Anyone else getting that "bottom’s gonna fall out of the tilt-a-whirl" feeling about the economy, too? It’s an ugly day of news on the economic front:
– Calculated Risk says consensus predictions are a 5.4% drop in GDP for the last quarter. Numbers are due today. There’s a lot of money in short-selling in this market, so I’m always suspicious of analyst motive: how can you tell self-interest driven analysis from honesty? But it still looks bleak. Bloomberg says economy tanked faster than any time since 1982. Ouch.
– The spot of good news? The Senate passed SCHIP last night. Boo yah!
– Via LATimes:
On Thursday, three milestones showing the depths of the downturn were reached: The number of workers filing unemployment claims hit an all-time high, sales of new homes fell to an all-time low, and production of durable goods dropped for the fifth straight month, boosting inventories to their highest level since at least 1992….
Calculated Risk has a series of indicator charts on the credit crisis that are equally grim.
– WSJ reports that adjustable rate ARM defaults, many of which are the so-called "jumbo ARMs," are rising. The next wave of the shitpile crashes.
– Fewer orders means more layoffs.
– You know it’s bad when big law firms are pinching back the billable hour.
– All is not grim: Exxon had record profits. Nice work if you can get it, I suppose.
– President Obama plans to roll back some anti-labor Bush orders this morning, and will then meet with his newly created Middle Class Task Force, after smacking back at Wall Street excesses yesterday. Veep Biden has an op-ed on the middle class in today’s USAToday:
America’s middle class is hurting. Trillions of dollars in home equity, retirement savings and college savings are gone. And every day, more and more Americans are losing their jobs.
For the backbone of the USA, it’s insult on top of injury. Over the course of America’s last economic expansion, the middle class participated in very few of the benefits. But now in the midst of this historic economic downturn, the middle class sure is participating in all of the pain. Something is seriously wrong when the economic engine of this nation — the great middle class — is treated this way.
Cue the socialism howling from the GOP in 5…4…3… Never mind that a deliberate income shift to the top few for producing little of value or running companies into the ground is always awesome!!!
– A national effort to get a handle on the number of homeless is underway. With a record number of unemployment claims, and increasing numbers of articles about "talking to your kids about the family budget crunch" and "stretching your grocery dollar" a lot of folks are asking when the stimulus will ever trickle on to them. "Cutting back" is the new new, which just feeds the bad GDP numbers and makes it tough on farmers.
– The upside to spending less? Less trash in landfills.
Real people, real families are caught in this whirlwind. We’d do well to remember that. How are things with you? Weathering this winter storm?
Related posts:
- FDL Book Salon Welcomes, Paul Davidson: The Keynes Solution: The Path to Global Economic Prosperity
- Jobless Rate Hits 26-Year High: Does Obama Have an Economic Team? Where’s Their Jobs Program?
- Suicide — Another Side-Effect of the Economic Crisis
- Recovery? Romer Contrasts GDP Growth with Job Loss
- Is Obama the New, Democratic Version of President Herbert Hoover?
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Well, Obama inherited a booming economy and now it’s gone to hell.
-The GOP Historical Revisionist Coalition
Good Morning Christy!
Happy Friday Christy.
At least there is the good news mixed in with the bad news.
Things are hanging in fairly well in my household.
We had this horrible story about the murder/suicide of yet another family in Southern California and it’s been a topic of conversation between me and the mister. We’re realizing that a lot of folks are in situations that are not that dissimilar to that of this poor family. We’re wondering what “other factor” was in their life that caused them to go over the edge. We’re just counting our blessings these days.
GOP = Whiners
Because they have nothing!
I heard about that on the news the other day — so terribly sad for those children. Made me wonder what it was that pushed things so far to the edge that others in their family/friends didn’t see it or couldn’t help. The aftermath of something like that is always so rife with “what ifs” for the survivors, and it’s so very painful to watch. Just awful.
btw, I thought the pix of the scuttling geese was just perfect — took me forever to find it this morning, but I just love it. *g* Seems awfully applicable on so many levels, doesn’t it?
oo linkalicious goodness from Christy, good morning!
I had just noted about the SCHIP bill last thread; the Repub objections to care for those children. Read it and weep….need money for all those Exec profits. What’s wrong with this picture? Nothing if you ask George W; some of them may even live in New Orleans. How callous can one be?
