The Great Depression

Depression. I remember that people used to rarely use this word to describe their mental state. Nobody would say: ‘I’m depressed.’ These days, everyone is depressed. It all seems to be getting worse; the same goes for the confused man, something the government suddenly seems to be concerned about.
Two days ago, it was in the news that there are more and more confused people. Incidentally, you shouldn’t confuse these confused people with those who have Alzheimer’s, but with aggressive criminals. People, mostly foreigners, who for no reason run people over, stab them or attack them with an axe. It is interesting that when it comes to those foreigners, they are suddenly ‘confused’ people; this, of course, never applies to a Dutch person, nor to women. Women are never confused, no matter if they are foreigners. Just so you know.
Acquittal also appears to be the norm when it comes to a confused person, someone who, incidentally, is not admitted to hospital, as that is a decision the person in question must make themselves. It is now also clear that a danger to society is no longer a reason to admit someone to hospital either.

Depressed: the word has existed for many hundreds of years and even appeared as early as the 14th century, so the name given to the Great Depression is not new. It existed long before the crisis, the economic crisis of the 1930s,took place. It also seems highly likely that the word ‘depression’ originated as a reaction to the economy and how people felt at the time.
The consequence of such a crisis was also the mental state in which many found themselves. During crisis situations, the number of suicides rises at an alarming rate.

Only a small group survived it with ease without worrying and even became richer. That, too, is common during a crisis. Those who are prepared for the future, save enough and have sufficient supplies, can weather the storm and even line their pockets in the process. This is the case in every crisis.

What is the reality of such an economic crisis? It is a fact that this happens every 20 to 30 years and so every generation has to deal with it. It is also a fact that this is always the result of mismanagement by a government and by banks. The man in the street is then left to foot the bill and, of course, to fight, because every economic crisis is followed by, or is the result of, a war or several wars. No matter how far back you look in history, this is always the case, and even now we are facing the same kind of crisis as those we have already experienced.

The interesting thing about a crisis is that people easily forget it; you can see that with the Covid pandemic, the 2008 crisis and all previous crises. Anyone who easily forgets and picks up where they left off once the worst is over has learnt no lesson and will not see the next crisis coming either, nor will they certainly prepare for it. Nor will their children ever be prepared.

People who can adapt quickly, financially or professionally, do better. Like said the name depression wasn’t meant to describe mental health, but history made it impossible to separate the two.

Those tied to: physical jobs, local businesses, in‑person services,low-wage work are hit hardest. So you are warned since today we are not heading but part of the latest crisis and you can still prepare making your life easier.

The Great Depression wasn't about intelligence or effort, but about the structure of the economy and today we gave the same bad structure. Depressions are part of the cycle of bad economy structures where making profit, without ever being satisfied, is destructive.

Most people lose because they live close to the edge

The reason why some survived back then and even grew their fortune and will survive again?
Before any crisis: most households have limited savings (no investments), many live paycheck to paycheck (by the day), small businesses operate on thin margins they have no buffer and nearly everyone has loans, is in debt.
Meanwhile, the wealthy: have savings, have diversified investments, can wait out the storm, and can buy distressed assets.

When the bubble burst (is AI the next bubble?), banks collapsed and people lost their savings.

The fault doesn't lie with one person, but a culture of speculation, weak regulation, and banks taking reckless risk.

The only plus is that after a confused man wrecked the world there are plenty of jobs, the reset will make sure poor remains poor and everyone is too busy surviving that they don't notice they are trapped... again.

_{Prompt: see title
11-4-2026
The picture/painting is mine.}