The economy is getting better..
I read an article today that said the recession is over. I would really like to know who they talked to. Like maybe they talked to all the rich people who are getting richer. They sure didnt talk to me or the millions of people like me who are still unemployed and looking for work that just isnt there anymore.
The economy is getting so much better that I cant even afford the parts to fix my truck. Yes its broke down again I keep trying to keep it going but this time I have to rebuild the motor.
I am done reading the news its just reporting what the rich want to hear they dont care a bit about the average person and it also lets all of us know that the rich are still getting richerand the poor are still getting even poorer. Will it ever end I doubt it the rich have to much power and the poor are just to worried about surviving to do anything about it.
I dream of the day that everybody that makes under say $100,000 a year can afford to go on strike. Lets see how the rich do doing there own dirty work. I hope I didnt offend anyone with that statement but its how I feel. and yes I have family that would fall in that category that would have to do there own dirty work but I dont really care.
I get really tired of hearing them say how hard it is for them they didnt get a raise this year or they have to pay for something unexpected and had to put less in there bank accounts. Well at least they had the money.
OK I am done crying here its just getting crazy I am not use to not working and it is killing me to stay home
Well I hope everyone is having a great day
Bummer. I feel ya, Red. Things are grim. I'm taking stuff I never thought I'd be doing, to pay the bills.
Still, I had lunch with a client yesterday and he told me this: Last year at this time, they were looking at a lot of project cancellations. This year, they're writing quotes and bids left and right. (He's in a business-to-business position.)
It's not all the way better, and it's certainly not uniform, either by sector or by location, but things are starting to turn. I hope you have the good fortune to be able to hold out.
October 29, 2009 7:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the important question is - who is the recession over FOR?
I was talking with housemates yesterday who had read similar articles, and it took me a few minutes to get them to understand the unemployment is still going up - we haven't even really slowed down the rate of job losses.
Yeah, the stock market is up, and indicators of future business activity are trending upward, and so on.
So what?
Unemployment - still going up.
Housing market - still going down and likely to keep doing that until all the unemployed have been foreclosed upon.
That 12 year protection for biotech firms new remedies that is in the Senate HCR bill? I was reminded during the conversation that it will be a big boom for MA, and that we're looking at the effects of, and recovery from, eight years of not doing science in the USA. But that is still, even if it passes in that form, years off.
There's bills to pay and food to buy TODAY.
I can't say to scope of it, but it seems to me that we're really in the midst of an economic transformation. Consumer-spending is still a driver of most activity, but it's weak, and I don't think it will ever recover - not while my generation is still breathing anyway. I've seen it in the eyes of my cohort and the folks younger than us - the days of easy living are over, and casual self-indulgence is not even considered an option for most of them.
October 30, 2009 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
As I said, directly above, it's not uniform, either by sector or location. And yes, we are in a fairly large-scale economic (and possibly social) realignment. Good? Bad? Who can say at this point? Certainly, those with some skills will do better than those without. Things that can be offshored will likely continue to be. (Infrastructure cannot be - it is built in place.)
Look at the active sectors: Energy technologies are just beginning a significant level of activity - this will grow, though the directions are still unclear. Communications will go through a serious restructuring, as relying on delivered objects is being replaced by delivery of bits and bytes. People will still need food and shelter, and education and health care.
Economic activity that adds no value, simply shuffles paper, will hopefully begin to diminish. We need a return to a focus on tangible and useful, as well as things that serve both the public and private physical world and, for lack of a better, more satisfying way of putting it, the "soul". We cannot neglect that. Throughout human history, the evidence is strong for the storytellers and "makers", the explorers and innovators, they are the ones who drive progress. We fail to encourage them, even with the multitude of failures necessary to yield successes, at the cost of falling into the shadows of others who continue to encourage such activities.
The "take-away"? Get skilled - preferably in something that requires your physical presence for completion. Develop a way of adding value that cannot be easily replaced. Much as I hate relying on a quote for this, keep Wayne Gretzky's comment in mind - skate to where the puck is going to be. Most of the old jobs will not come back. There will be new ones created, and they will not be in the same arenas.
If I was heading into college now, I'd be thinking energy tech - some relevant form of engineering perhaps. The sciences. If I was not headed to college, and it's definitely not for some people, I'd be looking at getting a highly skilled trade, somewhere in the energy tech or infrastructure fields.
I'm neither, I'm approaching middle age, with an evolving communications tech skillset. I'm adapting as I can. It's not easy. It won't be for anyone.
October 30, 2009 12:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am pretty sure I will be fine - I'm skilled in IT, have been a chef and a baker, a casual brewer and vintner, a landscaper and a fairly decent gardener in the event that NORML disbands because they won.
But there's a lot of folks who aren't so fortunate, and I wasn't raised to think I shouldn't give a damn about anyone else. Quite the opposite.