Apparently? Pretty callous. This has been another edition of…
I’ve been talking about this feeling for a while;
my friend wanted us all to take a cruise for my birthday, last year I would have said no problem, this year I still have the mad money but I don’t know if I’ll have a job tomorrow, my mad money turned into “emergency bill paying money”
lucky for us my friend payed for everyone’s ticket but that’s another story
anyway, I have an oxdown diary about some of the unreported costs of bush’s war;
We don’t confide in our friends and neighbors any more. The Ronnie RayGuns individualist philosophy did far more harm than good to our personal relationships. Image is all important. My boss is in the personal finance shitter and his primary concern is being able to maintain his image.
Funny, in an excruciatingly painful way. Urgh. Seems I start each day staring into the loo, watching my personal assets do swirlies as they disappear. Lower middle class loo and sinking.
And Im just hearing that the downturn may be about to last for 5 years…That’s a lot of years for kids who need to go to college or need health care.
You know, that’s really true on so many levels, isn’t it? There isn’t much of a sense of community in most places any longer. It’s much more of an “us” versus “them” mentality, isn’t it? I do wonder if the economic downturn will begin to force some cracks in that selfish armor we’ve all built up…where we get to the whole of our community being an “us” instead of it being just “me and mine, and yours can go to hell.”
fyi, Sirota has a few thoughts on making politicians do what we want them to do that are well worth contemplation…just found the article or I would have linked it up above.
I agree with you. The term neighbor just doesn’t seem to have the same meaning as it used to. So, we have to create our own neighborhoods. Like the one at FDL, and you have your peace friends and I have my church friends. Friends are where you find them and if one values relationships, they will go and find them and then trust them and share.
well that’s Rush’s whole schtick, “us” versus “them”
it’s how he keeps his sheep in the fold.
Look for the ones who told you the market was in trouble before the crash when that position was not popular.
This to the SF Chronicle but is a Seattle PI story. Boy Scout Councils cutting down forests:
Conservationist’s gift logged for profit
The bottom dropped out at the end of July, when we were all distracted by the election. You could see it happening in the dribs and drabs of news coming out on how small businesses couldn’t get their lines of credit renewed, and how people were clamming up their wallets. The economy is imploding at a rate faster than it ever grows. Let’s suppose what I hope is a worst-case scenario and the economy drops 4 percent a year for 3 years running. That means a better than 12 percent drop in real GDP, and a more than 12 percent drop in GDP per capita, since the population continuese to grow. Using Okun’s Law to connect that drop with unemployment, are looking at 13 to 14 percent unemployment — or double the present rate. Not a pretty picture, not to mention what it will do to Federal, state and local budgets as tax revenues collapse. This is why the stimulus package is so urgent, and even that is unlikely to stem the outgoing tide.
Is this the death of Reaganomics? I certainly hope so.
Wouldn’t you think people would eventually tire of being told to be afraid alla time? I know I got sick of it about 2002…
are you not allowed to update your posts
It is a lot of years. My grands will be affected hugely. My grands, whose parents vote Republican. Cannot tell you how literally sick that makes me.
Also a lot of years for folks like me, approaching retirement sooner than later and wondering how the hell we’re going to make it. Maybe the CEOs and ponzi pinnacle heads will share their ill-gotten wealth with the people who are suffering most because of them. And maybe Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh will appear on camera, tears in their eyes, begging forgiveness for their slime-coated screeds. And maybe . . . oh, never mind.
Um…yes, I am — but I’m also dealing with The Peanut home on a snow day and wanting attention at the moment. So I hit it in the comments and will update when I get time.
Ding Dong!! Gee, that’s what Rush is, too. Not often I get to feed two birds with one scone.
meh
this is the boil, it’s been festering for at least 2 years, the disease began under ray gun, was put into remission under clinton, full force under bush
Why do you suppose so many folks are stuck in that mode? I know there’s such a thing as addiction to chaos. Addiction to fear? Is it why some folks gravitate to horror flicks?
You can bet yer sweet bibby that council leaders have lived large on the proceeds from logging.
This is a common problem these days. A similar problem in the lack of health inspectors in GA led to the peanut butter problems. Can we now fund our regulators? Please?
I had the good fortune to have a days work on a temp job this past Wednesday and was stuck, stuck, stuck on the freeway. I was scanning thru the radio stations looking for a traffic update and found Rush. Had never listened to him, just heard bites here and there, so I took a few minutes to listen for myself. It was so awful and really scary. He’s scary and everyone who believes him are scary.
