The Coming Depression has Begun:Tent Cities have gone up in Suburbs

reply to post by assassini


I don't have much sympathy for someone who gets their new BMW reposessed. But how can someone actually believe that the majority of "hard luck" cases are the fault of the individual? No man is an island. That's like blaming people for being unemployed during the Great Depression.



[edit on 1/15/0808 by jackinthebox]

reply to post by jackinthebox


Good point. I do not blame people for being unemployed if no jobs are available. I do blame them for not looking ahead. In today's world anyone can lose their job overnight and should have some sort of plan for dealing with that possibility. 3 to 12 months worth of emergency cash might be a good start. Living below your means is another. We haven't run out of jobs in this country yet, at least not in TX. or FL. I still see "now hiring " in quite a few places. It may not be the job you want, but it is a job. Also, If there are no jobs in one's area, then it might be wise to go somewhere that has jobs. I'll end it there as I have to be at work in 4 and a half hours. You are right Jack. No man is an island. I just think that it is much easier to help some one out if they are helping themelves.

On a MACRO level, the U.S. has been the recipient of largely unearned prosperity for the last 40 years or so. Other countries' reliance on the dollar is coming to an end, aside from those who are tied to our debt (suckers!). This all goes back to the elimination of the gold and silver standard and the proliferation of paper money. No, thank YOU Federal Reserve. :-|

In short, many of the goods and materials we've been enjoying are backed by a currency that has little value. Our only redemption (if any), is that so many countries are now tied to the U.S. economically that it will be in their best interest to cooperate with the U.S. agenda.

Saudi Arabia's king is thumbing his nose at the U.S. and refuses to produce more oil because the currently high prices are paying his share of the American deficit. Now that American muscle is on the wane, he knows that we can't afford to coerce any nation to accomodate us. We've painted ourselves into a corner.

I'd be indifferent to see Americans live within their means, though. In fact I'd welcome the change. This whole idea of "credit" is a crock, designed to lure people into debt. And it worked like a charm. I don't wish for families to stand in soup lines or lose their homes. But serioiusly: what were we thinking? Fancy cars, dining out every night, entertainment systems monopolizing our whole living rooms with PS3s, DVDs, DVRs and cable TV. What a self-indulgent nation we've become. And if it hadn't been for our materialistic impulses, we probably wouldn't have had the diligence to conjure such capitalistic schemes for the typical consumer. The whole system is perpetuated by advertising and business.

One day it may all go away and you might have to (gasp!) read a book for entertainment purposes by candlelight.

God Bless What's Left of America.!

Originally posted by assassini
reply to post by jackinthebox

 

Good point. I do not blame people for being unemployed if no jobs are available. I do blame them for not looking ahead. In today's world anyone can lose their job overnight and should have some sort of plan for dealing with that possibility. 3 to 12 months worth of emergency cash might be a good start. Living below your means is another. We haven't run out of jobs in this country yet, at least not in TX. or FL. I still see "now hiring " in quite a few places. It may not be the job you want, but it is a job. Also, If there are no jobs in one's area, then it might be wise to go somewhere that has jobs. I'll end it there as I have to be at work in 4 and a half hours. You are right Jack. No man is an island. I just think that it is much easier to help some one out if they are helping themelves.

Life on credit is how many Americans have been living & now it is starting to bit them back. I grew up poor & learned first hand how bad it can get. It taught me a valuable lesson on how to manage money properly, how to live way below my means & to ALWAYS expect the floor will fall out at some point in life.

So while others are trying to cling to a house they never could afford, mine is nearly paid off. (not bad for being only 32) The two cars sitting in my driveway are mine to do with as I wish. I owe nothing on either of them & while they may not have all the bells & whistles, they run great.
We have no credit cards, we purchase everything with cash & we are not beneath buying second hand. My husband is the sole income, but even if he were to loose his job today, we have made plans for such an event. That is what finacial planning is all about.


All I'm saying is that many Americans need a wake up call. A 100k house does the same thing as the 300k one. A 3k, used car, will get you to work just like that 30k, gas sucking SUV & no, your kids don't need a $400 cell phone, a $50 one will do just fine. Keeping up with the Jone's is over-rated, especially when you literally loose the roof over your head trying to do it.

reply to post by pjsconcrete


The future does not bode well for the U.S. and most of the world economies. Our government has spent us into a coming collapse, more than likely. Perhaps when that happens our citizens will demand our government operate under a budget. One thing people can do is search forlow cost insurance and save money on their budget. The cost of this war overseas, the yearly loss of jobs to overseas and our overspending is going to catch up to us. It will be a sad day when that happens too.

After reading the post regarding corporate welfare, our fearless leaders if we are lucky enough will also see the writing on the wall. Feeding large companies that cannot fail is a mistake; they should be allowed to fail since they have been part of the cause of this economic downturn. When something is past its prime there is no reason to rescue it and keep it going. Allowing people to use their inventiveness will once again make America blossom and return to strength, however it cannot be the saviour for the rest of the world.
To further help North America we must support local industry instead of supporting cheap products from Asia. Corporate America has been the cause of manufacturing jobs being sent to third world countries in order to save a few pennies, forgetting about the consumers at home that do need work to purchase products that Corporate America sells.
It’s time to wake up America! It’s time to jail political and corporate theft.