2008: What Will We Tell The Children?

Pull up a chair and settle in while I spin a yarn about 2008. The story actually begins 20 years into the future (visualize a clock advancing rapidly) .......

It's 11 PM on New Year's Eve, in the year 2028. You're sitting by a crackling fire (a fake one, of course, since wood-burning fireplaces were outlawed a decade ago) in your favorite antique rocking-chair with a grandchild snuggled up in your lap. The dog is snoozing at your feet. The mortgage is finally paid-off, the world is peaceful, and life is good.

Just as you begin to nod off, the young girl, still wide awake, looks up at you, and asks: "Tell me a story, Grandma. (Or Grandpa, as the case may be). Tell me about the olden days, back when you were young. Can you remember what it was like, say, 20 years ago?"

You start to perk up. "Let me see, twenty years ago, that was 2008. I was born way back in 1942, so I already wasn't young anymore. But I can still remember that year like it was yesterday."

"To sum it all up in a nutshell, honey, 2008 was a pretty wild year, when all the rules flew out the window and everything that wasn't supposed to happen, happened."

"Really? Like what, Grandma? What wasn't supposed to happen that happened?"

"Well, for starters, 2008 was the year we were supposed to have our first female president, a woman named Hillary Clinton. She sure thought it was going to happen, but it didn't. Instead, we elected our first African-American president, Barack Obama,. They said he couldn't get elected. It wasn't supposed to happen, but it did. So much for what 'they' say."

"Why did people think Barack Obama couldn't get elected? Wasn't he one of our greatest presidents?"

"Well yes, honey, he was a great president. But back then people didn't think a black man could be elected to the highest office in the land. We'd never had a black president before."

"You mean, some people didn't like him because of his skin color? That's so silly! Besides, he wasn't only black. He was also white too, remember?"

"Yes, I know it's hard to believe now, because everything's changed so. But remember, we began as a nation of slave owners and it took many generations before black people got equal rights, let alone equal treatment. Barack Obama changed the course of history and that was one of the few good things that happened in 2008. "

"Grandma, why do you think it happened then? Was there something special about that year?"

"Indeed there was, sweetheart. I don't mean to sound all negative, but after eight years of the Bush presidency, life was worse than anybody could ever remember."

"Really, Grandma? How bad was it?"

"Oh, honey, are you sure you want to hear all this? This is not exactly bed-time story material".

"Sure. Then I'll have stuff to tell the kids at school about how hard life was when my Grandma was younger".

"Well, it was a very scary time. Towards the end of 2008, just before the presidential election, the economy collapsed and everything just stopped working. Many banks failed, and several of the largest investment houses on Wall St. disappeared overnight. Many people lost their life savings and their homes; some even took their own lives because of it. It was horrible! See, I told you this wasn't a very happy story."

"That's OK, Grandma. I wanna hear. I read about all this at school, but you know how boring history books are. It just doesn't sound real. How could all this happen in such a short period of time?"

"Well, actually, the seeds of destruction were planted many years before. A long time ago, the people who ran our government decided to get rid of most of the rules that had regulated the economy for decades. As a result, the rich people got richer and the poor people got poorer.

Some of those rich people became very greedy. And when people get greedy, eventually, their greed catches up with them."

"Boy, sounds like greed is a really bad thing!"

"Well, it's not exactly something you'd want to have written about you on your tombstone. The thing about greed, sweetheart, is that it's like a hungry monster that doesn't know when to stop. It just keeps on going, gobbling up everything in its path. Eventually, it gobbles up everything until there's nothing left to consume. The only thing greed can do then is turn in upon itself and when that happens, everything collapses and the game is over.

"Oh, I get it, Grandma! It's kind of like in the Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy throws a bucket of water on the Wicked Witch of the West and the witch starts to melt. My favorite scene in the movie is when the witch cries, 'I'm melting! I'm melting!' And then she disappears."

"Exactly! And that's kind of what happened to the Big Three Automakers around this time."

"Big Three Automakers?"

"Oh, I forgot, you wouldn't know about them. Well, back in the olden days, the U.S. used to manufacture cars, right here in this country. In fact, Detroit used to be the automobile capital of the world. But that ended when the economy collapsed and we fell into 'The Great Repression of 2008.' Now, there are no more American cars."