Welcome back Christy!
I think that we will see more than a great depression, but rather the complete unwinding of our economic system – free market capitalism.
We are faced with a energy crisis and engineering and science may not get us out of that dead end, though it will help and many are hopeful.
We will have to move to a completely different way of living. The consumer economy will come to and end and we will have a sustainable one. The partying, NASCAR, freequent flying will come to and end. The airlines will be state owned in a few years. Banking will be a goverment service. insurance, health care and housing as well. We face that sort of “socialism” or some sort of facism. Capitalism will not rise again for a long time, especially the notion of the “wisdom of the market”. That was pure bunk.
I for one am delighted to see Will Bunch has written a new book…
Tear Down This Myth
http://www.truthout.org/012809L
it’s far from over as far as reaganomics is concerned, we will have to rewrite the tax code and put the tax burden back onto those useing the most economic assets before reaganomics is over
that’s not gonna happen under obama
You are so right….I don’t let him on my car radio. Ive made the mistake of hearing Hannity and Ingraham b/c they are easy to tune in; Im about to ban both of them. They are so sarcastic, disrespectful, and wrong about almost everything. This week Laura did a horrible rant about Barbara Streisand and yesterday calle out “liar” after some remarks by Michelle Obama. No respect, all snark. I have really wondered how people are trained to have such ugly thoughts?
I feel secure in my job, however paying our medical practice bills is a balancing act & sometimes payroll is by the skin of our teeth. We are providing more care to uninsured patients allowing a 30% discount (which means the docs work for nothing).
I haven’t saved a penny in the last year since, in addition to my home expenses here in NC, I am paying for the home in PA my mom left me after she passed away. My husband isn’t working, thankfully we don’t have kids to support.
So, I would like to go home and pull the covers over my head.
You might sat that: Settlement silenced critics of logging
It’s what they’re exposed to. If all you watch is network or cable news and all you read is the local rag you’re faced with fearmongering at every level, every day. Leaders make their bones telling you they will deal with the things that make us fearful. It also keeps us from coming together to deal with the issues that really matter. “I don’t have time to go to PTA meetings. The abortionists are trying to destroy our society and I’ve got to stop them.”
It’s the song from ‘South Pacific.’ ‘You’ve got to be carefully taught.’
here’s the thing demi;
rush has lost his effectiveness among voters, yet the republicans still fear his power
he is now trying to regain attention, doing it by being outragous, if he didn’t do that he would have been washed a sea
so we are feeding the troll, democrats should rather answer anything referencing rush with;
“hehe…you sound as if you actually believe morons like limbaugh, don’t tell me that’s where you get your talking points, that would explain the ignorance”
I wonder how Ben Stein, Bobo, Kristole ,Rush, Ann And O’Reily are making out in the stock market?
Because if they listened to their own advice
Bwahahaha!
We could have so much Snark material reading their Stock Portfiolos!
Pretty sure WIll is coming here for a book salon at some point…
Where the hell does a Boy Scout council get a $6.5M budget?
Did you hear the conference call of BOA with CEOs? Their vitriole and hatred for labor and working people knows no bounds.
Corporations and banks are truly the enemy of labor. It’s war my friends.
ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK
Just what are Rush’s audience numbers does anyone know are they up or down?
Did you happen to see Jonathan Alter on Keith last night [first story] re obscene executive bonuses? Usually I think Alter is pretty much a tool, but last night he was on fire, saying Obama should promote legislation to “take back” the bonuses, urging citizen demands that this be done. Is someone else inhabiting Alter’s skin?
Also, Monday’s WSJ had an article on the closings of many law firms, particularly in CA. I’m visiting here now and talking with my lawyer friends: big contraction of available work & jobs. Hoping this will persuade my daughter, who’s contemplating law school, to reconsider. [I am a lapsed lawyer and strongly counsel against such a huge expenditure of time and money (especially at today’s tuition levels) unless one is REALLY sure about it.]
And demand the Bailout Money back!
How about we get him to marry Coulter? They can spend their days telling each other how far reichwing they are.
Cover Ann in Butter and Bacon Grease?
Stetson University Law School is a few blocks from me. I’ve notice a considerable decline in the number of cars in the lots and students walking around.
