A SLOW GO

PEOPLE WATCHING LENDS ITSELF TO A PHILOSOPHICAL CONSIDERATION OF THE "TRAGEDY OF BOTTOMLESS CONSCIOUSNESS." I REFLECT NOT ON THE FIGURATIVE SENSE WHICH APPLIES TO INFINITE INTERPRETATIONS AND APPRECIATIONS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS AND SONNETS, BUT ON THE LITERAL APPLICATION TO LENDERS AND BORROWERS. EXAMPLES OF WASTING MONEY ARE FATHOMLESS AS THE DEPTHS OF HUMAN IMAGINATION. BORROWERS CONSCIOUSLY SHOP IN THE BARGAIN BASEMENT WHEN THEY CHOOSE INTEREST ONLY MORTGAGE LOANS. THEY RATIONALIZE THEIR ACTIONS BECAUSE OF THEIR POOR CREDIT OR UNREALISTIC ASPIRATIONS. THEIR LOANS BUILD NO CREDIT, CASH OR HOME EQUITY. THEY OCCUPY THE GROUND LEVEL IN THE MANSION OF OVEREXTENDED LIVING. THE UPPER FLOORS ARE INHABITED BY CASH ADVANCES, RENT-TO-OWNS, NEW CAR LEASES, CASINOS, LOTTERY TICKETS, ONGOING CREDIT CARD BALANCES AND OVER-INDULGENCE.

CHOOSING A LIFE STYLE WITHOUT THE MEANS TO FINANCE IT REPRESENTS A SELF-INFLICTED, POOR CREDIT RATING. THE SYSTEM IS AS OLD AS GOVERNMENT OR COLONIZATION ITSELF. WHAT IS TO BE DONE? PAY YOURSELF FIRST. PAY CASH. AVOID DEBT. NOT ONLY IS IT A HUMAN COMEDY, BUT IT IS ALSO A HUMAN TRAGEDY THAT TOO FEW AMERICANS JUST CAN'T SAY, "NO," TO WHAT THEY DON’T NEED OR CAN’T AFFORD. CONSEQUENTLY, THEY - LIKE POOR SISYPHUS FROM GREEK MYTHOLOGY - CONTINUOUSLY PUSH A BIG, HEAVY DEBT UPHILL ONLY TO HAVE IT CONTINUOUSLY FALL BACK ON THEM. WHAT A SLOW GO!