Explosive Devastation

This past weekend my family and I traveled up to Johnston Ridge Observatory at the foot of Mt. Saint Helens, the active volcano which violently awoke on May 18, 1980 with a 10 mile high plume of explosive devastation destroying thousands of acres of timber, landscape, wildlife and watershed. It spewed more than 540 million tons of ash which spread around the world within two weeks.

It was awesome. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was in college and during my early morning run I kept wondering why I kept feeling like grit and sand were in my eyes and on my face. Then I saw my face in the mirror. And I lived on the south western side of the mountain nearly 90 miles away! Those who lived on the eastern side of the mountain had inches of ash to deal with not just a dusting like we got.

But you know, the warnings had been pouring in non-stop for days and weeks on end and most folks had grown weary of the daily barrage of Mt. Saint Helens news. I remember there was a group of guys at school that became bookies taking wagers on whether the mountain would blow or just cool down and go to sleep again. Harry Truman obviously thought the mountain would just go to sleep again or he would have left his lodge there at the base of the mountain instead of being buried alive under all that ash.

During our visit to the observatory this past weekend however, what amazed me the most was the management of the timberland and wildlife around the mountain itself since the blast. Where the federal government has exercised sole management and regulation the place is distraught with ash and erosion still scarring the surface of the land. Where private landownership was established however, there are mature trees and forests along with abundant wildlife and in certain places the ecosystem is in better condition than before the volcano erupted. (see pictures)

Government Owned Land:



Privately Owned Land: (note the healthy forest landscape on the hills)


I remember how the government mandated evacuations and attempted to maintain absolute control over the Mt. Saint Helens wilderness area in the months and weeks prior to the eruption. They said these measures saved many people’s lives. But a little overlooked fact is that the day of the major blast a caravan of home owners were scheduled to be escorted into the blast zone by none other than these same government officials to retrieve some of their personal property. Ironically it was the actual eruption of the mountain itself which stopped them from entering into the blast zone and not any superior wisdom of any government official(s.)

Mt. Saint Helens can be an interesting homily for us today if we liken its history to the volatile financial build up which is occurring today in and around this world. Governments, their monetary policies and their regulations, along with all the financial gurus, and of course not to forget the news commentaries continue to put out a lot of steam just as Mt. Saint Helens did for months prior to her massive eruption. Just like the mountain this hot air is a visible sign of what is really brewing. The economic bulge that continues to expand with every Quantitative Easing and credit expansion... either private or congressional... is demonstrative of the massive pressure which eventually will relieve itself just like the mountain had to do. Funny thing is all these folk say the same thing... they are trying to protect you from the explosive devastation that is to come. Yet the government regulations and gurus’ financial recommendations simply prolong the buildup giving the eventual and inevitable explosion much greater force, volatility and eventually causalities.

That is why it behooves you to begin to take personal responsibility over your own financial welfare today because there is still time to protect yourself, and your loved ones, from the explosive devastation that is brewing in the financial world. But you won’t find the help you need from the typical financial planners, advisors or government programs who are really responsible for why we are in the mess we are today. No, to get real help you’re going to need look to the stable long term planning methods which have established wealth for hundreds of years for thousands of people. This system doesn’t utilize service charges or management fees which profit others regardless of the fact that you might be losing money. Instead this system is based on contractual guarantees and on you and your own self-discipline.

So if you’re a disciplined person and would like to learn more just call our office and find out what you can do. We never charge for a consultation.

Tomas McFie

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