Selling trees. It beats selling cookies all to hell!
Can anybody point me to the docs about giving tax breaks to corporations that move their manufacturing overseas? Because I get the strong feeling (have had it for years) that we had better revive our ability to make stuff.
Since I don’t know anyone, or at least talk to anyone with tiny little hearts and minds with thoughts that ugly, I can’t even imagine how they got that way.
I agree with PERRIS that they are doing this to get attention and raise their ratings.
They can’t possibly be that ugly at home, can they?
Tell me about it. My younger is a junior in college. After so many years of saving and “no new car, same crapped out clothes, worn out furniture,” I am biting my nails hoping we’ll have enough for him to finish.
I think bears like bacon grease. She could accompany him on his sex tourist romps. Threesomes and foursomes and such.
13 million weekly listeners. Looking for comparative info. eCAHN or TobyWollin will get there long before I do! *g*
Yes, Christy. People around us are terrified, with good reason. Lay-offs as far as the eye can see. Banks scrambling so far so fast that names on checks are obsolete before the ink can dry. It feels like “put-it-in-the-mattress” time.
And everyone I hear talking about it thinks those repug economistas who counsel that we must NOT buy food and pay off our debts because that’s counterproductive to stimulating the economy – well, such advice is regarded as pure bunk and totally ignored.
Please may all the Pups and theirs survive these unsettled times.
Victory Garden feels like over-reach. We’d settle for Survival Garden.
Excellent! And what a well-timed tome…
No, I did not see Alter. But Obama was pretty outspoken himself. The blind-spot, entitlement are truly amazing. It’s the same drive that let the auto exec. all fly in private planes. I also will be interested to see the world of charitable giving, here at a time when so much is needed. (Yep, like the logger execs. above.)
If seeing how they act when we’re protesting is any indication, yes they are like that most of the time. Overbearing, controlling, always right, just plain downright obnoxious.
Just looked at the Book Salon tab — Will’s book salon is scheduled for March 1st.
http://downwithtyranny.blogspo…..-mess.html
Maybe Rush and Ann could meet at a GOP Fund Raiser to free Ravenel after all sooner or later it might be them in a jam.
they tried that on the TEEvee
a more likey couple would be rove/rush, they look so much alike too
Sure if she cuts her hair and pretends to be a boy.
we should try to get that promoted outside of firedoglake as well
tearing down the myth is one of the most important things we can do
Off to swim in the great capitalist cesspool and avoid the boss’s hare-brained schemes.
Be good to yourselves, and all other living things.
Namaste
Duncan had something up about it yesterday as well, I believe. Will’s a great guy — hope the book does really well.
They do look alike..I actually thought last night fig-leaf nausea inducing picture WAS rush…nope, the equally repulsive Rove. I guess should unkind, ugly rants and lies will ultimately make one very ugly…like our mothers told us.
Thanks Dragon. You make us smile even in times like these.
The old fella who froze to death in his own home because of deliberate, automatic, official cut-off of his electricity….
Our neighbor across the street “brags”, for some reason, (false bravado?) because he keeps his house at 42 degrees all winter, with only space heaters.
Oh, and he was just laid off. But he resists moving out, and usually won’t accept help, his family has left him, so there he sits…. He’s not “elderly,” actually younger than we are, but he doesn’t act right.
Awful times, these…. It’s wrong…. Rush is wrong….
The sad part about it is that paper assets and paper liabilities are creating paper losses, which are having practical real-world consequences on folks who did not participate in the game of the paper economy. I hope that Bernanke and Geithner find the reset button on the game pretty soon.
Bought your popcorn yet this year?
Half a kilo of blow? And they think he’ll get off? Wow. SC must be a coke dealer’s paradise.
That’s the part of all of this that really freaks me out — gambling on paper has such a huge real world impact on real production, goods, and services. And it was essentially a gamble on nothing but thin air and up or down. Crazy.
Never touch the stuff. Cookies are my downfall.
When I was growing up, we had a neighbor who would always talk politics with my dad. He said he would be glad for another depression because this time he “would have his.” He’s long dead, but I guess that attitude has lived on.
Ravenel began serving a 10-month sentence in late May for a cocaine charge. He was moved from the federal lockup in Jesup, Ga., to the halfway house in December. The date for his release from custody is listed as late March.
http://www.charleston.net/news…..home68582/
Well at least Bush didn’t pardon him.
on point;
Know your enemy snippet.
