Lack of regulation, greed, and hype caused this.  There is no easy solution.