"What's the Great Repression, Grandma? Sounds like a disease. Did everybody get sick?"

"Oh boy! This news isn't getting any better is it? Yes, in a way, people got sick because so many people lost everything back then."

"When the economy collapsed, people lost their jobs, many also lost their homes, many companies went out of business, and the banks failed. The government called it a Recession, which sounded better than calling it a Depression.

"After all, George Bush didn't want to leave office with a Depression happening on his watch, so he dressed it up and called it a Recession, which was like so many other funny names the Bush administration gave to things. Kind of like calling something the opposite of what it really is like: 'The Clear Skies Act, The Patriot Act, No Child Left Behind' etc."

"Is that like non-fat half and half, Grandma?"

"Yeah, kind of like that. But the impact of the failed economy felt more like a Depression because it hit people harder and it spread around the world. Eventually, someone combined the two words and called it a 'Repression,' and it seemed to fit the times.

"Is there more, Grandma?"

"Oh honey, I'm afraid there's much more. But this is enough bad news for one night. Let's change the subject. It's kind of depressing just to think about it".

"But Grandma, if you don't tell me, then I won't know about your life and how it was for you. I'll never know the history of our family and the hardships you all went through. Do you think I only want to hear about bunnies and butterflies? I want to hear everything, the good and the bad. Go on, Grandma."

"Well, OK, but the story doesn't get any better for a long time.

"Even though we'd elected our first black president, our country was still very divided in 2008. For one thing, in most states, gay people were denied the right to marry each other. Can you imagine that? I know that sounds silly now, but back then, there was still discrimination against same-sex couples. Gay people fought for many years to have equal rights with everyone else. I'm happy to say that one turned out well."

"What was it like during the Iraq War, Grandma? Did everybody have to give up stuff?
I read in my history book at school how during World War II, some things were in very short supply and goods were rationed, like rubber, gasoline, butter, and even nylon stockings. Did you have to give up a lot of stuff to help the war, Grandma?"

"Oh dear! You do ask a lot of interesting questions, sweetheart. Actually, this one is kind of embarrassing to answer, but no, we didn't have to give up stuff to help the war. President Bush just told everyone to go shopping, so we did.

"Some things were in short supply, like oil, so gasoline prices shot way up and we had to wait in lines to buy gas for our cars. Of course, that was back when cars still ran on gasoline. Now those cars are all antiques and you only see them in museums."

"Gee Grandma, it sounds like life was really weird back then. Like in the story of Rip Van Winkle, when he went to sleep for 100 years. Did everyone go to sleep back then, too?"

"Yes, I think we did. I know, it sounds crazy now, but after the fall of Communism in the late 1980's, even though we lived in peace and prosperity for nearly 10 years, I guess we must have needed a new enemy. Then, after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11th, in 2001, we found our new enemy: terrorism.

"The government told us to be very afraid of terrorists. They said terrorists could be anywhere, even living next door. So we all got paranoid and scared and went along and didn't question things, even allowing many of our rights to be taken away because we thought it would help keep us safe.

"I guess you could say that's the reason why we had the Big Crash in 2008. You know, how when Grandma's driving the car, she has to keep her hands on the wheel and her eyes on the road or she'll drive off the road and end up in a ditch?"

"Yeah, Grandma, but you're a really safe driver".

"Yes, but that's kind of what happened to us in 2008. We took our hands off the wheel and our eyes off the road in 2000 and we ended up in a big ditch in 2008."

"How'd we get out of the ditch, Grandma?"

"Well honey, as soon as Barack Obama became our president, he handed everyone a shovel and said 'Here, start digging, and we did. We became focused on making life better for everyone, not just a few. Everyone had to sacrifice and give up being selfish. We learned about being responsible citizens and insisting on government being accountable to the voters. It took us many years to get back on track, but thank goodness, we did it. Yes, we did!"

"Wow, Grandma, 2008 sounded like a very hard year."

"Yes, sweetheart, it was. But we managed to get through it and we grew stronger because there was nowhere to go but up. I'm grateful to be able to say that in the face of so much difficulty, America found the courage to change course. We gave the reins to a new generation of leaders, starting with President Obama, and look how far we've come since those dark days of '08.

