Money
Trisha Ready’s Brother Was Right
When The Stranger was preparing to publish Trisha Ready’s brilliant essay on the crumbling economy two months ago, we sped up the process—knocking another ready-to-go piece out of the pipeline—because everyone (on TV at least) was saying that we’d reached the bottom, that the economy was bouncing back, and Ready’s essay was all about how bad things were. If things were getting better, the piece wouldn’t be as resonant/timely/accurate. I remember reading the beginning—
When people ask me why I sold my house in Madrona last month and moved to a rental apartment on Capitol Hill, I say, “Because the economy is going to tank.” But that’s not exactly accurate: The economy has been tanking since last August. I just sense that things will get much worse before they improve. When I call my brother Paul, in California, he insists, “There will be a depression in two years like nothing we’ve seen before.”
—and thinking: Yeah, right.
Uhhhhh.
It’s worth rereading. It contains a strange, quiet hope.
I have some sense that the credit bubble popping might drop some unexpected and pleasant surprises on us. As the economy crumbles further under the weight of stacked illusions, we’re going to have to keep finding more creative ways to adapt. That might make us more interdependent, more connected to one another. I mean locally and globally—the world is becoming so intimate. We’re going to survive by unsettling one another’s lives a little more.
Comments (18)
I'm praying for credit card defaults to go through the roof. Why? So that FICO can be fucked in the ass and die.
Posted by Bellevue Ave | September 18, 2008 3:36 PMShould I run up my WAMU card while it still works?
Posted by it'smarkmitchell | September 18, 2008 3:38 PMthat article was FANTASTIC and Trisha is an amazing author!
Posted by joey | September 18, 2008 3:52 PMInteresting article. I tend to think most folks in America are victims of their own mismanagement. No one forces anyone to buy buy buy things they can't afford. I mean look at The Stranger, it's full of ads to buy things, pay to hear things, pay to see things, pay to do things, pay pay pay pay. Nothing wrong with that, if you can afford it. Problem is most can't.
Posted by Sargon Bighorn | September 18, 2008 3:57 PMMore likely when the shit truly hits the fan, people will band together...and look for someone to blame. Immigrants, people with darker colored skin, the usual suspects.
Posted by Tiktok | September 18, 2008 3:58 PMAh, just what every anxiety-ridden introvert wants, another reason to be closer to people.
Posted by Darcy | September 18, 2008 4:03 PMThe economy is only crumbling for the well heeled parents of Leftist bloggers who are bemoaning their dwindling Trust Funds.
Pretty soon they'll have to take out loans for their Priuses instead of being gifted them by Gran-Nanny.
Soon they'll be decrying "government regulation" driving up prices for the consumer.
Posted by John Bailo | September 18, 2008 4:05 PMAnd if we're lucky, it will get so bad John Bailo will die!
FYYFF!
Posted by Chris from N.O. | September 18, 2008 4:11 PMi tore that article right out of the paper and have it saved in my clippings notebook which just so happens to be titled "relevant".
Posted by whomsRU | September 18, 2008 4:15 PM@6: FTW
Posted by mint chocolate chip | September 18, 2008 4:20 PM@ #4
Posted by crazycatguy | September 18, 2008 4:25 PMIf the Stranger didn't have all those ads it wouldn't be free. And you would have to pay to read it. Which I doubt you would.
@8:
I'd settle for him getting a real job and moving out of his mom's basement...
Posted by COMTE | September 18, 2008 4:36 PM@12 - You are correct. I was a bit harsh.
Posted by Chris from N.O. | September 18, 2008 4:47 PM@4 - Some of get into debt for things not so frivolous. Medical bills, paying for groceries when your student loan funds have run out for the quarter...
Posted by Madashell | September 18, 2008 5:08 PMI had to deal with both. I got well and my degree launched me into the better-paying career I have now. But, the trade-off is that I am yoked with a heavy load of debt to drag around with me for what will seem like the rest of my days. I got ahead so-to-speak, but it has come with a heavy interest-laden price.
@ 14 - Proofread before you post!
Posted by Madashell | September 18, 2008 5:10 PM#11 I can afford to buy it if need be. You may throw that awful doubt away now.
Posted by Sargon Bighorn | September 18, 2008 5:47 PM#14 WOW did you really fuck up on your understanding of what I wrote. I think a college degree is one of the BEST things you can spend money on. Bravo for you, it's worth the money. Buying that Huge screen HD TV might not be such a smart purchase. If you're buying Real food and not crap food, that is worth the money, we all need to eat so I'm of course not talking about that. So sugar, please do take the advice given earlier and proof read your post. None of the examples you gave (Medical bills, College, Food) are purchases that sink any economy. And once again, congrats on the college education.
Posted by Sargon Bighorn | September 18, 2008 5:54 PMyou think a college education would help people understand that actions have consequences.
Posted by Bellevue Ave | September 19, 2008 9:51 AMComments Closed
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