November 20, 2009 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Red, I was immediately drawn to your blog because I wanted to get your take on things. Sorry things still suck! I do have a feeling that things will start to look up, but not in the way they should. The disparity between the rich and everybody else is the same as in all failed societies. Maybe we can beat this mess. I don't know; but I hope things look up for you soon.
October 29, 2009 7:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ack!
You're sounding positively socialistic.
I likes it.
=D
If you can hold on, hold on.
October 29, 2009 8:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Red, I know how you feel. I saw that same headline and yet here I am without a job, wondering how I'll pay rent in two months. If the recession is over, no one has told my wallet.
It's going to take a while, but things actually do seem to be getting better somewhere. It's the holding out and waiting that's going to be tough. Luckily, we have friends we can talk with, and, yeah, share our fears with, and while that doesn't put money in our wallets, it does help.
So thank you for posting this and sharing your feelings because these things need to be heard. And they need to be expressed. And friends need each other. Please know that you have one, in me.
October 29, 2009 8:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Redneck, I am from the South and you aren't. You often use what you think are Southern turns of speech, but you often use them incorrectly. Why are you playing this game? TPM is a serious place to express legitimate ideas. You must be getting a laugh out of all this. Well, that is pretty funny, I guess, pulling a bunch of Yankee legs.
October 29, 2009 9:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
faroff I speak the way i do becouse its me not a stereo type if I have offended you i am sorry
October 29, 2009 10:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Faroff, I think you are sparring with ghosts that are not there.
October 29, 2009 10:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
DD, I have no bones to pick with Redneck. I think his posts are hilarious. However, I don't believe a word he says. Read some of his earlier posts, he couldn't spell cat. His language was pretend Southern hick. Now, all of a sudden, he spells and writes like a B student high school graduate. I don't know who he is but he isn't who he pretends. So, who cares? I don't. My purpose here is to point out what seems pretty obvious - Redneck is pulling your leg.
October 30, 2009 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
OK, I'll add my what's fer. First off though, I gotta say, I don't mean no offense one way or a nudder but if I had to put some money on the table to back up my reconin' I'd have to say my own self that I recon ol' Redneck is puttin' us on a bit. I mean, I'm just sayin'. But honestly, I don't give a rat's ass if he is, I post annonymously and every word I ever done wrote might be a complete conflaberation. Uncle Leo said the noble lie was A-OK so a little white one shouldn't hurt too awful bad now, should it?
October 30, 2009 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Some of us know him on FB, and more have chatted with him in the TPM-aholics room. He seems genuine enough to me.
October 30, 2009 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good enough. He has attracted some friends who speak up for him, that's a good sigm regardless of what else. Glad I didn't put money on it.
Red, Next time I'm through Kansas I'd be happy to buy you a cold one.
October 30, 2009 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
:) Like your sense of humor.
October 30, 2009 6:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Redneck is from the midwest, and you ain't.
So?
October 29, 2009 10:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey Dumbfuck. Well, that's a little harsh, but I'll stand by it rather than going all PC. You just took a potshot at some of my friends and relatives, so I don't think you really deserve much in the way of courtesy.
You may not be aware of it, but there are rednecks all over North America - not just in the USA!!!
Hell, I used to be one until I let my hair grow out and I wasn't willing to argue with UMass about whether I could bring my guns to college with me.
We've got the KKK and jackers and straight family trees and quasi-literacy up North too. There are even multiple country music stations in Massachusetts, of all places, so get off your high horse.
October 30, 2009 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
You mentioned your family tree. Let me guess, you are one of the nuts that grew on that crooked branch where all the squirls play.
October 30, 2009 6:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yup.
Thanking my lucky stars that I didn't grow up on the Reagan-worshipping, Ann Coulter and Investor's Business Daily-reading, "dey-terk-er-jerbs"-shouting, worried about the "crimigrants" branch. They worry me some times.
And lemme tell ya - those squirrels have COLD paws.
November 20, 2009 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Attack the content not the person. Unless you know the person personally, you've nothing of interest to say about him.
October 30, 2009 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I wasn't attacking Redneck. I was laughing with him. He is fooling the bunch of you and you just don't get it.
October 30, 2009 6:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Red ain't pulling any legs, Faroff. Yankee or otherwise.
October 29, 2009 9:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Red...do you remember a while back when I commented on one of your blogs, asking if you had ever considered going into business for yourself?
Well, have you? This could be an opportunity to start something of your own. When you've worked your whole life, like you have, sitting still is maddening. I reckon you are still pretty much stunned.
Keep us posted.
October 29, 2009 9:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
The economy may be getting better and this is how.
My car is 4 years old and is paid for. Once upon a time as vehicles aged and their value lessened the insurance cost went down reflecting that loss in value. Not anymore. For two years now (four premium periods) it has been creeping up. Just got my latest renewal and it went up $60 this time. I've had no tickets and no accidents for almost two decades.
