There are so many important issues to talk about that I hardly know where to begin. The mainstream news and uttering’s from the financial channels are becoming more and more difficult to digest unless one considers it pure entertainment; which brings me to a story.

When I first moved to Anchorage, I couldn’t find a job in my preferred profession of communications (telephone, satellite, and microwave) and so I took the first thing that became available and that was a cab driver. I had no idea where anything was located, but I did have a map and a phone book…it was interesting for all concerned.

Most of my fares came from the airport cab stand where I learned a few things about my fellow humans. Prior to moving to Anchorage I had been a business owner, manager, and all around respected member of my community. Many of my cab fares were people of the upper crust who were staying at the then upscale, Westward, or Captain Cook hotels in downtown. These people treated me as if I were sub-human and existed on this earth only to serve as their lackey.

Rather than become angry or boisterous, I played a little game with these people with the rules stacked in my own financial interest. I would run out, grab their bags, yes sir, yes ma’am, hold the doors, and become a regular tour guide on the way to town with a lot more yes sirs and yes ma’ams thrown in for good measure.

When arriving at the hotel, I would run back and open the doors and then quickly tote their baggage to the bell stand. After which I would hold out my hand for a nice big fat tip from my superiors, which they felt obligated to provide. I would smile all the way back to the airport knowing that I won the game and the fare didn’t even know they were playing! What great entertainment and profitable to boot.

That’s how I now view the news and the non-stop political garbage coming out of Washington; as entertainment, not news. Once a person truly grasps the absolute reality that it is impossible to grow exponentially in a finite world, entertainment is about all that we can hope to gain from the actions of our leadership. And, until a majority of our population joins us in the basic comprehension of physics, earth sciences, and math, we may as well enjoy the show, cause nothin’s gonna change.

Here’s an example of what I am saying. I have warned for years that the final straw for the U.S. would come when China, India, Japan, Europe, and so on, understand that we are broke, and holding the door for us and totting our luggage will not be rewarded with a tip. At that point, they will be forced to switch to a “domestic expansion model,” in order to grow their own economies (family first). Very much as the U.S. did for our first 194 years of existence, until we hit the point of diminishing returns after which we sped ahead to the point of maximum debt.

An article yesterday indicated that my greatest fears have arrived and that Tim Geithner is ecstatic about the possibility. TOKYO – Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Wednesday he’s encouraged by efforts in Japan and China to spur domestic demand instead of relying so heavily on American consumers — a shift that will contribute to more stable global growth. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091111/ap_on_bi_ge/as_japan_geithner_1

The obvious problem of billions of humans pursuing domestic expansion economic models is that should China alone consume at the same per-capita rate as Americans, they would require all known resources on the planet. Oh joy.

As an example, the U.S. consumes 25% of all oil produced in the world and 30% of all materials; we represent 4.8% of the global population. Do the math. And the possibility of the remainder of the world consuming more at home makes Geithner happy?  Is he really that stupid? I’m thinkin’… maybe so. The other possibility is that believes that we are that stupid…maybe so.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, a new article today listed the states that are broke, in the red, 10 toes up, and down and out; Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island and Wisconsin. Other states — including Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, New York and Hawaii — were not far behind. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Ten-most-troubled-states-in-cnnm-2889165804.html?x=0&.v=7

The bad news? Cuts necessary to bring these states back into line is anticipated to cost 900,000 additional jobs and shave a full percentage point off GDP. Well darn it Leon, ain’t anything gonna go right?

Don’t worry folks, the recession is over and hyper-growth is coming to the rescue. In the mean time, surely China will loan us a couple more $TRILLION to tide us over. Oh, that’s right, China is going to adopt a domestic expansion model and needs the money at home. Well, we’ll all just have to experience hyper-growth together. Some would call this a pyramid scheme, in America, we call it politics.

To cap off the entertaining news of the day, here’s a great two liner from Geithner; “It’s very important to the United States that we have a strong dollar. As growth recovers, we will move our fiscal position back into balance.”

If this blog doesn’t scare you, you’re either in a coma or you’re a member of Congress.