The sky is falling

If you haven’t noticed, America’s pretty much on the verge of crumbling. Glenn Beck’s got a really good piece on what could happen:

I will give you what I believe is the best-case scenario and that is we go through a significant downturn here and at the other end, a few years down the road, we look like France. We have about that much clout in the world, maybe England. We have about that much clout in the world. Our economic power has been that diminished and our welfare and our government resembles France. I believe unless people in congress — I don’t know about you, but I pray for the people in congress, both sides of the aisle and the President and the candidates every single day: Please, Lord, without the pain, please have everybody wake up. Please, please guide them. But I think we’re going to look like France. It could be much, much worse than that.

Economic collapse, a really screwed up presidential election, a
brigade, for crying out loud, you name it. The prophets have been warning about this since the beginning of time, and it’s finally all coming true. Scary times, folks. I’m glad I’ve got Christ to cling to because if I didn’t, I’d be really, really scared right now. And this is just the beginning. Buckle up.

Not to nay-say your post, Ben, because things are certainly taking a downturn–I mean, I woke up this morning to the radio proclaiming the stock market had already dropped 200 points for crying out loud–this is evidenced by the teachings of the living prophets; take Pres. Benson (quoting Joseph Smith) for example: “We are fast approaching that moment prophesied by Joseph Smith when he said: “Even this nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground, and when the Constitution is upon the brink of ruin, this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean, and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction” (19 July 1840, as recorded by Martha Jane Knowlton Coray; ms. in Church Historian’s Office, Salt Lake City).” (Nov 1987 Ensign). Yes, we ARE in dire straights. But what we need most at this time is not to live in fear and brace for destruction, but rather to live with determination and commit to hope and improvement. As scary as times may be, I think it’s comforting that during General Conference a great number of talks centered on frugality and prudence, but also on faith, hope, and perseverance.

Well said, (and cited) Annie.

Before we go off on how horrible socialist run countries are, let’s remember that several have active wards, stakes, branches, districts and Temples running. While not the political platform of choice for most Utah Latter-day Saints, it’s not the antithesis to the gospel. Nyah.

Annie: What’s the male equivalent of a drama queen? :P No, really, I agree completely. The gospel is what’ll get us through these scary times.

sixline: Oh, that’s right, you served in France. Sorry ’bout that. ;) (I don’t think Beck means that France is anti-gospel, he just means that it doesn’t have the political clout that America used to have.)

I think it’s a downturn. But I don’t think it’s going to end up that we’re like France (though I wouldn’t mind if we had more fantastic museums, better pastries, and grand monuments). I think we’ll come out of this (and it will take some time, to be sure) with a better grasp on what makes sense risk and credit-wise. That’s a good thing, since it was getting way out hand.

I do think this is a bit fatalistic. Also, there are worse things than being like France.

Bart: I hope you’re right. :)

Katherine: Yes, there are definitely worse things — being France, for example. Just kidding. :P I actually have nothing against the French.