I've no doubt the insurance industry in general is screwing everyone. Just like with the major credit card companies they are raising rates for everything trying to have the same profit even though the economy is in a down cycle. In a down cycle you make less money. That is how this works. They are soaking us so they make the same in spite of the recession. The very recession they brought upon us. What a load of crap.
October 30, 2009 2:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Remember, TPC, it's not just health insurers, all insurers are not in the business of providing "coverage" to policyholders, they are in the business of generating investment capital - and when they need to raise more capital, they turn to the policyholders.
Isn't it a comfort to know that we are providing the insurance companies' upper echelons with ever-more-comfy lifestyles? Don't you just feel better already?
Now, where did I put that pitchfork?
October 30, 2009 10:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
We are definitely getting screwed. The thing I mention is purely anecdotal by way of the insurance cost declining as a vehicle ages but that same anecdote is widely applicable. These changes may or may not be subtle but they are definitely real and have a big influence on families. I've no doubt it takes a bigger chunk out of incomes. Coupled with stagnant or declining real wages over the years the consistent pattern of squeezing people for every nickel and dime has a great deal to do with the shift of wealth up the economic ladder. The thing is you need to be of a certain age to recognize these changes. That makes the participation of the fifty plus crowd very important in this contest.
October 30, 2009 1:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was out of the country for a few years and when I came back and bought a car I was charged a double rate for insurance. The agent said it was because the insurance company knew I had been driving un-insured during that time, I must have been. I hadn't been. There was no recourse.
Later I bought a pickup and of course had to carry insurance [liability only] on both vehicles in spite of the fact that I could only drive one at a time.
Later still, I sold the car and bought a newer model. For the next year I put all the mileage on it and only a couple hundred on the pickup. The insurance company checked the mileage on the car and raised my insurance because it had become a high mileage vehicle. It didn't matter that averaging the mileage of it and the pickup made them both low mileage vehicles. Chica-boom, chica-boom, don't ya just love it.
October 30, 2009 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Recession" is defined by GDP, which is not directly connected to what individuals actually earn, or who/howmany have jobs.
So, the recession is over, but that does not mean things are better.
In this particular case, it means things are no longer getting worse. If we can all hold out another year or so, they should be getting noticeably better by then. They should be "not that bad anymore" (noticeably better than now is still bad) by some time in 2011.
October 30, 2009 7:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Peace be with you..... I so understand.
October 30, 2009 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Red - unfortunately the "economy" is measured by GDP which we all know doesn't move in lockstep with employment.
However, most articles, like the one below, will also cite it's a jobless recovery
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125681908931715735.html
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2009/10/29/goldman-jp-morgan-economists-debate-shape-of-recovery/
October 30, 2009 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
About 6 months ago my company had to lay off about 25% of the workforce, and put the rest of us on a reduced work week. Last week we brought back a couple of the layed-off folks, and I and a few others are back to a full week. (dang it!)
Not huge progress, but baby steps in the right direction.
October 30, 2009 5:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Red:
Sorry to read about the truck. Hope your son is healing. (As I recall, he had spent some time in an ICU.)
I've followed this string with interest and have noted that most of the posters have exhibited frustration, fear, and anger relative to the economic situation. I, also, sensed that most posters are expecting that this weak economy will pass. I, fortunately, have never been the victim of a "reduction in forces." I was asked to resign a couple of times, but those events were self-inflicted. I do know what it feels like to be "a day late and a dollar short!"
We have all been informed what opinions are like.
If you have not been informed, ask around...Someone will inform you. So here is my opinion on the economy and our future:
Eric Hoffer, author, longshoreman and adviser to John Kennedy wrote some lengthy dissertations relative to economics. One of his strongest assertions (not exactly quoted) was that no successful economy was ever created that did not create "material" products that another tribe, hamlet, city , state or country was not desirous of. Be the object grain, spices, machinery or sea shells, objects preferably manufactured from raw materials taken from same area of origin, optimized the success of the trade relationship. Hoffer emphasized that service industries created little stability because knowledge knows no boundaries.
I drove the turnpikes from Chicago to the East coast, for the first time, in the early-sixties. At night, the polluted skies were aglow from the towering stacks of refineries, steel mills and various other heavy manufacturing industries. This stretch of America was the backbone of our middle class. Today, that same stretch is known as "The Rustbelt." If you have read this far, it isn't necessary for me to explain the sundry forces that decimated our manufacturing base. As off-shoring decimated our middle-class, our tax base was equally decimated. Then, followed the deterioration of our infrastructure. How could our middle class sustain its' standard of living? Easily! Loosen the credit standards! Import CCPS (Cheap Chinese Plastic S**t) as a replacement for items that had once been manufactured here. Capital for internal investment has left our shores years ago.
Some skills can't be off-shored, but there will never be enough jobs available to off-set those which are gone...Forever. This country is undergoing drastic economic change. We are not experiencing a "dip" in our economy. What the future holds, I have no idea. I don't buy that America's ingenuity will return us to the word-prominence we once enjoyed.
October 30, 2009 7:11 PM | Reply | Permalink