"Grandma, have we come far enough for me to ever become president some day?"

"Oh my darling girl, Virginia, we've come a very long way. As President Obama would say, 'yes Virginia, you certainly can'!"

What will you tell the children about 2008? Just in case you need a visual aid to help you explain what happened, snuggle up with the children and watch this "Walk Down Memory Lane, 2008" children's video with Uncle Jay. He makes these videos weekly. Check it out.:

What were the high and low points of this year for you? Please share your thoughts and experiences by leaving a comment in the Reply section below and subscribing to the RSS feed so you won't miss any future posts. And thanks for being part of this reader community.

Dr. Judith Rich is a corporate training consultant, writer, and executive and personal coach. For further contact, she can be reached at [e-mail].

Follow Dr. Judith Rich on Twitter: www.twitter.com/dr_judithrich

Comments

[JohnBisceglia]

Dr. Judith Rich, a chillin' tale, but PLEASE include in your 2008 snapshot the debacle that was PROP 8, and how FAMILY RIGHTS were bought and sold when the GOVERNMENT allowed a majority to vote away a minorities rights; rights & protections that everyone else DEEM ESSENTIAL [or they wouln't exist.....­for the heterosexuals].

HOPE & DESPAIR in a singular election.

[FortuneTeller]

Great post Dr J... I loved it. and Uncle Jay is a must see for all ages.
I also see the future as you do, where people/community and individual rights matter more than a number representing a bank balance. The only way we pull together is during a 'fall' and the only way many will seek light is if they reailize they are in the dark. GWB (and the man behind the curtain) united us against this administration and for that I am thankful.
Happy NEW Year and a toast to the end of a greed-soaked, me-first era. I plan on printing this post(permission please) for inclusion my grandaughter's memory book.

[FortuneTeller]

Great post...lov­ed it...I see a future like this as well. Where community matters and goods & services will be traded /bartered without needing a 'cash interface' and with respect for the mother earth.
Permission to print please to add to my grandaughter's memory book. Kids prefer history lessons with a personal view. I was born in 1947...

[FortuneTeller]

LOL...cat jumped up and hit the keybord. I thought the comment was deleted, hence my second similar post.

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Fortune Teller,

You got it..... permission granted. Thanks so much for asking!

Got any good fortunes to tell? What do you see for 09?

Here's my mantra for this year..... "All divine in 09!"

I know we're still in for some rough waters ahead, so I'm not sticking my head in the sand and pretending things won't get worse before they get better, but I see us doing a major course correction that's going to be painful, but necessary.

Kind of like taking our cod liver oil..... remember that? That is right out of the 1940's. (My mother used to make me drink it every day with an orange juice chaser.)

All good fortunes your way,
Judith

[swift goat pet for truth]

GOPer: "It was all Clinton's fault."

[cayuse]

We will tell them of our great suffering if it comes to that.

We will not tell them we did nothing while Profits were privatized and DEBT nationalized and freedoms and social values were stolen.

Unless Obama can fix it all and we can say we voted for him and NEVER for BUSH

[getoffthecross]

I'm afraid I found this optimistic future a bit unlikely. At the rate of current child development, your grandchildren will not have enough attention span to ask such penetrating questions. They will be plugged into video games that display an alternate virtual reality to entertain them until they're whisked away to begin their indentured service at the manufacturing plants where they will assemble even more technologically advanced toys for the Chinese children that will own our land. Duh.

Not to mention the fact that the Earth is going to pop like the housing bubble in 2012. Double duh. Where'd you get YOUR degree?

Just funnin'. Happy New Year! :)

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear getoffthecross,

Please see my response to greencowgirl. Dittos to you.

Happy New Year back at you!
Judith

[Unreadable]

Just add rhymes and post to LittleDemocrats.

[LMPE]

"Dad, I've read a lot about the political events of 2008 in history books. What can you tell me?"

"Well, it was obviously pretty amazing when we elected Barack Obama. I don't know how much I can tell you. Eight years of right-wing extremism, and then we chose as our 44th president a competent person. There'll be much more to explain. You've seen the footage and read the newspapers in school. However, one thing that I always like to clarify is that I never liked Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, or anyone like that."

