12 step program in our future ?

As we have said goodbye to 2008...more like good riddance, we look at 2009 with about the same amount of excitement-when is all of this economic mess going to be over?

I am talking about days when gas was affordable,everyone had equity in their homes and there were many proud new owners of real estate who finally got a chance to grasp the dream. Jobs were plentiful,kids looked to college,small business was the buzzword,no WALMARTS, and GREED was not running the county.

I think the turning point was November 7, 2000, a day where the good guy who won really lost. We all lost that day. We lost our hope,we lost faith in the system and somehow knew things would change under the Bush Administration. They didchanged alright and here we is...(thats a BUSHISM) !

Well that is the history on how it broke- now how do we fix this! This economic explosion is "equal opportunity" as it effects all sectors,industries,regions,income levels,race,creed,nationality,maritial status,familial status,sexual preference and sexual orientation-I think I got everyone . We also want to say a shout out to the Bernie Madoff folks yes we feel your pain.

OK lets give president Obama a big A for effort in restoring the ability to know it will get better . BUT we need a 12 step program for all Americans ...sure this financial crisis is not our fault and we cannot blame ourselves . WE NEED -An Intervention ...

We need a 12 step program for the economy. First we as consumers must admit we have a problem ! Here are the steps to our recovery. Unlike DA (Debtors Annoy) yes there is such a program...whose common purpose is to maintain financial solvency-we consumers all have THAT goal but here is a new and revised mission for all of us to follow:

1. We are powerless over this financial mess and that our spending has become unmanageable(yes that includes all of those firms that have been BAILED OUT )
2. Came to believe a power greater than ourselves or the FED,FDIC,FTC,FEMA,FBI,CIA (every acronym you can imagine)can restore us to stability).
3. Turn our will and our power over to ...anyone who the government tells us will fix this...(still waiting)
4. Made a searching and FEARLESS moral inventory of bank accounts,IRA home equity loans (if there is any left).
5. Admitted to our banker,lender,mortgage holder and bankruptcy attorney, the exact nature of of our finances.
6. Ready to have TRANSUNION,EQUIFAX,TRW AND CHEK SYSTEM remove all the defects on our credit reports.(Lets face it we can hope...who are these PEOPLE ANYWAY and why do we need them?)
7. Humbly asked them to remove these defects or hired a consumer attorney to do so.
8.Made a list of all our debts and became willing to pay them something (or accept a loan modification)
9. Made direct payments (if accepted) to such creditors,lenders,vendors except when to do so was ordered by the bankruptcy judge
10.Continue to take inventory of of credit score,credit reports and when we were late promptly admitted it.
11.Sought thru prayers,pleading,bargaining and screaming into the telephone to improve our contact with anyone who will answer at the mortgage company's loss mitigation department,praying only for someone who is knowledgeable for the POWER AND AUTHORITY to carry out your request (and to find out who really owns our mortgage backed security loans)
12.Having had a financial awakening as the results of these steps tried to carry the message to other consumers that you are more than your credit score,more than just a number at the other end of the 800 # in India,more then the power of your bank account but a consumer who can practice these principals in all our finances.
(calling your elected officials to ask them to pass laws that protect consumers may help too...but don't hold your breath)

Did I forget to mention "live one day at a time"? let us close with the SERENITY PRAYER.

God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change,the courage to change the things we can and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen !