DOWN HOME: Patriotism, brains & the economy

My wife, Joanna, is a great American and a very smart girl. Eventually, that combination is going to cost me.

(Before I go further, I probably should address my political correctness. Or incorrectness, as it may be. Yes, I called my wife—who happens to be a strong and thoughtful woman—a “girl.” She’s OK with that. As long as she can call my friends and me “boys,” she doesn’t care if I inadvertently refer to her and her friends as “girls.” Ironically, the older we get, the more we actually don’t mind being called “boys” and “girls.” It’s all about perception and feeling.)

But for now, let’s get back to the whole patriotism/brains thing.

These days, it’s patriotic to spend your money. Funny, but I thought we got into this whole global financial fiasco because everybody was trying to keep up with the Joneses, living above their means, maxing out their credit cards and failing to save. Remember all those folks who bought houses they couldn’t afford?

But now the global financial gurus say we should go out and buy stuff. Otherwise, the companies that make stuff will go out of business. Then your neighbor, who works for one of those companies, will lose his job. Next, he’ll have to foreclose on his mortgage, which will make your house worth less, which will break the hearts and pinch the pocketbooks of both bankers and real estate agents, whose frowns will discourage people from spending still more dollars. And the next thing you know, the sucking sound you’ll hear will be America going down the drain.

Joanna knows and understands this. I think she’s a financial genius. And she wants to do something about it. That, of course, makes her a patriot—a great American.

The other day, she told me about somesuch government financial bailout program that is supposed to make buying cars more affordable. That’s because, next to buying a house, buying a new car is the greatest thing you can do for America’s economy. Apparently, in the near future, all true patriots will be driving new cars.

Speaking of “new,” this would be a new approach for us. To this point in our marriage, our car philosophy has gone like this: Buy a reliable car. Take good care of it. Save your money. Drive it until the wheels fall off (at nine years, Jo’s car isn’t there yet). Then buy another reliable car.

Simple—don’t spend more than you can afford. That makes great economic sense. We’ve always viewed this idea as central to our Christian stewardship: Use our material blessings wisely and well. Live within our means. Share with others, especially the Lord’s work.

I still like that idea, and I believe Jo does, too.

But I’ve got this sneaking suspicion that someday, it’s going to be our patriotic duty to buy another car. God bless America and the family automobile.