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Some people have the wrong idea about me. That's not hard to imagine. Sometimes I have the wrong idea about me.

But, what I want people to focus on is not me. I want people to focus on my IDEAS. My ideas have merit. My ideas will remain viable long after I am gone.

I'll be gone one day. You'll be gone one day. Your children will all be gone, too.

What will remain is the IDEA of you. The thought of what you were. The concepts that inhabit your mind now will become reality in the lives of those you leave behind.

If you watch my videos about "the stock market" and think I say what I say in front of that camera is for those who are around NOW, you are half right. I say what I say to inspire people TODAY. I say what I say to inspire people today to do and say their OWN THINGS for TOMORROW.

When it comes to the "Jim Cramers" of the world - the worst of wall street (and, that's saying a lot) - I "spend so much time" on them because, well, someone must. Someone must show what's wrong with a system. Don't we teach our children not to touch fire?

Oh, and, yes, look at that. I've intimated that you, my adult reader, are one of my "children".

Get over it.

We are all children. We are all parents. We are all family.

The family, though, that we are members of is the family we chose to join. We choose, you and I, our siblings, cousins, great-uncles, and, parents. It's true. We do. An important man taught me once that we choose our family.

You chose me to be a part of your family when you joined my service. I take that invitation and cherish it. You can choose to disown me any day.

This is more than the "stock market". This is our family. This is our country. This is our children's future.

Today, while you do what you do, think about what you can do or say to help someone else in your family. I'm talking about your literal family and any of the conceptual families of which you are a member.

Make a video. Post a blog. Write an email.

Hold a hand. Let someone cry on your shoulder. Call a friend you haven't called in over a year.

You only have so much time. And, when your time is up, what IDEA will people have about you?

Sincerely,
Don Harrold

(WARNING: This is an essay fueled by passionate belief. There may be language involved you could find objectionable. And, I don't use a single "four letter word". But, if you read past this point, I don't want a single complaint about any metaphors I use. If you're smart enough to read and understand this much, you're smart enough to stop reading further if you're easily offended.)

Imagine, if you can, a household somewhere in America. Just one household. A mom, maybe a dad - most likely a "baby daddy" or boyfriend, probably a couple kids.

This household (I'll loosely refer to this group of individuals as a "family" from this point forward) bring in about $45,000 a year in salaries from their multiple jobs.

Both mom and "the father of the children in the house" drive a car. The car is 3 years old or less. They're paying about $500 a month on each - and that's without insurance rolled-in.

This "family" has all the cool stuff "families" have these days: Cell phones, multiple video game platforms for the kids, "wide screen tv" to play the games on, satellite or cable with 500 channels of brain-reducers and libido-titilaters.

The DVD collections are nearly complete, too. All the great stuff they watched the first, second, and, third times (thanks to their TIVO) they now "own" on DVD. What's more, they're about to chunk that old DVD player in favor of the new "blu ray" player. And, they are so thankful they never fell for that "hi-def DVD" sales-pitch! How stupid would they feel if they blew their money on THAT?

The pantries of this home are filled with all the name-brand items their coupons would help buy. I mean, these people are true savers: If they're gonna buy that frozen pizza, it's gonna be with a $0.50 coupon.

There's no time to cook from scratch, mind you. These folks are busy beavers. In fact, if they don't make it from a box, they can head on down to "Mickey D's" and get something off that "dollar" menu. Once more, these are thrifty individuals.

And, yes, they're "lovin' it".

Sometimes things don't go just right, though. Every now and then, the local public school where the 1.78 kids in the "family" attend will send home a note:


Dear Mom and "guy who had sex with mom",

Your kids are super cool. Don't get us wrong. Very intelligent, wise, and, full of interest in whatever it is we "teach" them.

However, it seems that the ritalin, xanax, prozac, or, whatever it is you're feeding them needs an adjustment. You see, one of your little scamps can't seem to keep their mouth shut long enough hear me tell them what to think about whatever it is I'm here to "teach" them.

