We are, indeed in dire straits. Your call for velocity in addressing these grave challenges is precise. We are probably too late to prevent a serious depression and possibly, deflation. After all, we must de-leverage an economy from 40 to 1 levels of risk and expansion to 10-15 to 1 leverage.

How vigorously must an economy be shaken before utility prices, for consumers drop by 50%? Or, for the vast infrastructure of grocery prices to decline by half? The answer is, quite substantially! But, that may be all that many households can afford.

After the deflation, if we ever see a recovery (3 years, 5 years, longer?), we will experience substantial price inflation, as “forced” demand, created by a flood of fiscal and monetary stimulus, splashes against the newly reconfigured walls and corners of the economy.

The dollar will be stronger sooner, in the deflation and much weaker later, in the inflation. Gold will be weaker sooner and stronger later. In the meantime, stocks are too risky for the average investor. Betting against the markets is still the best course, as lower lows lie immediately ahead.

The one hope we have is leadership. Not just NEW leadership, but SOME leadership. Bush has been the country’s worst president, ever. The political structure of “Corporate Rule” must be abandoned. People must matter most, again.

midnightmaxx@hotmail.com

Saturn, to me is “lesson time”, and it’s entry (with pending aspects considered, which I didn’t do) can indicate a “wake-up call” for pending roadblocks and/or opportunities for solutions. The 12/31/08 Retrograde is the point where one is forced to recognize existing problems, and deal with the issues, positively or negatively, or even by ignoring them. A positive attempt at a solution, as in a new President, with a new Congress, and a new awareness, could start a positive trend. If, in the latter two examples, nothing positive is done to change the situation, the chickens usually come home to roost, big time. We will probably know if we have “learned the lesson” (and are correcting old mistakes), by the time Saturn goes direct again in May 2009. The results of actions taken (right or wrong) should be fairly obvious by Jan of 2010, when Saturn enters Libra. I have not checked out aspects, etc. just House and sign, in the general sense.

Since Dec 2007 saturn has been transition through the 2nd house of USA chart and how much does this play into the current state of the mess that we find ourselves in? Saturn has a funny way to right the ship and I see a continued restructuring of our economy over many years. And with this transit not completed until August 2009 how similar is this debacle to the 1929-1933 time frame? Do you see a prolong pain and suffering of our economy can be avoid with this new adminstration or are we just doom to repeat history all over again only this time we have different players and actors? Your insight is greatly appreciated.

thank you for your very insightful wisdom.