We got into this mess (housing bubble and derivative fallacy) en mass.
Are we going to suffer in isolation? No way!
With crowdsourcing, virtual forum, email, cloud etc.. we got enough in our arsenal to reverse the course. Technology (the way) and the will. That’s all we need.
And a little bit of love (courtesy of the Beatles).
I know this sounds unrealistic and romantic.
But the same passion and energy people rushed into the bubble will help them backtrack. But not without help from friends.
It’s the equivalent of a jail pass. Bailing out.
Think of the GI bill, and how a generation of well-educated and well-paid workers built the American Century.
From fridge to bridge, they built with pride. It was the envy and marvel of the world.
I still remembered my brother’s stories. He got sent to Denver for one-year training.
This was back in the early 70’s. According to his description (and my imagination), America must have been 7th Heaven: lush green, snowy white, and blonde girls (who partied their hearts out on New Year’s Eve).
I know my brother. The changes must have shown through, unequivocally.
Then it was my turn, landed in Pennsylvania: again, lush green, Indian country, vast space (Beaver Stadium now second largest in the US).
Last month, I got back to the US, but did not feel excited.
What’s happened here?
Aren’t we becoming less resourceful? No longer a land of opportunities?
In my neighborhood, when time was good, you see all sorts of signage: realtor, loan refinancing, people running for offices and people moving their offices.
Black, Hispanic , Asian and White were all at it, hustling and bustling.
Now, it was depressing even on July Fourth.
Mind you this is not Detroit in 2000 (congratulations on the city’s revival).
We got into this mess en mass. We need one another to get out of it.
Use technology and mass innovation. Crowd-source and open source.
Do whatever it takes. Be more than aggressive (Double the GI bills).
Comb through the evidence like a medical examiner for the cause and manner of death (of the vibrant economy) in a post-morterm. Then, prescribe. Stick to the action plan. One by one, we will get out.
All we need is love (Beatles). All we need is each other. All we need is time.
Thang Nguyen 555 