Borrowing money to pay bills, state-style

Question: How many of us have ever repaired our finances by borrowing money to pay bills? How many of us think this is a wise option?

I can say it hasn't worked well in my life, and yet Minnesota is planning to do this very thing. It seems "nobody has any money anymore" - but we've already wandered through that maze. The state will turn to the Fed and the ultimate simplicity - and foolishness - will result.

The answer is, "Make more money."

Problem is when we have the Fed's do this, we're at their mercy. What would happen if we just printed our own Minnesota Bucks? Non-interest bearing. That's the key part.

Sure, we'd have to use them for in-state trading, but dollars are passed around between us already. We'd have to do some thinking - that's the hard part - but the truth is the Fed is riding its own runaway debt. Most of them are in denial, but it seems to be almost a drug-induced high with hallucinations of flying forever... And if we know anything about drugs, the crash 'n burn of reality happens whether we're in denial or not.

Taking more drugs to try and maintain the glorious rush hasn't worked, either. The high can't be sustained indefinitely? "Making more money" - i.e. debt - on the Federal level is like continuing to inject the very poison that will destroy us. (Okay, think of heroin, and what an addict would do for another fix, regardless of the long-term cost.)

Keyword: long-term. Minnesota just plans on short-term borrowing to cover its debts. I can say, I've tried this, and it is a bit like our addict taking out a loan. Is anyone reading this willing to loan a heavy heroin user funds for today's high with the belief that somehow they can pay it back 'tomorrow'? Anyone trust their clear-headed view of 'reality' when it comes time to pay back?

If so, talk to me, I have a deal for you!

When we think more fully on where the nation is going at its own mad pace, it doesn't seem so silly to consider nesting our own Minnesota Bucks, kind of like methadone while we, as part of the addictive culture, get our shit together on reality. Hopefully before the plug is pulled on our supply line and we're all raving maniacs looking for a hit.

I may be wrong, wish I was, but - unfortunately - too often I'm right. Enough thinking people already see this, but most of them are not in politics or government.

Let's "Make more money", but let's get the Feds out of the picture.

What happened to Autumn?

It seems like the seasonal weather is warping out, and I'm looking for verification it's not 'just me'. I remember Minnesota autumns as crisp and dry, with a chill in the air and leaves crackling underfoot. Now it feels like Seattle weather - damp, soggy, gray.

This has been going on for about the last decade, where it seems we've been soggy more than not. Correct me if I'm wrong! I can recall the gray-soggy of 2000 autumn, and family members 'warped out with the weather' several years. Last year was miserably wet, this year is following the same pattern.

Wet, wet, wet. Can't hardly get the leaves raked, everything is soggy, and humidity continues to run high - today, about 80%. The forecast continues more gray-than-not. I checked October at weather.com, and there were 3 (THREE) days with a sun icon displayed - today being one, which might happen later this afternoon. The rest of this month is cloudy and soggy. The other two sunny days were spaced about 10 days apart on their calendar.

NO WONDER WE'RE FEELING A LITTLE NUTS.

I remember my sister suffering from this weather-warp, and when I stopped by her place 'one gray, soggy autumn day'... She was trying to save a few cents on the electrical bill by using 40-watt bulbs. The grayness outside was mirrored inside, and if ever a person needs at least an illusion of light, it's when a month of no-sun is occurring! I think spending a few extra cents when your sanity is threatened is worth the expense. Our systems are much more in tune to nature than we acknowledge, and when the weather's dreary, we feel it. (Correct me if I'm wrong.)

Is anyone else (yo, Jim?) feeling this 'gray'? Can we produce Vitamin D in the rain? - or should we consider supplements? Are 'full-spectrum' lights in vogue because we're in this weather slump? Do we all need to take a trip to somewhere sunny? (That one perks my system! :) )

I'd appreciate feedback, because I don't think it's 'just me'.

What I do know is "I miss autumn."