I just purchased new equipment for my home based business. My stocks lost $8,000.00 just last month.
If I don`t spend it now, it will be gone and I will have nothing to show for it.

If the stock market crashes this time. It will be far more damaging then the 1930 crash. Back then the rich were the only stock holders. Now the common workers are stock holders.

Is it not time for people to begin organising mutual aid networks, such as food co-ops, car pools etc.. In hard times, it makes sense to cut out the middleman and do it yourself. The knowledge is there about how to do such things (done in the 60s!) and the Internet should make it easier. People will have to move on from being 'consumers' where the point of life is how much is consumed, to being -- well -- people whose point in life is to contribute towards the survival of the community. As people move into a post-consumer society, the will see the ideology of economic growth as an earth and wealth destroying cancer. The good thing about an ideology is that a change of mind can simply sweep it away,