Money!

Yes, let's talk about money for awhile.
Just what is money? It can be in the form of coins, paper, stock, bank transfers, but mainly it's just numbers.
All money is just numbers denoting what it's value is in relation to what it can purchase. We equate rich with being a millionaire or billionaire, yet the ultra-wealthy don't have all their money in their hands, it's all tied up in banks or companies or stock. So again, it's nothing more than numbers, to be shifted from one account to another with the stroke of a computer key.
In our modern banking system, money and it's value is based upon a promise, nothing more, that it is worth what they say it is. That it will buy anything that does not exceed it's value. But who determines that value? We used to be on the gold standard, whereby your money was tied to a tangible good that everyone desired, which made it valuable. Today it is tied to nothing but a promise from central banks, that our government or other governments will honor that promise.
Do you realize how easy it would be to break that promise, by excessive spending or borrowing which we are now doing?
The world debt, combined, I read was over 700 TRILLION DOLLARS. Our entire world economy is built on the accumulation of debt, from one to another. Only promises to repay that debt, nothing more. This country alone is borrowing more than 1 trillion dollars a year because the wealthy got a tax break. Did you see any of that tax break? HELL NO!
The stock market used to be worth something to the average investor, to invest in a company to build our economy and make a buck doing it. No more. It's a casino for the rich, making fortunes off of trades of a quarter of a point. The world today is a rich mans game, seeing who can accumulate the most and to hell with the poor working stiff trying to support and raise a family.
I don't know about you, but I'm getting very concerned that what I have accumulated over the years to finance my retirement will eventually be worth nothing. The banks may fail at any time, like in "29", because certain people are greedy and there is nothing of value to back up our money but promises. HOT AIR! I'm investing in my land and preserved food from my gardens, at least I can eat that. You can't eat money nor can you trade it for other things if it's worthless.
Really think about that as you near retirement, after working for a company for many years and getting nothing in return because what used to be a company that cared for it's people is now owned by a worldwide conglomerate who's sole purpose is to make money for it's stockholders.
There again, you are nothing but a number.
May peace be with you.
dennismoconnor.com