In 1850, French economist Frederic Bastiat published an essay entitled “That Which is Seen, and That Which is Not Seen.” In it, Bastiat addressed the common economic fallacy which focuses only on the short-term and most visible consequences of an action.

Bastiat encouraged his readers to also consider “that which is not seen,” i.e., the long-term consequences and less visible effects of an action.  The same principle could also be stated, in more familiar terms that: there are two sides to every coin; every action has an equal and opposite reaction; and there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

Having previously served as a legal assistance attorney and a defense attorney, I have repeatedly witnessed the consequences to Sailors who ignore this principle. Many continue to do so.

Sailors hastily enter relationships and marriages considering little more than their feelings of “love” and the promise of certain benefits (living off base, Bachelor Housing Allowance and medical care); without laying a proper foundation and without addressing important long-term questions regarding morality, finances, kids and life goals.

These relationships often end in heartbreak, costly and messy divorce and 18 years of child support payments and custody agreements.

These purchases can end in foreclosure, repossession, crushing credit card debt and bankruptcy.  Even when they do not, retirement and savings accounts are empty or too small and thus require retirement at a later age and/or a significantly lower standard of living. 

Other Sailors seek immediate pleasure through eating (then fail the PFA), through excessive drinking (then get a DUI or worse), or through drugs (then fail the urinalysis).

In all of these cases, Sailors leapt before they looked.