"Who are they?"

"Oh, right. They're all has-beens, and you've never heard of them. They were the most worthless people. Not even worth describing. The women whom I always admired were the likes of Tippi Hedren, Carroll Baker, Barbara Eden and Elke Sommer."

"There used to be a lot of global warming deniers, didn't there?"

"Oh yeah. But under Obama, the new green economy significantly lowered carbon emissions, slowing the warming of the atmosphere. Had it continued at the rate that it was going when Obama became president, the earth might be uninhabitable by now. Anyway. Neoconservatism is dead, global warming is reversed - or at least slowed - Movie Madness is world-renowned (the four actress whom I named did plenty to help it) and your mama and I love each other. As the next generation, it's your duty to continue the current traditions­."

"You bet I will."

[greencowgirl]

There isn't an economy without society. There isn't a society without an environment to support life. 20 years from now we may not have an environment we can depend on to supply the natural resources we need to survive. I hope we have figured out how to cope with climate change but I doubt it. The chance passed while Bush was busy reading books.

Dr. Rich, I doubt if 2008 politics will be what grandkids will be asking about. But the answer will be that we lost our life support systems as we have known them because we worshiped our form of economy. Funny name.... economy. It hardly reflects how Americans have lived, which could have used a lot more economy and not so much profligacy - which is what has set the example for the rest of the world to work as fast as it can, as have we, to ruin our environment.

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Greencowgirl,

If you re-read the post, you'll see the grandchild wasn't asking about politics, she was inquiring about me and my youth. She wanted to know what life was like when I was "young". Just as I wanted to know from my own mother and grandmother.

The passing on of oral history is an important part of the legacy we receive from our elders as well as leave behind for the next generation.

The child was relating as a child, Wizard of Oz and Rumplestilskin were what made sense to her. I believe those stories will still be around for future generations, just as they've served many who came before.

The story also wasn't about the future, it was about 2008. Although it did make reference to how things turned out after President Obama took office. Pure fantasy, I know.

Like you, I too, pray that we "figure it all out", otherwise, there will be no future for any of us. My faith is still in the potential for human being to evolve towards consciousness. We elected Barack Obama, didn't we? Something is shifting in our collective psyches. Let's pray we continue to evolve in a more enlightened direction. My job (and dare I say, yours and ours) is to hold the space of possibility for that to happen.

All the best to you,
Judith.

[rbryanh]

In 2028 I expect my congenitally deformed grandchild and I to be living like feral animals in a half-collapsed strip mall with a hole in the parking lot for a toilet. Civilization will be something that exists only in walled enclaves where the 3% live protected by mercenary armies. My children will have long since died in some political or ecological disaster or other, and I'll have long since stopped having feelings about anything at all. Christmas Eve will be spent sitting around a burning SUV tire with a few other scarred, crazed survivors, fighting over the canned soup we eat directly from the can with our fingers. My grandchild's borderline defective IQ will make conversation difficult, but his or her cleft palate and other toxin-related developmental disorders will render that point moot.

I'll be disinclined to tell stories due to the extreme pain of various undiagnosed illnesses, but if I speak to the thing that is my grandchild at all, I'll just tell the lie that the old always tell the young: "We did it all for you."

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

This sounds like something straight out of a Margaret Atwood novel!

I guess if you're empowered by holding on to that vision of the future, have at it. Personally, I choose to believe that we humans are just now waking up to what we've created and we'll turn it around together. Otherwise, why bother living?

We could all just hang it up now, do nothing and wait to die. That's not what I'm up to in this lifetime. What you and I do today will determine what kind of future we'll have and what we'll be leaving behind for the children.

In spite of our shortcomings as a species, I still have faith that human beings can and will evolve towards an enlightened consciousness. It's already baked in the cake, so to speak.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and taking the time to weigh in.

