Sneaky money

Money for nothing is a cool song by Dire Straits. Money for playing music is like money for nothing and chicks for free. I get it, life can be all about spending money. I get it, we all have a price. We spend, gather, win and lose money. I suppose we win relationships. We lose life, cars, jobs and many other fun things. Aren’t they all wrapped around money. I’m just fascinated how we view money these days. Maybe it’s always been that way.

            Recently we had a money day in Canada. The government praised itself for not spending 20 billion more than they have. It’s only 10 billion. That’s awesome were only borrowing half as much. Whew that is so good. Were still massively in debt but it’s better than it could be. On the same day the tax federation and opposition reported 20-billion-dollar massive debt spending. What the hell is going on around here?

            It’s impossible to know what is real. We are told that a little debt is good. Good for who? Is 10 billion in debt better than twenty? Is a balanced budget evil? It seems money is the root of it all. The government is all wrapped up in money. Spend, spend, spend. The news is that they spent on expensive art. They built expensive bridges. They are giving money to needy families. When is the last time we heard about what government is doing? All they seem to be doing is spending.

            I read another article that warned millennials that they are not saving enough for retirement. Money again. We are spending at an alarming rate. Our economy is solely tied to us spending all we have. The yearly forecast has been replaced by weekly and monthly forecasts. Are cars selling in April? Are housing starts up in august. Did phone sales eclipse this day last year? I have seen lineups for new phones that were a block long. Aren’t they available the next day too? Ok, to be fair, I fought for a cabbage patch doll years ago. We really love spending.

            What does God have to say? I could give the usual suspects on money with God. Instead I will go to ecclesiastics 3. It’s the time chapter. Ecclesiastics 3:5 says “a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.” I love the contrast of the same thing. God is saying we scatter and collect. I love that. We buy and sell. Then he adds that we should have the ability to refrain or resist. Just because you can scatter or gather does not mean you always should.

            I totally believe we are a snapshot of our leaders. They spend because we spend. We spend because our leaders show us how. I think it’s a cycle. Oh, it’s them and us. We are not like politicians. Really? We vote them in. They like what we like. They do what makes us happy. They spend our tax money on us. We love it. We let them spend billions needlessly because it’s needlessly on us. Recently in Calgary the council spend millions on art rather than on other needy things. We said we hated that. Yet, come vote time we voted them back in.

            We have a spending problem. We want our politician to spend. On the right things? I don’t think we care. The polls say so. The votes say so. There are countries in spending trouble. Canada will be one of them. It takes time. They say Ontario owes more than some small countries. Yet, the polls don’t lie. We love it. Spend dam it! Spending 10 billion less is good. Borrowing only 10 billion is good. It’s better than 20. I wonder if the point is not spending less but spend something. Do we really care on what? According to the votes it does not matter one little bit.

            Money is sneaky. It sneaks up on us in the form of a bill. It sneaks into our pocket. Money gets so sneaky hot, burning a hole right through your clothes. We do the right thing. Sneak out a twenty for this and that. It’s sneaky how money disappears. Sneak a bill from your parent’s wallet. Sneak something from work they paid for. Sneak in and don’t pay. Sneak out and steal, grab, and cheat. Sneak a bet, bottle, or cigarette. It all takes money. It’s sneaky how debt creeps up too. Those sneaky creditors, bankers, and repo men.

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