Improvements?

Return to that which is old and more ancient than the stars; respect, self-reliance, selflessness, humility and above all charity. There is no one we can blame for our mistakes but we can learn from them and try to strive to avoid them in the future. Instead of depending on a nation for aid, we should become more proactive in taking care of ourselves. It is not easy to fight with someone else when you are totally engaged in attending to the needs of your own. Certain things we do can aid us as well as others like recycling. There is a modest amount one can earn recycling but the positive carbon footprint is great too. We can grow some of our own food, organically is best. We can volunteer in our communities. We can become a nation of cash-and-carry consumers to help eliminate our personal debt. Debt should be reserved for big ticket items such as buying a home or financing and education. We must learn to live within our means, and we must become savers. Instant gratification must be used sparingly; we must learn to save and wait for things we want. We must become more informed on every subject from groceries to politics. We must exercise our duty to vote. Self-destructive behavior is key to staying stuck in the same rut which brought us here. I can get better and we are the key to its improvement.

I think the most important things we can do in 2009 to improve our personal lives is to concentrate on learning how to do for ourselves. We need to learn how to produce at least part of what we consume. When I was a kid we did a lot of this and it gave us a security that you don't see now. Now if we can't go to the store and buy what we need then we just don't have it. That is a very dangerous position to be in. Especially if you have children depending on you. You will see a lot more back yard gardens in 2009 than you did this year. We raised enough to live on through the growing season plus extra to can to get us through the winter. We were out on a farm though and we could raised our own meat too. We also had our own milk cow, chickens and ducks for eggs and meat. We always had plenty of food and we actually ate a lot better then than we do now. It was a lot better quality food to.

I really don't know much about politic or financial thing that can save our economy. After going through so much unfairness in my life, I know that we are who matters in our life. That I have been blessed with loving and supporting husband and I will do anything to be there when he needs me. We will face it together whatever comes. We are ready to give up any worldly belonging in order to survive. 2008 has been the year where many truths are revealed. This is the beauty of this very difficult year. And I know my truth, that truth matters whether it is true love or true friendship. Just like the saying, to change the world, you have to start with yourself. This is all I can do.

Having a better more positive outlook on life certainly would help many people. Eastern Philosophy teaches us joyful participation in the suffering of the world. Life is about suffering, for the most part, but how we cope with life speaks volumes about us.

Time to work on ourselves. Peace and good will begin at home so we'll have a lot to do in 2009. Happy New Years

i feel myself is so tiny,but i always try my best to protect the natural environment just like refuse one-off goods,use fewer water and other resource.told other person to do this,and so on. i know i can't do sth which will change hole world,i'm just a common person,but i will do my duty.

Hi Cobrateacher, Great Question, I might add to what Roberton has already so eloquently answered with a slight bit of twist. One improvement would be exposure of corruption, the continued exposure of abuse and corruption will bring forth a healing and a cleansing. We need to repair any and all damage that was done in the past so that we can move forward with a clean conscience and aware in order not to make the same mistakes again. It seems we are caught in a never ending cycle of the same problems, instead of fixing the problem we keep patching the damage caused by the problem. If the problem is a pot hole we need to not only repair the damage to the vehicle but we have to fill the pothole to protect other vehicles from getting damaged. The same can be said for a lot of other problems, that is just a simple example and a good entrepreneur might want to set up a front end alignment business by the pot hole with tires and rims while waiting for the pot hole repair guys to come and and fill the crater in. Seriously the second suggestion in making our world a better place would be to focus on the food needs and requirements to properly nourish all the people of our world. The Third thing is Health Care we all need affordable health care. With Health Care we also need to secure our society for our Golden years, so Social Security and Retirement plans need to be protected and only used for their intended purposes. This is not a local or national law issue this is an international law that we need to be thinking about. Think Globally for all of humanity and the health and care of our planet. Do no harm! That is a good motto to follow. For through accountability, Peace and Blessings will flow,

Hi Cobra, If 2009 is anything like 2008, we had all better rethink how we are all living day to day. I think we need to start giving and stop taking all the time. We have lost respect, kindness and the love that goes along with it. If we don't stop being so selfish and greedy and start thinking of others and ask how we can help those poor people instead of looking down our noses or plain criticising and judgeing them, then maybe things will start changing for the better. We have a new year,let it be a good one. leenie

Every one here has some great ideas and if we could get everyone on board with them we could possibly make a difference this year. However we are a world of individuals and as time goes on more and more people are only concerned with their own needs to the exclusion of everything else. My person goal this year will to get closer to God. The Bible says to seek first the kingdom of God and all these other things will be added to you. I continually make a mess of things when I try to do it on my own so this year I'm going to try something different.

I wish to buy stock. more stock. but now hand the money.