All the best,
Judith

[greencowgirl]

Dr. Rich, nobody wants to lay down and die, but read Paul Kennedy's prescient and mindful book, Preparing for the 21st Century, published in the 80's. It doesn't reflect on past trivialities such as American politics, but upon our future,

Is rbryanh facing reality with too strong a dose of doom and gloom for you? There is always faith in human triumph, but also denial or oblivion when it comes to human failings. That's why our social support systems are collapsing, and now beginning to spin out of control. What good is technology (TRIUMPH) when few can afford it (FAIL)? We don't deal with reality, we just shop. Now the US can no longer keep the world stable.

It 's as hard to anticipate social conditions for a future grandchild as it is to anticipate the positive feedback loops climate scientists worry about. What kind of a wrench can we throw and where do we throw it to stop the escalation of increasing human population consuming shrinking resources and turning them into poisons while committing atrocities over their control? We are not evolving, we are devolving.

The stories many grandmothers tell their children in many nations not Western, are already far worse than yours. Don't harp on the last 8 crappy years. Discuss solutions for stopping a real ride into the abyss, It will take more than losing the SUV, changing light bulbs, or finding your bliss. It wasn't the last 8 years, it was the last 80.

[greencowgirl]

Dr. Rich, nobody wants to lay down and die, but read Paul Kennedy's prescient and mindful book, Preparing for the 21st Century, published in the 80's. Nowhere is a there a reflection on such past trivialities such as American politics. It's all about our future.

Is rbryanh facing reality with too strong a dose of doom and gloom for you? There is always faith in human triumph, but also denial or oblivion when it comes to human failings. That's why our social support systems are collapsing and now beginning to spin out of control. What good is technology (TRIUMPH) when few can afford it (FAIL)? We don't deal with reality, we just shop. Now the US can no longer keep the world stable.

It 's as hard to anticipate social conditions for a future grandchild as it is to anticipate the positive feedback loops climate scientists worry about. What kind of a wrench can we throw and where do we throw it to stop increasing human population from consuming shrinking resources and turning them into poisons while committing atrocities over their control? We are not evolving, we're devolving.

The stories many grandmothers tell their children in many nations not Western, are already far worse than yours. Don't harp on the last 8 crappy years. Discuss solutions for stopping a real ride into the abyss, It will take more than losing the SUV, changing light bulbs and finding your bliss. Anyway, it's not the last 8 years, it's the last 80.

[DyingBreed]

I liked this post, although I was surprised about the treatment of Obama as a Christ-like savior.
What surprises me even more is the first commenter's diatribe against the professions of life coaching and therapy. What is the point of that comment, except the obvious one of making the writer feel superior about his or her chosen profession? I would love to know what that is so we can all comment on how worthless and detrimental to society it is. You could make that argument about any profession. (Sometimes it's not such a stretch, I am a lawyer after all.)
Not everyone has "wise family and friends to coach them when they need it." Should we now tell the Lakers they don't need Phil Jackson, and have Michael Phelps fire Bob Bowman and just go it alone? I'm sure there are a zillion people who have received benefits from therapy and life coaching well worth the price of admission.
Perhaps the commenter had a bad experience with therapy/coaching, not uncommon. But it seems a bit extreme to use that as a reason to denigrate an entire profession. (Or perhaps Scientology is involved?) Otay you must have something more productive "to do with yourself" than this. If not, maybe you could use some coaching yourself!

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear DyingBreed,

Tell us about your name? Which breed are you referring to? Perhaps the Greed Breed?

As for Barack, were you referring to the video portrayal of him? Remember, this is done with a generous dose of tongue in cheek. I think we're all so desperate for someone to lead us out of the wilderness, the narrator, Uncle Jay, assigned him deity status. We'll see how that turns out.

As for my reference to him, I see him more as an effective leader, something we've been sorely missing for many years. Clearly human, not a Christ, but very present, down to earth with sleeves rolled up, ready to lead.

That's what I voted for..... time will tell if that's what we get.

All the best to you, DyingBreed, and may whatever it is that is dying in you, be something you're best to be rid of. We all have something that is dying in us. A perfect time of year to let go of what doesn't serve.

Judith

[OtayPanky]

Virginia: So, Grandma - what were you doing back then to make money?

Grandma: Well, sweetheart, I was a life coach.

Virginia: Why Grandma? Didn't people know how to live life for themselves? Why did they need you to coach them?

