Comments on: Is the recession a financial flood?

By: lorishaneck

lorishaneck — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:34:00 +0000

I believe you are right on the spot with this post. I have to say that this is one of your best and I agree with everything. Thanks for your insights.

By: DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad.com

DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad.com — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:24:57 +0000

Nice analogy.

I think recessions can be looked at as a state of mind as well. Let me expand on that . . .

For frugal people who had their spending and expenses in check, this recession isn’t that painful or bothersome (Personally, I am mildly entertained by all the chickens scrambling as their skies fall in). The pain I hear comes from the spendthrifts that I know. They are all crying poor and complaining they can’t maintain their toys.

Frugal people had their “arks” in order and are taking this situation in stride . . .

By: Friday Linkfest: Off to Disneyland Edition | beingfrugal.net

Friday Linkfest: Off to Disneyland Edition | beingfrugal.net — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:01:04 +0000

[...] Is the Recession a Financial Flood – Gather Little by Little [...]

By: Abigail

Abigail — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:02:10 +0000

Well, it’s a lovely metaphor, I’ll grant you that.

That said, I have to respectfully disagree. I think the imagery you conjure is total spot-on. It was caused by greed. (I just happen to believe the collapse has less to do with God and more to do with the old “What goes up, must come down” theory of the universe.)

You can view the recession as God reining us in. It’s as apt an explanation of things as the invisible hand of economics, after all!

My only real contention is that the Great Flood implied there would be only one. Despite plenty of sin and debauchery (and, if you ask the right religious folks, it’s probably of Sodom & Gomorrah proportions, I suppose) God has yet to cleanse the Earth again. Of course, he could be taking a wait-and-see-approach.

Point is, though, that these sorts of downturns are very normal and even, to a certain point, logical. While we haven’t had a recession this severe in awhile, we had the Great Depression in the ’30s, we had recession in the ’80s (S&L crisis, anyone?) and some stagnation in the early ’90s. Probably some more recessions between WWII and the ’80s but my knowledge of economic history is fuzzy at that point.

I think that all the people wailing and gnashing their teeth are the same who enjoyed all the benefits of the super high highs. Now they just don’t want to the natural lows that follow. Call it God rapping our knuckles with a spoon, if you want. The point remains that this is a cycle that has been happening for nearly a century, minimum.

Actually, even longer than that, if you consider the whole tulip market debacle back in the… yeesh.. 1800s I think?

By: Shawna

Shawna — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:15:42 +0000

This is a wonderful analogy, and helped me to look at things in a new light. Thank you!

By: Craig @ Money Help for Christians

Craig @ Money Help for Christians — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:34:06 +0000

Thanks for raising these questions and exploring the answers. We need to ask more of these types of questions so we can be open and attentive to what God is doing in this economy. If God is speaking I sure hope we learn to listen.

By: Jeff@StretchyDollar

Jeff@StretchyDollar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:53:52 +0000

I really like this comparison! I started to make the connection as soon as I read the title – it works out really well! I just have one question – is there a ‘never again’ guarantee? ;)