Life Is a Gamble—Part 2
by Stanley Roberts

There are two major problems facing America, indeed the whole world today—terrorism and recession. In the last issue we addressed the war against terrorism. Al Qaeda forces have been totally defeated and disgraced as fighters when they came up against the United States military; a military in which I am proud to have served for some thirty years, active and reserve. The same fate was meted out to the once mighty Iraqi army a decade earlier. Perhaps these lessons will finally sink into the minds of would-be aggressors and future terrorists, letting them realize they haven’t a chance of success against our nation and its allies when they try to gain their desires through any type of military action.

Although the skirmishes are not fully complete and the final results not fully achieved, as I told you last issue, that result is inevitable and only a matter of time. So let us now turn to the second problem, recession.

It has been my observation that recessions are more a matter of public attitude than any other factor. When the public has confidence in the future, people go about their lives in a positive and normal way, fueling the economy with spending and investing. When the public is uncertain of the future, many people hunker down and withdraw from financial activity. As some people adopt this attitude, it affects others and like a snowball rolling downhill, gathers enough momentum to affect us all.

The solution is not in lowering interest rates, tax deductions, and deficit spending; all of which have helped turn the tide of recession. Instead, the main ingredient is for people to maintain an optimistic attitude. This is not easy in the face of an unknown future; it is what eventually overcomes recession. In a sense, recession and its big sister depression are a form of public mental illness that can be corrected by a public attitude adjustment.

Believe it or not, the answer to this problem lies in the public’s attitude toward gambling. As I see it, there are three classifications of people in this public milieu. The first and highest category is the gamblers. By gamblers, I am referring to risk-takers—the people who are responsible for making our society work; those who turn the wheels of commerce and industry, build businesses and hire the rest of working society. On the other end of the scale are the cowards, the ones who are so risk averse that they never wish to take a chance. Many of these people are very talented, but they can never be happy working on their own. They can only work for others. These are the people responsible for recessions and depressions. They live most of their life in fear, even if it is at a subliminal level.

Lastly we have the people who gamble occasionally, yet think of themselves as prudent and stable. They don’t start recessions; however they are the ones that sway the balance and tip the scales as the attitude of the cowards begins to affect change.

So what does this lesson in economic theory mean to you? First, you should know that as a gambler you are the most important element in a capitalist society. Second, you are the only one who has the ability to effect positive change. Therefore, I admonish you to step forward. Take your place as the leader only you can be. The others cannot do it. Without you, our society would crumble. Life is a gamble. Those who understand that will prosper and enjoy life. The rest can only hide in their holes, or like lemmings rush to disaster en masse.
No matter what any of these losers has told you in the past, you as gamblers are the most important members of our society. Get out there and do your job.




Back to Wisdom | More Stanley Roberts Columns | Mail this Article to a Friend