Grandma: It seems quaint, and even strange now - but back then we thought that most people couldn't manage their lives by themselves. We convinced ourselves - and our clients - that they'd do much better if they paid people like me a lot of money to help them figure out what to do with themselves.

Virginia: So what happened to your coaching business, Grandma?

Grandma: Well, after 2008 people simply couldn't afford to pay for my help. So they learned that they had to figure out how to live life for themselves, and rely on wise friends and family to coach them when they needed it.

Virginia: Well, I rely on you, Grandma - and I'm glad you don't charge me money for your help.

Grandma: Yes, Virginia. And when you grow up, you'll know well enough how to help yourself - and even help other people when they ask for your advice. And it won't cost you - or your friends - any money at all.

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Otay,

Just like the Wizard put himself ouf of business by helping Dorothy and company discover their own power, I've always thought my job was to put myself out of business by helping those who have forgotten they already have everything they need, remember this.

It's kind of like (in my story) Barack handing people a shovel and saying "start digging". We can either pick it up and do the work or continue buying into the fear-based past and sit idly by hoping the tooth fairy will appear and make it all better. I think the American people are ready to do the work. Seems like we've run out of other options.

Happy New Year, Otay Panky. May you always be a gentle prod of skepticism to stir up the pot.
Judith

[OtayPanky]

I'm going to see you and raise you, Judith.

My assertion (in case it wasn't clear) is that the entire personal coaching industry - and much of what passes for therapy in our oprah-fied culture - is nothing more than consensual trance leading to infantilization and a sense of learned helplessness.

I believe that for you, and others, the intentions were benevolent - just like intentions were benevolent when the government created welfare. But in both cases, the outcome undermines and actually worked against the good intentions of the social engineers. The welfare system - as we all know now - created a permanent underclass by teaching learned helplessness. And most of the coaching/t­herapizing industry is doing the same thing.

The end comes - for both - when the system can no longer stand the strain and simply melts down. I predict you're going to see a lot of therapists and life coaches looking for work in other fields in the year ahead, because there just won't be enough paying customers.

This is all in accord with the principle of SYSTEMANTICS which says "systems tend to produce results opposite to those intended".

[calluna]

Wow. Just....wo­w. So your conception of the future is that, 20 years from now, the skies are blue and the economy's roaring, and we're all thin, happy, safe and warm....bu­t your granddaughter can still only dream of being president? It's a curious attitude for a woman who makes her living off the spiritual empowerment of women.

And -- again, in your conception of the future -- we're just passive actors in our own stories, in need of a strong leader to show us what to do? We haven't had free will all these years to come together and make change? It's interesting you reference the Wizard of Oz. The point of the story was that bravery, love, intelligence and the capacity to get where we wanted to go lives within us, without the need for a magical leader to bestow those qualities upon us. The Wizard wasn't even a wizard.

It's an insightful fantasy, but perhaps not in the way you intended.

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Calluna,

I knew the line about the granddaughter wishing she could be president would stir some people up. That was my intention! I'm glad it caught your attention.

Wouldn't it be pathetic if women still hadn't reached the presidency by then? All the more reason for us to work to make sure this is only just a fantasy.

As for being passive actors in our own stories, absolutely not. My use of the Wizard of Oz was not about the Wizard. It was about the witch and how easily she was consumed by mere water. Her power was based on nothing but fear. That's how I see our current crop of leaders have led, by instilling fear in us.

As for the wizard himself, who of course was just a man, that's how I see Barack. He's just a man, but remember, it was the wizard who had the characters perform feats of bravery so they could see it was inside them all the time. He led them to the discovery of their courage, but they were the ones who did the work.

The American people have cowered in fear for 8 years. (at least) In my story, Barack simply says, "start digging" not "start shopping". Passive? Hardly!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and may you be a force for change and courage in the coming year.

All the best,
Judith

[tcagle]

I have already had the occasion to tell nieces, nephews, and grandkids what life was like before Reagan. Not a happy ending, unfortunately.

[SeriousBlack]

And I suppose you're happy about the way Reagonomics and "trickle down" has ended up over the last 3 or 4 months, eh?

[tcagle]

Maybe you missed the point. The unhappy ending is now.