Women at work and their tips, challenges, advice, complaints, and experiences

I have to admit, ladies, that I've been studiously ignoring the discussions about saving homeowners in over their heads, banks losing profits left and right, stock prices plummeting, and all the general hubbub about whether we're headed into a recession or not.  Frankly, I've avoided most of the issues like the plague - much like politics, there's a certain point where I just throw my hands up in the air and say "Forget it; some people will never learn!"

A moment ago, though, I read an article over on Yahoo! News that really got my knickers in a twist.  It's a rather lengthy piece going into the ways the US is attempting to avert an economic meltdown.  Why are my pantaloons all twisticated when it appears from the article that lawmakers are doing as much as can be expected, and they're trying to pull people's fat out of the fire?

BECAUSE WE CANNOT DEPEND ON THE GOVERNMENT TO SAVE US TIME AND TIME AGAIN FOR STUPID DECISIONS!

*deep breaths, deeep breaths*

Ah, that's better, isn't it?

Simply put: as women of the 21st century, we expect certain rights and privileges, right?  Depending on your personal beliefs and your level of income, you may consider certain things to be "rights", rather than privileges - I'm in no mood to debate the difference between "want" and "NEED" at this point.  However, I feel that it's vital that women in business - better yet, working women in any field, of any pay range, and any educational level - step up to the plate and say, "STOP this right NOW."

I don't mean the handouts and tax rebates and economy stimulus measures and all that crap - though frankly, I do think it's a crappy thing to rely on as citizens.  What I want to see stop is comments like this:

Jolted by global recession fears, the Federal Reserve slashed interest rates Tuesday, and President Bush and leaders of Congress joined in a rare show of cooperation in promising urgent action to pump up the economy with upwards of $150 billion in tax cuts and government spending.

Combined with comments like this:

"I believe we can find common ground to get something done that's big enough, effective enough so that an economy that is inherently strong gets a boost — to make sure that this uncertainty doesn't translate into more economic woes for our workers and small business people," Bush said in the Cabinet Room.

Later, announcing the creation of a panel to educate people about their finances, Bush said he thought there would be an agreement "in relatively short order."

While I appreciate that legislators are trying to throw a Band-Aid on things, it also pisses me off to no end.  (Name that movie - and my Mom is exempt, I know she knows the answer.) 

The question I have is this: how many people are going to get money back from a program like that and actually spend it on something necessary and well-thought-out, such as Savings Bonds, a savings account, or paying off credit cards?  And how many are going to take the money and blow it on a "want" like a flat screen TV or a vacation?

Yes, citizens being handed money will spur spending in the economy.  Yes, it might provide a temporary jolt to businesses.  Will it educate our citizens about their finances?  NO.  Will it change anything?  NO.  Will $1,600 help the individuals who were sucked into bad mortgage programs and have already been foreclosed upon?  NO.   Will people listen to a government panel appointed to teach people about their finances?  Uh...does anyone really listen to government panels???

Those of you in finance industries know as well as I do that people's spending habits do not change just because they earn more or receive a gift or refund of money.  They spend the same way - the numbers behind the dollar sign are all that changes.  I know I'm not the only one who has noticed that predatory lenders are still running ads all over the Internet.  I see 'em all day long while I'm working online.  Car dealers are still encouraging folks to buy brand new 2008 vehicles on credit when their 2007 model still works well and is still under the warranty.  Electronics stores are still hawking their goods; every store that offers a credit card still does - the list goes on.

The economic meltdown - on both the business and the individual levels - will not be stopped until Americans change their ways and take responsibility for their spending and saving without expecting a government handout, a break on their mortgage terms, and "free" money from the IRS.  

Ladies: we have incredible buying power.  We are an incredible force to be reckoned with.  We can make change.  We can stop predatory lending, we can increase our savings accounts balances, we can pay off our debts and help others do the same, and we can treasure self-reliance and self-sufficiency over laziness, apathy, and acceptance of the status quo.  We can choose to dig ourselves into debt and be out on the streets when the economy takes a down-turn, or we can abhor debt and teach our children to do the same so we are never left without a roof over our heads or food in our mouths - and we can then pass on our resources to help those without.

WE, the workers and the spenders, can affect change in the economy in a healthier manner. 

The question is: WILL WE?