Don't bite the hands that feeds you

Hint: you can click the cartoon above to zoom in

Reflection: Demand creates supply and in return supply creates demand. Abraham Lincoln used to tell this story: "There was a boy who killed both his parents and then during court proceedings, pleaded mercy on the grounds that he was an orphan."

An analogous line of thinking applies to current economic situation.

Comments

[Believer]

Yep. "Don't upgrade computers. We are in cost cutting times." Well Dummy, it is our memory chips that are used in that computer. Get it?

[NJ]

I like the cartoon; it reflects the triggering and vicious cycle of current economical downturn. The more we tighten up our spending, at macro level, the worse the economy will be.

[Martin]

I think a lot of individuals are caught in this trap, too. People are hearing they might lose their job, Great Depression 2 is coming. So who is going to spend money, buy a house etc? People need to believe we've turned the corner, but all we hear is the steady drip drip drip of bad news...

[GR]

There is an age old teaching The Golden Rule and it's version in every religion:

Christanity: Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Matthew 7:12, King James Version.

Confucianism: Tse-kung asked, 'Is there one word that can serve as a principle of conduct for life?' Confucius replied, 'It is the word 'shu' -- reciprocity. Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.'" Doctrine of the Mean 13.3

Buddhism:"...a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another?" Samyutta NIkaya v. 353

Hinduism: This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you. Mahabharata 5:1517 Hinduism

Islam: "None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself." Number 13 of Imam "Al-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths."

Judaism: "What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary." Talmud, Shabbat 31a.

Sufism: "The basis of Sufism is consideration of the hearts and feelings of others. If you haven't the will to gladden someone's heart, then at least beware lest you hurt someone's heart, for on our path, no sin exists but this." Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh, Master of the Nimatullahi Sufi Order.

Taoism: "Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss." T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien. "The sage has no interest of his own, but takes the interests of the people as his own. He is kind to the kind; he is also kind to the unkind: for Virtue is kind. He is faithful to the faithful; he is also faithful to the unfaithful: for Virtue is faithful." Tao Teh Ching, Chapter 49

Zoroastrianism That nature alone is good which refrains from doing another whatsoever is not good for itself.
Dadisten-I-dinik, 94,5

[Raj]

What a pity that man/organization must die before he/it wakes up?

Amen