We have chosen to measure our economic success in our currency.  Our dollar denominates GDP growth, goods produced, jobs created, whatever.  But the currency is not the important thing here but rather the production.  The official position is we are satisfied with linear production growth, but we know production is non linear.  Also the currency is expanding, making the measurement smaller than it actually seems.  So rather than the natural state of exponential growth, the economy is shrinking, it’s obvious when you consider it is being measured with stretched out rubber dollars.  Even the equity markets are just another rubber money.  Distorting our perception of the goods and services produced and the level of positive effect that can have on quality of life.

That lack of production can mean many things, but the one thing that connects them all is trust.  People choose not to invent and produce because they see a large risk they will be stolen from.  That perception ebbs and flows, but in the big picture the trend is down.  It is inversely proportional to the number of psychopaths in our society.

So corruption and waste are eating away at our quality of life.  You are told things are normal, but you scramble from task to task to make ends meet.  Quality of life can best be measured in free time.  Time to make your own choices.  Being able to decide what to do with your time means investing (risking) your time in your own future.  This is where real invention comes from.  Invention is the only thing that matters in the long run, because it is where all production increases come from.  The less free time people have, the worse the economy is doing.

Do you have more free time or less than ten years ago?  Your family?  Your neighbors?  Make some time think about this, if you can.  Next time someone tells you a product or a law will save you money, ask yourself instead, will it save me time?  Time, like thoughts, are yours to give.