"The Great Manic Depression"
As someone who has weathered two manic episodes, and the subsequent depression that always follows, humor me as I offer my experience up as an analogy for the current state of our Nation.
According to June K. Burke, an internationally known lecturer,"there is a natural release of energy every seven years which encourages you to move forward and make changes." You may find it interesting that my two episodes were separated by a period of 7 years, approximately the same period of time as our current cycle of boom and bust.
If this sounds too flakey for you, search the foundations of your own belief system...you'll find that the concept of seven year cycles pops up all the time. The Creation Story is, for instance, a classic example of rapid change followed by a period of rest taking place during a period of seven days.
The beginning of any manic episode is marked with accelerated activity, both real and imagined. The term "irrational exuberance" doesn't even begin to cover it. This incredible desire to expand in every direction, to grab more, and heed every call, no matter the danger or risk involved, makes for an interesting ride. I was all over the place, and going nowhere, simultaneously. Sound familiar? I will let you draw your own parallels to our Nation's manic 7 year treadmill ride.
But here's the kicker. These cycles are an absolute necessity for growth. I call it creative friction. It's like looking at the tip of a welder's torch...a whole lot of sparks go into a perfect weld. It's not always pretty, and some will get burned. If you look at the last seven years, they are packed with almost every conceivable theme found throughout history.
And here's another kicker. It's going to happen again! This is how we grow. This time, the period may only last 7 months, or 7 days.
Call me crazy (on second thought, please don't :), but I think that we are entering the depressive stage of our "manic episode." This will be a period of intense reflection, questioning, sorrow, and healing. It may even be a time of dying. Whatever it is, it will certainly be a period of regeneration. That is the nature of cycles. It is how life unfolds, and it has helped me come to terms with my own patterns.
Take this for what it's worth.
Ahh,
makes me think of the Sine wave.
Why is the harmonic wave to powerful to the emotions.
Everthing, in my opining, comes down to rhythm
The rhythm of the heart.
The rhythm of music.
I believe, underneath all chaos, is a chord.
Business cycle
I agree with you that alternating expansion and contraction is a fundamental movement of all existence.
But if you want to understand the business cycle, you need to look into Austrian economic theory. The businees cycle of boom and bust is not inherent in the free market or a psychological phenomenon (although the trigger of the bust can have a psychological component).