Draw your own conclusions.
That’s a tragic story and I hope results in some regulation on power companies.
One set of laws for rich GOPers another for the rest of us!
Just bought me a copy on Amazon. $16.50 total, including shipping…woo hoo!
Hang on! Are you telling me FDLers aren’t rich??? /s
Please do not freak out. Breathe. Play with the Peanut.
And, BTW, the shortcakes I just made, inspired by Southern Dragon’s throwing a scone comment, are ready!
We can be rich but no we do not get 10 months for half a kilo of Coke.
I think we would be lucky to get 10 years.
Actually KKKarl and Joe Scar look like they could be bros.
I have north woods maple syrup and lingonberries. May I join you?
Ben Stein had a laughable column in Sunday’s NYT about his profligate son whom he’s supporting, who just got married, and who “can’t imagine going out to dinner [in NYC] several times a week and picking anything on the menu.” It was supposed to be “humorous,” but the blowback [it was reposted on Huffington, where comments are allowed] was terrific.
Christy, re your remarks above:
I have been ranting about exactly this since CA passed Prop. 13 during Reagan’s tenure as governor. Prop 13, which capped property taxes and thus began the decimation of the public schools and university system in CA, was the beginning of the “I’ve got mine, now get out of my way and don’t try to take it” mentality. The complete inability to “share and play nicely,” as well as the idiocy of not understanding that society needs to educate the next generation, even if only to get them job-worthy so they can pay those FICA taxes [the only goal that appeals to Repubs]continues to blow me away.
One strong appeal for me of Obama’s campaign [and John Edwards’] was the message of “we’re all in this together.” I’m hoping, however, that Obama will finally see, after Wednesday’s House vote, that the Republicans do not regard themselves as “in it” with the rest of us, and will stop giving them all of our food supply to get them to join the wagon train.
And gambling on financial instruments that were not regulated, much less understood by the senior people doing the deals. They just wanted the numbers/software adjusted or ignored in order to guarantee a certain amount of leverage (translation: paper profits, deal churning to amp their own compensation).
That this mess “could not be foreseen” is a crock. Just ask some of the paralegal, young lawyers, IB analysts who had to closely read the documents. They knew this was all BS but we’ve been living in management’s “emperor has no clothes” time.
Of course. And, everyone else.
I’ve got a baggie of frozen strawberries and some lite whipped cream.
It’s Friday, let’s have a party.
Ooooh — bring some of that over here, please, and I’ll make a batch of pancakes!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19317367/
I hope a Front Pager opens up a can of Whup Ass on this Clown!
I’m seeing a LOT of that, SD. People insisting that their fine and none of this is relevant in their little safe, financially secure life, and then a layoff comes or there’s one less car in the drive……etc.
Everyone’s insisting their fine!!!
Their not, their super struggling. I think we should all be TALKING THE HONEST WALK about this, and to each other.
Hi, fellow Lakers. I have been reduced to lurking for the past few months. Things have been so bad on so many levels, that I have just sort of retreated. I was thrilled to see Obama elected and to feel the rush of excitement and thrill of relief as Bush departed the White House, but for a lot of people I know, hope was not enough and change came too late. My husband’s pay was cut about sixteen months ago when the first shudder of the sub-prime meltdown was felt. We have had a head start on most of the country in pinching every penny- no more movies, no dinners out, no dry cleaning- I wash and iron the dress shirts. I bought an indoor drying rack and hang the laundry in the living room near the wood stove. I am an artist, and have not sold a painting since January 2007, though I have exhibited in several shows. We are just making it, but we are still here and whole. We still love each other and feel blessed in light of the despair we see all around us in our families and our friends.
A 92 year old friend of mine passed in early January in Philadelphia. Her oil tank was empty, she froze to death with the check I sent her for oil still uncashed on her desk. She told me she was awaiting delivery… I’ll never know if that was true or not. Two weeks ago, my husband’s sister was murdered by her common law husband of thirty years and he then turned the gun on himself. They were up to their eyeballs in debt and we never knew. She was a beautiful person- a partner in a head hunting firm in San Fransisco and he had a Masters Degree from Stamford. Hhope was not a plan…change came too late. I’m not telling this story to elicit sympathy, but rather to make a plea for all of us to talk to your friends and relatives. If your economic situation is perilous, maybe theirs is also and they are just too proud to talk about it. Don’t just think that you are alone in this and, by extension, make sure your loved ones know that they are not alone. To the House Republicans, I say-
A house divided against itself cannot stand. And all that you will inherit is the wind. Soulless- heartless bastards all. Thanks for hearing me out. I take a lot of strength and comfort from reading your posts and knowing that there are good intelligent folks out there who understand what is really going on.
