I am reminded of a piece of advice in a book that I am reading, 'The only way to beat the tyranny of the urgent is to get ahead of it and prevent it from ever happening in the first place.' I think that a good amount of problems would be taken care of if only people would prepare for negative eventualities. When you do get back on your feet spend time preparing to not get knocked off of your feet. :)
A few years ago I read an article about a person that was on a fixed income. The person had (say) $700 per month coming in, and the persons monthly expenses were (something like $800 per month. The deficit was to be made up via the savings account.
This type of lifestyle went on for a number of years, and then the person wrote an article saying that they would be homeless if the issue was not resolved in the next few months.
Human beings are good at painting ourselves into a corner
But why do humans have this talent?
Jeremiah 17:9-11
9
The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?
10
“I the Lord search the heart
and examine the mind,
to reward each person according to their conduct,
according to what their deeds deserve.”
11
Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay
are those who gain riches by unjust means.
When their lives are half gone, their riches will desert them,
and in the end they will prove to be fools.
In an odd twist of fate people are trying to create a fair financial system that is completely void of moral checks and balances. The system is called cryptocurriencies, a building (or human life) cannot successfully be built without a foundation (morality)
I like your post because it deals with real life issues. I like that you address homelessness-- which is something I've dealt with and is something I could (and likely will) experience again, mostly out of my own choice. In the sense that you describe, by failing to prepare adequately for potentially knowable eventualities and because I choose to have some form of freedom and independence, rather than live with parents, friends or work a job I hate in a town that bores me.
As for the cryptocurrency aspect, I definitely beg to differ. While I get the aspect about there being no checks and balances, to an extent, there's another side. The checks and balances we have in the old system are weighted in favor of the elite and big money interests. At least in crypto, anyone can make wise investment choices. In stocks, you need at least $20k in your account and a net worth over $100k to be an accredited investor and be allowed to day-trade. Is this helping people with low means? No.
With crypto, you can start trading (provided you find an exchange that isn't already being attacked by the old regulators) and day trade with $10 or $50 or whatever.
With crypto, long term HODLers have turned $500 into $100k (I'm not one of them).
I like that you referenced Scripture, but we can see the interpretation differently. I also think the world of decentralized systems and assets will bring about a new kind of prosperity where less regulation will actually create more options for those who would be facing potential homelessness. Only time will tell, but this is what my heart is telling me.
Thank you for the compliments (it is a compliment to me to hear you say that my words might have helped someone)!
I agree with you (I guess that my point was unclear) the current financial system is corrupt, because it has thrown away any sort of moral standards. (Wall Street will flece you because in there minds they are #1 and they generaly do not worry about you) The solution is simple, Wall Street needs to gain some moral principals. However what is happening with crypto currencies is that a system is being created where a person is forced to deal honestly with you. At face value forced honesty might seem good...but its still unnerving to know that a person is doing buisness with me that if given the oppertunity would rob me blind. I want to live in a world where people will not rob me just because that would be wrong.
On another note maby you will enjoy checking out the following website.
https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/investing/free-stock-trading/
The following question does not need to be answered (because the answer might be 'personal reasons' but it sounds to me like not much is tying you to the town you are currently living in' maby you want to preform an internet search for people needing help with....(something that you enjoy doing :)
Thanks for the thoughtful answer and clarification. I had misunderstood your OP.
I believe the reason there is no morals (or less morals) at the top of major financial systems is for the same reason that mud is dirty. We know from the Bible (and our own common sense) that the accumulation of money for power & riches' sake is generally not in God's will. We know this because it's associated with greed. If the person with much is also benevolent, their excess is being used for good. On the other hand, if they're stingy with helping, but have much for themselves, then we could call them greedy. The entities at the top of the traditional system are greedy simply because they had to be to a large extent to get to the top. I wouldn't hold out much hope for that changing any time soon.
Decentralization is really the only bright spot on the financial system's horizon, IMO.
As for me, I'm currently working short-term somewhere I actually just got to about 5 days ago. I'm here because I easily get bored staying in one place and because I want/need money to live. Before this, I was doing a work-exchange through the site helpx.net. This was good for me as I had my basic needs met, and got to live in a beautiful place (a small hobby farm in Tennessee).
As for what I enjoy doing, I suppose I'm not sure what that is. I know I enjoy traveling, being unpredictable, meeting new people, and exploring new cultures. That's why I'm working on a travel blog and will probably continue to do work-exchanges along the way as well.
Also as for the links you sent, none of those will allow you to day-trade stocks. Robinhood does offer commission free trading up to the limit that the government imposes. Here's more on that: http://www.finra.org/investors/day-trading-margin-requirements-know-rules
You essentially can't buy and sell the same security more than 4 times in 5 business days. Crypto (as of now) doesn't limit this at all.
Keep in touch and I'll do so as well.
What is 'IMO', and I do not expect mankind to become less greedy...actually in my mind 'human greed is anti-christianity' and I only see human greed leading to one thing (while here on earth)
Revelation 18:4
Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "'Come out of her, my people,' so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
(I need to run for now but please watch this short video.)
Thanks! I look forward to your next comment :)