I heard this at work today: “This is the New Normal.” It was spoken in reference to the increased regulation and oversight under which the financial industry will now operate.
I also heard that former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said another global financial crisis is inevitable. “The crisis will happen again but it will be different,” he said.
That sure sounds like the “Old Normal” to me.
It’s human nature: unless somebody can find a way to change human nature we will have another crisis.
Quotation from Alan Greenspan
Crisis what crisis? It’s an ongoing problem that won’t go away without radical change which we either bring about ourselves or have thrust on us. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You cannot have infinite growth on a finite planet. It’s a reality check on unfettered greed and the inability of free market capitalism to cope with the real world in a properly human way. Time to get the message.
Strange how we adjust to whatever “new normal” comes our way. Although the expression doesn’t quite fit the definition of an oxymoron, it reminds me of one.
I don’t like the new normal… I guess I don’t like normality. Still a French rebel, yeah!
Seraphine: You are extraordinary and far from “ordinary” or the “new normal”, which is a great compliment! Sending Smiles your way!
)
sliding down a slippery slope
where once there were trees
and grass and little bushes
we could grab and hold
for a little while
I don’t think we need more regulation – but rather regulators who are more aware human nature leads to excesses and are more likely to invest in the people and resources to curb excesses and avoid endemic breakdowns.
Hero worship repeatedly exposes its followers to surprise as the hero – invariably as time goes on is lulled into a false sense of security – apt to ignore the critical advice from his colleagues and deputies. People didn’t expect Greenspan to be right just twice day but to be right all of the time for a very long time.
Best wishes
Great work and interesting thoughts! I guess I will adjust to the new normal just in time for the next crisis!
that whole concept of ‘normal’ is a scary thing. sure, we like to feel we belong, but ‘normal’ says we have to do it at the expense of intelligent thought and personal integrity. ‘normal’ is the lowest common denominator in society. it breeds mediocrity, laziness, persecution and prejudice. it’s what the nazis and the holy wars were all about. down with normality! it’s not even right twice a day.