Now, don't feel bad. This is not your fault. Kids are just naturally curious. But, that's what the medication is for.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our "parental rights advocate" to discuss your options.

Sincerely,
The Person Paid Less than a Burger-Flipper,
Charged with the Daily Scrubbing of Your Kids's Mind

Now, there might be a discussion about this note at dinner that evening. "Might" is the appropriate word. You see, this "family" eats together three times a year: Christmas, Easter, and, Thanksgiving. Well, make it four times if you include the hot dogs in the back yard on the fourth of July.

In place of a discussion that evening, the kids get a visit to the doctor's office.

The doctor, well, isn't in these days. Instead, mom gets to have a talk with a "physician's assistant". Mom used to question these visits to the "physician's assistant", but, she figures that they must know what they're talking about, right? Even though they don't have a degree in medicine, or, a full internship under their belt in pursuit of said degree, the insurance company is cool with it, so, Mom is, too.

Three hours after waiting in the office, and, 5 minutes after the actual visit, mom heads out with a new prescription for the kids, and, plenty of time to do a little shopping.

Where is mom about to shop? What is she about to shop for? How much money does she have in her bank account to spend?

What day is it?

Right. She remembers that she can't remember what she needs. That's okay because there are enough billboards along the roadside to remind her where she can go to find out.

Mom pulls into the nearest "mart" or "co".

The familiarity of the aisles. The soothing flicker of neon. The smiling, elderly, "greeter", all tell Mom she's right where she needs to be.

And, oh yeah, this is exactly where she needs to be. There's all sorts of things to "get". Better still, mom can get that prescription filled - "conveniently" - while she "looks around".

30 minutes, and $300 later (minus $25 in coupons, of course), mom's got a cart full of goodness, and, fistful of pills for junior.

The best part is that since mom charged all that on her "credit" card (the third one worked, but, the first two were "declined" - mom will have to "look into that" because, as she told the cashier, "This has never happened before. I don't know why that would be.")

Everything mom buys with those credit cards gives her "rewards" points. Mom likes to be "rewarded". That's one reason mom shops so much, too.

To shop is to be rewarded for your smart, savvy, definitely-necessary purchases.

Mom is not even out of the parking lot though, when she realizes she's out of gas in that 3-year-old-or-less SUV. Never fear, though, the "mart" or "co" that "helped" her with the prescription, "food", and, plastic stuff she just "bought" has a gas station right there. And, if mom buys gas THERE, they will give her $0.02 a gallon "cheaper". The fill-up only cost $48.80 instead of $49.02 across the street.

Once more, mom's a smart, savvy, consumer.

The day of prescriptions, purchases, fill-ups, and, rewards is near a close for mom. On the way home mom stops to pick up something to "eat". Something with a sauce squirted on top of something made of a meat of some kind, and, all packed into a "wrap" of some sort.

Since mom's in a hurry, that credit card comes in super handy at the "drive thru", too.

Mom's in a hurry, all right. Because, mom's got to get home in time to get ready for her shift that evening at the place she slaps on a name tag, paper hat, and/or, uniform at.

Now, it's her second job - and, she's thankful for it. Mom's college degree isn't being used much these days since her first job moved most of what she does to Sri Lanka. But, she did get to keep her insurance, though (she's got to pay 100% of the premiums, though, "but, it's better than not having insurance," she says).

Mom pulls in to the driveway just in time to see "the guy she left her first husband for who won't marry her but really really loves her and one day when their finances are all worked out and he doesn't have to pay child support to the first woman he had kids with, will marry her".

Lately, though, things are not so hot for "the guy who... you know".

Seems like his job, too, may be "outsourced". The $17.00 an hour he makes is about 500% more than what a team of eager Chinamen will accept for the same work. He's been offered a reduction in hours, pay, or, both. And, by "offered", he knows they mean, "told".

