1. Dimitri Orlov foresaw the economic collapse of the US
2. Orlov has some advice for how to avoid becoming a victim of it
here are my interpretations of the points Orlov has made, below
-Costick67 ( 8^P
1
Point 1
If you believe my Duck Soup and my Mayday texts, I guessed that with communism out of the way, the rich of the West would cause chaos of a sort in their efforts to return workers to the wonderful 19th century world, free from pesky rights, benefits, market controls and democracy. This effort will most certainly lead to economic collapse, and this crisis is only the beginning. However, the powers are infallible, so we have to pay the price for their mistakes.
Point 2
Hallelujah for that!
Point 3
I don't know what 'indicators' he used, but he was right.
Point 4
The US, Russia and UK, as imperialist countries, all think and act alike. In school, we were taught that the only difference between the US and USSR was the fact that we were allies with one of them.
2
Here's the world-changing advice. By being interested in progress and prosperity (as concepts) you play into the hands of the super-rich as they control, make, buy, sell, transport, charge interest, and do everything with everything, from oil to clothing. So, starve THEM, not yourselves. Don't buy stuff as often. Just the necessities. If you have a family, you're already likely doing it. Not many of us can dream of the big Merc in the drive and the split level house with fields and a pond. So, stop acting like you're climbing the property ladder, because you aren't. If you're not careful, the bankers will be climbing the social ladder, thanks to you.
Take you money out of the cash economy (starve the banks and investment houses). If you own a house, hang on to it and keep it in good shape (start taking carpentry lessons). If you don't, get one [unless you can get free or subsidised housing from the state], even a bachelor apartment, and put as big a deposit you can on it. Then scrimp and save for 10 years and pay it off (get a second job, even). Then, you don't need to borrow any more. (Also, get enough clean land to plant your own garden) If you can't pay off your credit cards every month, then cut them up until the balance is gone. Transfer the debt to a consumer loan and pay it off quickly.
'Reduce your dependence on steady income' seems to be saying that the cash economy is at the root of all problems. It makes only those who are well-connected rich and they don't pay taxes. Some of our families are not that far removed, historically, from subsistence farming. It's odd that, back then, everyone seemed to have some kind of a house and enough food. So, why did we all clamber to the city to earn money? Perhaps it was that shiny new car that was advertised on that shiny new television. These are BIZARRE ideas to be bandying about, but a dirt farmer didn't need to have an investment banker on call. I'm listening to any and all solutions here. It's the essence of THINKING OUTSIDE the proverbial "BOX", or is it the "consumerist jail cell in your own head".
Point 2
Obviously, most of us have to work for somebody else. That can mean working ever more hours for ever lessening real wages. You have to realise when this is happening and find another option, if it exists. Every boss wants more for less nowadays.
Sometimes I wonder, as an educator, if it wouldn't be easier earning the same money in a job where you don't really have to use your mind and soul and much of your spare time marking. I'm not into laziness, though, but if you think of the benefits of having time to yourself, you'll begin to look at life differently. It may be too late to take a degree course, but you could take a course or pick up a hobby that you've always wanted to and then maybe use it as an extra income. You could make the next whiz-bang invention in your spare room. At work, part of your mind should be on making improvements in your performance so that you can work less hard, but you need to decide whether and when you tell your boss (like at bonus time) about your improvements so that you get credit for them, and advancement and bonuses, and therefore more money for less work. Or keep the ideas, and start a new company that competes with your boss'.
You can truly take advantage of your free time if you're a trained professional. You can often work as much or as little as you want. You need to decide your opportunity costs. What would be of more benefit to you or your family? An extra hour of work, or an extra hour helping around the house. If you aren't a professional, the next best thing you can do is show your kids the jobs that could leave them with extra time and the skills to make their own financial future. Then, they won't have to worry so much about being taken advantage of by bosses. In fact, the whole issue of how your train and prepare your kids for the future, without freaking them out, is a favourite of mine, and one that I'm living with at the moment. See what they like to do, or play, and just join in and/or talk to them about it, encourage it and see where it goes. Don't just let them rot in front of the tv. You'll be giving them a life sentence as victims of the system.
Point 3
Starting trading services with trustworthy neighbours. Baby-sitting for grass cutting, etc. No money changes hands, so no TAX, no GOVERNMENT, no FAT rich guys. Hand over some good children's clothes to your neighbours, and vice versa. That reduces expenses for both of you.
Jealousy and greed are largley created by consumerist advertising. They force us to compete, unhealthily with our neighbours and even our families. And you and your jealousy might be to blame for the bad relations with your neighbours. So, go next door, kiss and make up, and help your community save money.
Happiness, if we should expect it from our lives, does not come from having stuff. It comes from having just enough and then having time to appreciate life and the people we love. There's not much of that going on today.
I'm sure that this is also an opportunity for adults, especially those over 40, to once and for all lose that extra weight. Well, eat less, eat better and wiser and burn more calories than you consume. Start by just getting over this big thing we have with meat, for a start. It's farmed in such a horrible way. While you need protein, you should get just enough to be healthy and nothing more, unless you raise your own animals. I'm amazed, not at governments' behaviour turning a blind eye to chemicals and viruses and waste, but by the farmer, who in the interest of making MORE money, will feed his fellow citizens totally unhealthy products chock full of chemicals [it's pure sin]. It's really sad. On that note, why not start a garden, indoors or out, as big as you can. You'll begin feeling better if only with the idea that you know what your eating is healthy. I'm not even going to start on the dangers of processed foods. Go look it up if you want, or just try to find healthier options. If your daily calorie intake is full of processed crap, [look up hydrogenated oils, 'E' additives] then you're not doing yourself any good, but you're doing wonders for the bank balances of the rich guys who own the factories. In a few words, if you can, (move to the country if you can) get some unpolluted land (anywhere) and start a sideline in food self-sufficiency.
I'm not just talking here. I'm already doing most of the things I mentioned in these last three points.
-Costick67 ( 8^P
