Think For Yourself

10-09-2025

Seeking Advice.

This website provides general advice to help you, the reader, learn. However, it is not direct financial advice, legal advice, insurance advice, etc. It’s disheartening to live in a society where people constantly seek to sue others over matters, even when you’re genuinely trying to help someone and providing information for free.

Giving Advice.

Nearly everyone has heard of David Ramsey, a radio and television talk show host who, by the way, is not a certified financial planner. However, he offers broad advice on finances and provides specific actions he believes you should take to become debt-free. He has been doing this for decades.

However, his approach can be quite brash, and on more than one occasion, I have heard him call people stupid. I am not sure why he does this, especially when people are at their lowest point in their lives and are looking for help.

He also has a strict stance on credit cards. He does not believe in them and says you should only carry a debit card. Yet, I am sure he understands the reality that approximately 80% of people in the United States have a credit card. As of June 2025, 48% of people in the United States carry a credit card balance, and the rest pay their card balance in full each month.

Agreeing To Disagree.

Ok, I get it. If you have a credit card, there is a temptation for many, i.e., 48% of people, to charge for goods or services that you cannot pay for, and you end up paying a ridiculous amount in interest, 23% or more, and you dig yourself a hole you can’t get out of easily. But conversely 52% of people are managing their credit wisely and not paying those interest charges. Instead of arguing about it and calling people stupid for having a different opinion, why not just agree to disagree on this point and others and move on?

Why Happen To Civility?

I am not sure who tripped the switch in life, but it’s especially true in politics, where we can’t have a general conversation without vilifying the other individual to the point where you think they are evil. However, I will concede that some extreme views have recently surfaced, turning age-old norms on their head. All this begs the question, why? No one is bothering to really address why these changes are occurring now.

In Conclusion.

I have my own theories as to why things are unfolding the way they are, because it is easier to tear things apart when you have people at each other’s throats. But if you take an honest look and put aside differences, I think we would all find we have much more in common than we do apart.

To learn more, visit the blog life, reflection, and faith.