By Dr. ROBERT OWENS

As the economy constricted from the latest bubble, what have we done?  On an individual basis, unless we have an economic death, wish we cut back spending, increase saving and pray we don’t get downsized, rightsized or thrown under the bus to free up capital for someone else’s bonus.   As a business owner we follow the same pattern.  People wonder why banks aren’t loaning money to small businesses.  Don’t mistake a symptom for the disease.  Banks aren’t loaning because businesses aren’t borrowing.

Businesses aren’t expanding; they’re trying to survive.  With the re-making of America still an enigma wrapped in a riddle on the horizon, no one knows how to make an educated guess as to what the future holds.  Without a clear vision of what will be required tomorrow, it’s impossible to plan today.  From Main Street to Wall Street people are keeping their heads down hoping if we click our heels enough times we’ll end up back in the America we know and love hoping we won’t have to admit this transparent collectivist shell game is the New Normal.

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