Speaking of Rush, there’s a new thread about that Cyst.
I might have to stay for the party a little while longer, tho.
:)
i have whipped cream and some frozen mango.
:)
Oh, Sue…I am so, so sorry. Wish I were there to make you a pot of tea and just let you talk for a while…huge hugs, hon.
Welcome back, Sue.
You share two stories that are all too common.
Lessons learned: don’t buy anything you can’t afford and know who your friends are.
My daddy taught me those two things. Said them over and over.
Stay in touch and feel free to tell us anything sometimes just having someone around to listen helps:)
What horror….I am very sorry. I hope you are finding some time to rest and mend. Both are big shocks. It really is about looking for what matters, isn’t it? Peace to your husband as well.
(((citizensue))) I’m sorry for your troubles. I thank you for your excellent take on paying closer attention to those around you. We gotta!
Thank you so much Christie. You can’t know what the offer alone means to me. I admire you so very much. Thank you for your leadership and selfless contribution.
Ummm, make that “paying excellent attention to those around
youus.”See? We are rich. In spirit, sharing food and hugs and open hearts.
Thank you Firepups. TYping through the tears. You’ll never know how much your hugs mean to me. Hugging you all back.
So where did the kazillions of dollars allocated to protection of our electric grid from terrorism when the whole thing is knocked down with a severe mid January winter storm……. a storm caused more damaged that any attack could……
(((citizensue)))
My thoughts are with you. It is important that you shared…
I have been trying to talk my neighborhood association into putting together an emergency fund that can be used to help families in our neighborhood out. Everyone thinks I am nuts and that “things are not that bad”.
It will be too late when it dawns on them that the idea was a good one.
Again my sympathies for your losses.
wow, citizensue!!!!!
do NOT lurk.
nuff said!
and other than the deaths, for which my heart breaks for you, your story is JUST
You’re not alone with the tears either. Hankie?
But, my tears just opened up my clogged sinuses, so that’s good.
I’m such a bleeping pollyana sometimes.
Hmm thats not trees falling down because of a snow storm the electrical grid must have fried.
I hope Obama is getting the Grid fixed.
Without even a Red Alert, I guess. I am so sick of the mindset that has worked to scare us to death and bankrupt us for the past 8 years. A grid not working…how familiar is that? Ask New Orleans.
I think we all probably have a bit of PTSD from watching what happened to our country. Watching the Wall Street meltdown reminds me again of how close Elliot Spitzer must have been to showing the Emperor has no clothes. What will we begin to trust about America?
typo
just like mine! we don’t go out, i’m IRONING! and had a drying rack for the patio and summer clothes which is sitting right here right now in front of the woodstove. going out is a far and distant memory.
in an effort to make you smile, i’m a very young 56 and we tried to “brown bag” a little place New Years Eve and got caught. we got there at 9:30 and were “invited to leave” by 10:30 (all very friendly, but still…..we weren’t even trying to hide it, not in the mood I suppose). everyone else laughs at that story, i hope you do too. we did/are! me, my best girlfriend and mr. siri who doesn’t drink and a couple other friends…..
it’s tough here. things aren’t paid, minimum payments due are happening but who knows about next month.
i feel for ya. if you were in SW CO i’d have you over and we could dry clothes together.
and as i said above,
everyone i talk to says they’re FINE. like we’re the only ones feeling this thing.
i don’t believe them.
that post @ 111 was for citizensue
Good for you. You are soooooooo right and your neighborhood association has it’s head in the sand. Things are worse than bad.
What’s happening in this country is nothing less than a long dark night of the soul. I am not exadgerating by saying that almost everyone that I know, friends and extended families… all educated and middle class- mostly in their early fifties, are struggling. The first jobs that are being cut are those of middle managers in the low six figures, range with lots of seniority, in favor of moving up younger workers they can pay less money to.
IMHO these are the folks that are really strung out and the ones who are not talking about their situation.
