"It profits me but little that a vigilant authority always protects the tranquillity of my pleasures and constantly averts all dangers from my path, without my care or concern, if this same authority is the absolute master of my liberty and my life."

--Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Flabby Middle-Aged America Needs a Diet and Exercise

Monty at Ace of Spades, who writes the daily economic "DOOM" posting, draws a useful analogy this morning:

When you're middle-aged, you kind of make peace with your gut. You're not happy about the flab, but you're not unhappy enough about it to embark on an exercise regime, either. You understand (or should) that carrying too much weight means increased risk of heart-attack and stroke and adult-onset diabetes. But slimming down means giving up a lot of stuff that you like -- beer, candy, cake, red meat -- and finally using that stationary bike in the corner of the room instead of just looking at it guiltily before turning on the television in the evening. It all boils down to choices you make, and whether you can live with the consequences of those choices. It's not a bad metaphor for the economy right now.

That hits a little close to home for the Regular Guy.

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