So, "the guy who... you now" is a little on the grumpy side tonight.

Usually that would be a problem. Mom would ask him stuff. Stuff like, "How was your day?" Normally, that would be, well, not THAT big of a deal. Tonight, though, he's kinda glad mom's on the way out to take some orders and "serve" someone else. (Remember, America is now a "service" economy?)

"The guy" needs some "alone time".

And, by "alone time", "the guy" means, "A couple hours in a dimly lit room in front of some naked chicks doing stuff to each other, and, having stuff done to them that would be illegal under any circumstance except - apparently - the circumstance that involves them signing a contract in a seedy back office in SoCal five minutes after they step off the bus from Wisconsin."

Broadband internet. Another must-have household convenience.

And, the best part is, once more, these are savvy, smart "consumers". They "bundled" their cable tv, local phone service, long distance, cell phones, and, internet access into one monthly payment. One LOW monthly payment of only $349 per month.

Where, though, does the time go? Seems "the guy" needs to spend more and more time with the flickering images now to really connect. But, again, here's where being a savvy "consumer" really pays off: All the stuff he used to pay for is now free. He can get whatever it is he's looking for (or, looking for him) for free.

Wait. What about the kids?

Oh yeah, that's right. They got home. "Ate" what mom left in the fridge. Then... Uh, then?

Well, they're "her" kids anyway. And, they're smart. They can take care of themselves.

Just like "the guy" and mom do every night. Every day. Every week. Every month. Year after year.

Don't let this story fool you, though. It's not all good news.

Somewhere in all this, mom and "the guy" are a bit behind. Their bank account is right at a zero balance. But, that can't be right.

It can't be right because they've got bills to pay. For real. Those credit cards are maxxed-out, the "communications bundle" is due to be paid, and, the mortgage payment is a week away. "Thank goodness," thinks "the guy", "I smoke generic cigarettes now or we'd really be in trouble."

Savvy, smart, consumerism.

But, you know, the truth is, well, the truth is, this "family" is broke.

From the inside out. Broke.

But, how can this be? The mainstream media says they are "resilient". The President says they are "strong". Wallstreet says the "the mother's milk" of corporate profits sprays from the teat of their collective cash-strapped udders.

Strong like a horse broken, bridled, and, saddled by the weight of man. Driven to consume as a whore on her knees for a dirty needle in a back alley. Savvy like the dice-roller, sweaty-palms and heart-racing, who just KNOWS his system will kick in any moment now...

...because he's GOT to make it all back.

Strong? Try "strong enough to reach back, unleash the wallet gripped-tight by the pocket in their pants stretched tight by their fat ass, and slap down that credit card for more plastic junk they don't need."

Resilient? Try "resilient enough to feel the shame of being owned by all the clutter, filth, and, worthlessness of what they've become."

Savvy? Try "savvy enough to know that they can't stop spending money they don't have."

And, who will help these people?

No one.

NO ONE.

Their job is to be strong, resilient, savvy, consumers.

Wallstreet's job is to make sure the "strength" becomes unstoppable, the "resilience" becomes a defiant cry for more, and, the "savvy consumers" never, ever learn just how savvy they truly can be.

Is all this hard to imagine?

Really? Well, then, try to imagine if you can, now, a household in America where even 1/2 of what I've opined about isn't true.

Now, THAT's hard to imagine.

The good news - and, there is good news. This "family" can become a family. This "family" can turn things around. This "family" - YOUR family - MY FAMILY - OUR FAMILIES - can be so much more.

The choice though must be made soon. If the needle is in your veins - or the vein of someone you care for - get it out today. Stop the spending.

Just stop.

Pay off your debt. Get rid of some things you don't need. Like, the TV. (That's a whole essay on it's own.)

Let me be the first to welcome you to the land of strength, resilience, and savvy. We don't take Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. So leave your credit cards at the door.