Bad Economy? Depends on Perspective

Posted April 21, 2009, 10:30 p.m.

I keep trying to tell people that whether this economy is ‘bad’ depends on perspective. Those of us who work hard, save money, live within our means, and mind our credit ratings actually have some great opportunities available to us right now. Sure, there is some uncertainty, but depressed home prices and low interest rates make this a great buyers’ market for people looking at real estate.

In our case, we live in a very expensive area. A few years ago, mediocre townhouses in our area sold for $500,000 or more and home ownership seemed to be completely out of our reach. We were content to live in apartments for the immediate future.

Today though, even decent brand-new townhouses can be had in our area for significantly less. The going interest rate is nice and low (in the 4-5 percent range), and—despite all the media blather about a ‘credit freeze’—credit is widely available for people who have minded their credit scores and don’t present significant risk to lenders.

And I’m not just spouting off either; Melissa and I are very seriously considering buying a home when our lease expires in October—an opportunity that we would not have except for a well-timed economic downturn. We had an initial meeting with a Realtor yesterday and have already started identifying nice townhouses in our price range ($300,000 or less). Even better, as of today we have been pre-approved for a mortgage up to $400,000 (!!). Credit freeze? What credit freeze?

I’m sure I’ll have more on this subject in the coming months ;-).

Scott Bradford has been putting his opinions on his website since 1995—before most people knew what a website was. He has been a professional web developer in the public- and private-sector for over twenty years. He is an independent constitutional conservative who believes in human rights and limited government, and a Catholic Christian whose beliefs are summarized in the Nicene Creed. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from George Mason University. He loves Pink Floyd and can play the bass guitar . . . sort-of. He’s a husband, pet lover, amateur radio operator, and classic AMC/Jeep enthusiast.

Quotes

Spread love everywhere you go. . . . Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.

I mean that groups of men are vacuums. Great big empty nothings. They say we can’t visualize a total nothing. Hell, sit at any committee meeting.

The ancestor of every action is a thought.

There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God; for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?

I cannot see how to refute the arguments for the subjectivity of ethical values, but I find myself incapable of believing that all that is wrong with wanton cruelty is that I don’t like it.

I often say after eight years in Washington, I longed for the realism and sincerity of Hollywood.

Belief in immortality dies easily in those who live in such a way that they cannot face the prospect of a judgment.

Evil is not something that can be condescended to, waved aside, or smiled away, for it is not merely an uninvited guest, but lies coiled . . . at home with good within ourselves. Evil can only be fought.

Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us; and the faithfulness of the LORD endures for ever. Praise the LORD!

A statesman is a politician who’s been dead for ten or fifteen years.

People who seem to have good luck are often the people who have a system that allows luck to find them.

A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel.

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.

The liberty of love, therefore, is not license. Freedom implies not just a mere choice but also responsibility for choice.

It’s the first effect of not believing in God that you lose your common sense, and can’t see things as they are.

Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent.

I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.

The politicians regard the public as a cow to be milked. . . .

Complication and obscurity often reflect insecurity on the part of the writer or speaker.

Corporations (and other associations) do not have liberty and property rights because they are ‘people,’ but because they are created, managed, and controlled by people.