I watched Squid Game of Netflix fame a few weeks ago. A gruesome mixture of candyland meets hunger games. No spoiler alerts in this episode but if you do watch it, don’t expect Mr. Mint or Gramma Nut to make it out of this one.
What I really saw deeply embedded in the show was the fact that all of these characters were so indebted. The debt had enslaved all the characters that it subtly forced them into the horror that was laid in front of them.
It’s particular how close to home this oddity of a Korean series hits. Debt affects all our main characters of Squid Game in many different ways. Through gambling problems, lack of employment, debt to loan sharks, losing money in poor investments or inability to provide child support, they all create incremental pressures.
I love to see art imitating life. But tragically this horror film becomes a reality for many of our patients, staff and fellow docs.
I can’t imagine coming out of school with $300k+ in debt. Have you ever looked at Care Credit terms if a missed payment occurs? 26.99%. It’s bordering on predatory lending. Just to catch up on interest payments will keep you under.
Squid Game is a mirror held up at the perfect time to warn us. We are in a game of Red Light/Green Light with all the debt accumulation. As I have spoken before in past episodes, our government has turned on the afterburners and is running the money printers [debt] as fast as they can. The solution is to stop the debt, and face a harsh reality.
But nobody ever wants to swallow and look at themselves if they’ve binged watched all 10 seasons of Friends and find 3 cartons of Haagen Daaz strewn about. There’s always a consequence. Either you’re getting a bit of chub or spending the next 3 days on a bicycle.
Instead the debt accumulation boils under the surface for everyone. We all eventually pay it in some way. It may come in the form of inflation. It may just be that we all get a little less product (supply chain issues anyone?).
Or we might have our staff play the Dalgona candy game. Successfully remove the imprinted shape on the caramelized sugar disc and you’ll receive your bonus.
We’re such evil thrivers…
Lam