Confronting recession fever:
Shut up. When the pundits are babbling about recession, it’s best to say, “I’m not having a recession, are you?” Then buy something with a credit card, just to show you are worried.
Ignore the media. Blowhards surf on the prevailing wisdom and are always eager to fill a vacuum, which is a perpetual condition in print, broadcast and on the Internet, it’s their job to fill all that space, and nothing fills space like dire prediction. “No news is good news” is an abiding truth for everyone but the media. If you don’t listen to them, what they say won’t matter.
When someone says he or she understands the economy, hit them. Hit them hard if they say it on television. Nobody knows anything about economics. Even if Alan Greenspan is the exception to this rule, no one understands what he says. Beyond him, everyone else is faking it.
Do the responsible thing with your money: Spend it. Freely. It helps keep the economy on track. Spending your money on drinks at lunch is important. In the 1950s, people has three martinis for lunch, went back to work and made major decisions that helped make postwar America a great place. Do your part.
Invest wisely, if you must, but profusely if possible. Media. Health care. Computers. Pork bellies. Chemicals. Sup. Nuts. Coffee. Pastry. There are no facts, there is only an economy on the move.
Be happy. There will be growth in the spring.
