Cynicism is the new reality in America today. This post from a reader called Fifty First State, over at Marketwatch. How appropriate?

Hmmm, I hope I don’t sound to cynical about the Lehman situation but I suspect the plan by “Da Boyz” and their “mole” in the Bush administration, Henry Paulson, was to skim off all the profitable parts of Lehman, divide the spoils, and leave the c*** for the government (we the taxpayer) to pay off. Something like $85 billion of junk paper I understand. Still, what’s another $100 billion debt?

Then of course, Phase 2 of “Da Boyz” plan would kick in. That other “mole”, Bernanke, could crank up the printing press, throw more money out of his helicopter (he needs a new engine by now considering the time that helicopter has spent in the air) get the government to buy all that junk paper and thus flood the world with more US confetti pesos which would bring our once mighty dollar closer to the status of junk money.

This is one of the saddest periods in America’s history. We owe so much money (around 10 to 12 trillion $$$ I think is the current number) our children, grandchildren and probably our great grandchildren, will be paying for the mistakes that incredible clown in the White House has made, for decades to come.

We have to beg the Chinese and Japanese not to cash in our IOU’s. We print more and more confetti US pesos. Only the crappy little countries worry about our military might and now, from Pakistan’s latest threat to kill any US troops on Pakistan’s land, even THEY are not impressed while Russia and China shake their heads and hide their laughter.

Now, some of the most most respected financial firms (respected once but not now) are going down the tubes one by one and we are hated in most of the world. A friend in the UK told me recently, “Listen, if you decide to visit europe, tell anyone who ask you are Canadian.”

It’s very, very sad but we deserve it. While we watched football and shopped for that 50″ flat screen tv, “Da Boyz” were busy shoveling money into their off-shore accounts and thinking up new schemes to skim as much off the 401k’s as they could or begin a Ponzi Scheme (like the mortgage mess).

Richard Fuld, CEO of Lehman Brothers, told students from the University of Pennsylvania’s business school in 2007:

Pick a strategy and stick with it, “unless of course, you’re wrong.”

As usual, I made a small sale today. I know, for a majority of the population, the amount may seem huge and life changing. And maybe that IS true. In my case, it was a tiny sale. The emphasis is on the amount.

The sale was small, but the belief from the buyer in me was not. I say this because, the amount of sale which I made will NOT solve the grim and immediate problems that afflict our world. It will not solve the bigotry, hatred, greed, disease and injustices which abounds. It will barely correct the distortion I engaged with for the past few years of my life. Essentially, I sacrificed my time and my life holed up in a cage acquiring assets, which I deemed was valuable while forgoing life’s simple pleasures.

It is not that there is a dearth of talent in this world. It is not that there aren’t enough sincere people on this planet. It is not that there aren’t enough priorities that needs to be listed in the order in which we should attend to. The problem lies in someone who can believe in these.

It matters little on the susbstance unless someone recognizes it’s intrinsic value. It matters little how much love you have to give unless someone recognizes its worth. It matters little how much value you have to afford others unless someone appropriately pays a price for it.

Success is because someone recognizes it. Many more go unrecognized. And I see those instances more than I need to. If everyone stood in line and attended to, in order of their dire needs and priority, the world would be a wonderful place to live in. So, I made a tiny sale today. It wil take care of my little grievances and then some. Simply because a buyer who I knew not until 3 days ago believed in what I had to offer.

Success has as much to do with your talent, skill, ability and exchange of value as much as someone believing in you. You could be the best thing that ever happened since Jesus Christ, but if no one believes in you, You are nothing!

Jerry Rivera is one of my favorite Spanish musician. I barely understand 10 words in the entire compilation, but the depth and feelings in his music is undeniable. Even if it takes me a lifetime to fully comprehend the lyrics, all the much better. I can continue to enjoy Rivera’s soulful renditions.

Enjoy!