Senate Repugs have their pantie hose in a wad over section of stimulus bill where those on unemployment could enroll on Medicaid instead of COBRA……. OMG…. that would mean more people would have universal healthcare….. OMG OMG….
Siri! You made me laugh. I’m a young 56 year old too. You reminded me of the time we were out with my daughter and her bf. The place was crowded, so I was sitting on my husband’s lap, facing the band and kind of moving to the music. Security came over and asked us to leave. What a hoot.
Pantyhose in a wad. You’re funny. Feeling good today?
omg
that’s funny! demi!
i think we are not old as long as we are gettin’ kicked outa bars.
there’s something undeniably YOUNG about that, doncha think?
lolol
And that would be such a great money saver for those in hard times. Cobra can be very expensive; not the relief for the unemployed.
OT. I just notified the Cornyn people to quit sending me his online newsletter. They put me on his list after I had contacted his office earlier about SCHIP when he was of course against it. One less irritant in my life: irrelevant and uninformed, he is.
Yessie, yessie. Part of being artists and musicians maybe? Gotta love it.
Christy, in case you come back to read, I just love that your morning post is a place that we can stick around and Share.
You and I are pretty much in the same boat…… Kyl and McCain are just as bad. What is it that these people drink that make them so mean and hateful to Americans?
If it bothers them so much then have them go on COBRA and then report back. COBRA is expensive.
Got a question Christy. Probably a dumb question.
Exxon posted record profits and is doing better than all the failed banks combined.
Citigroup handles Exxon’s credit (I think I have this correct). Why didn’t Citibank go and get a loan from Exxon and just barter “no contract fees for services” in exchange?
I’m an astrologer. for a living. and have made a good living with that since ‘92, on my own, pay taxes and financed things…..
we’re in the same boat with musicians and artists. on the “fringe” i suppose. i just woke up one day and COULD NOT DO the corporate thing anymore.
it was an actual viceral and physical reaction.
i also sculpt, but don’t make money on that yet.
so yeah,
i just think of us as “gypsy spirit types”, and completely relate to sue as a struggling artist. my clientele has dropped, and regular clients keep calling saying they want my services and will call back when they get paid…….
it’s been meager here since actually, October.
Mr.siri is in school and working part time. he’s getting straight A’s so i don’t want him to focus elsewhere now. he loves it. he belongs there now.
i’m just amazed at how no one here, and i mean NO ONE will discuss the economy and the problems it’s causing everyone.
i’m just amazed at how no one here, and i mean NO ONE will discuss the economy and the problems it’s causing everyone.
I’m not sure what you mean. Seems there are a lot of posts about the economy at FDL.
siri,
I posted quite a bit about it. Even did a few Oxdowns too.
sorry, i meant here as in “here in Cortez, CO”, neighbors, family
omg
FDL has been my lifeline for years now. i KNOW it’s all over the place posted here at the Lake!
sorry to have been confusing to you guys………..
Siri,
Thanks for the chuckle and the support. We seem to have a lot in common. Look me up sometime http://www.zoonart.com
Have to run… the real world beckons.
CHS:
On SCHIP, savor this:
“We carried a lot of water and took a lot of flak” for that stand, Hatch said. To push through a different version now is “not only unfair,” he said, “but a slap in the face to those of us who worked so strongly with our friends on the other side.” …”We could have had 95 votes,” Hatch said. “That would have sent a tremendous, tremendous message that hasn’t been sent around here for a long time.”
The print version quoting a Republican wailing “This isn’t what we signed up for!”
I like Obama’s postpartisanship sometimes.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..id=topnews
Not to help those immigrant kids…Makes my skin crawl. Thanks, Mr. Hatch-Scrooge.
Talk about music to my ears. Obama and Biden just introduced their Task Force on the Middle Class to labor leaders. It was the fireside chat I needed to know that they do understand and will do whatever is necessary to rebuild and increase the middle class. To me, it’s no less a charge than saving what was best in this country.
The global economic assessment says ” capital pension funds
will fail in march” President Obama can succeed but he needs good leadership in Congress to support him Pelosi and
Reid are porking us and playing to corporate lobbyists. Time
for new democratic leadership.
I think Pelosi and Reid should go along with pork and
corporate lobbyists
visit GoPetition and sign to get rid of Pelosi and Reid
http://www.gopetition.com/online/24937.html