We Will Not Be Taken Advantage of Again

FactCheck.org had an interesting analysis of both the political and financial situation we face. (See link below) Also, last night, I really appreciated what Sarah Palin said during the debate:

One thing that Americans [can] do at this time, also, though, is let's commit ourselves just every day American people, Joe Six Pack, hockey moms across the nation, I think we need to band together and say never again. Never will we be exploited and taken advantage of again by those who are managing our money and loaning us these dollars. We need to make sure that we demand from the federal government strict oversight of those entities in charge of our investments and our savings and we need also to not get ourselves in debt. Let's do what our parents told us before we probably even got that first credit card. Don't live outside of our means. We need to make sure that as individuals we're taking personal responsibility [and control] through all of this. It's not the American people's fault that the economy is hurting like it is, but we have an opportunity to learn a heck of a lot of good lessons through this and say never again will we be taken advantage of. [Additions and emphasis mine.]

Like other everyday citizens, there is little that I can do about the national economy. I can only control my personal economy. The national economy contributed to a layoff that I have experienced recently. More importantly, it has contributed to the longest unemployment period that I have experienced in my professional technology career. Though my resume is impressive, I am convinced that businesses are skittish of increasing payroll expenditures. In the meantime I benefit from financial changes that I implemented last year to help me weather this challenge.

In 2007, I became a Financial Professional affiliated with Primerica, a subsidiary of Citi. Until then, I could only offer friendly advice to friends and family hoping they would find institutions to help them implement the concepts as I had done. Primerica has taught for over 30 years what Sarah Palin touched on.

Help Families Become Properly Protected, Debt Free, and Financially Independent. -- Primerica Mission

Before then, however, though I had many of the right ideas, the professionals and institutions that I trusted put me in products that helped them first and me second. Not so with Primerica.

Now, as a Financial Professional, I can do much more. Not only have I improved upon my financial plan particularly in the areas of income protection, debt elimination, short-term savings, long-term investments, and reducing expenditures, I have been able to help others.

In terms of what Sarah Palin touched on, Primerica has never sold any of the debt instruments that have hurt homeowners and the financial industry. Sadly, we were outnumbered, which we are continually working to correct, but that is for another post.

Sources
Who Caused the Economic Crisis?
Vice Presidential Debate Transcript