This country is in turmoil. Since our president has taken office we have been in a slump (to put it lightly) as to the economy. Hubbies work has slowed (construction and therefore destruction biz is down) and even my business is in a slump. I'm on 32 hours and have been for a month. So many people have been laid-off or just out and out lost their jobs due to cut-backs and downsizing.

My question is to the aspiring (or real life) economists out there. What is the outlook? Give it to me straight....and don't sugarcoat it! LOL!

__________________
Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~

I will go consult Madame Lilith

__________________

The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there.~ Betty Grable

If I wanted your opinion, I'd remove the duct tape and ask you for it.~ Me
<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>
One man's dream is another man's nightmare~~~~> §¤ Lilith ¤§
~>My Scribbles<~
==>Gone Shopping<== ~Just a Quickie~ *~A Celebration Vacation~* ~Surprises~ Sleeping With the Window Open
What Did You Do Today? Self Defense Class ~Short Sweet Snippets~ § Summer Spin § Story Challenge Submission Pajamas

Oh Goody! Now we'll get the poop...the whole poop...and nothing but the poop!

__________________
Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~

and that would be different than a real economist, how?

__________________

The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there.~ Betty Grable

If I wanted your opinion, I'd remove the duct tape and ask you for it.~ Me
<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>
One man's dream is another man's nightmare~~~~> §¤ Lilith ¤§
~>My Scribbles<~
==>Gone Shopping<== ~Just a Quickie~ *~A Celebration Vacation~* ~Surprises~ Sleeping With the Window Open
What Did You Do Today? Self Defense Class ~Short Sweet Snippets~ § Summer Spin § Story Challenge Submission Pajamas

Well I read my trade mags (printing) and they keep downing the forecast for the year. My companies president has taken a different look at things. He has chosen to not let our company partake in the recession. In the last year we have added equipment and employees and our profit went up 4% last year.

I have my degree in economics (but do not practice) and it is just my opinion, but this thing was started by the tech fall and the furthered by 9-11 and the worries there after. Japan and other areas were in a slump before us and frankly the stock market and other things were way overpriced. The state goverments are in the red by billions (34 states at last count), mostly because they overspent during the boon of the 90's and now cannot bring themselves to cut what needs cut. So some are raising taxes..some are having bake sales (think that was somewhere in nebraska).

BTW, Case in point a great article I read (will attach the article when i find it). If California would today go back to the budget they had in 1996 and not raise any taxes they would have close to 400 million dollars left over.

I personally think this will be short lived. I think the federal tax cut is a good thing, but think it should be attached to spending cuts not to going into debt. No recession has ever lasted forever, no boom has ever lasted forever, it goes in cycles. We were just spoiled of how long the last one went. I hate it that there is this unemployment and someday I am sure I will be one of them at some point. Be it now or 30 years from now.

Said enough.

__________________
Love...the slowest form of suicide.

My opinion sitting here in the heartland pond is that the rich are likely to continue to get richer while most of us struggle harder to make ends meet.

Well, okay some ends will meet regarless of the economy. In fact, if we're spending more time at home near the bedroom, the meetings could occur with increased frequency.

And, if that's the case, we should see some things increase in approximately nine months. OMG. A whole new generation of Pixies.

Well with a whole new generation of Pixies on the way, that means that food supplies will have to increase. So farming should boom. And, of course, diapers, while generally dealing with the bottom part of society, will likely see an economic upturn. At least if all the little boys are as horny as their dads which got us, in part, to this place.

I also suspect Kleenex, in a decline since the demise of the rescue ranger, will also see a resurgence as we try to get things cleaned up.

Of course, if Kleenex and diaper demand goes up, that means the whole waste disposal industry is in for a major boom, triggering the demand for new trucks and rubbermaid waste cans.

This in turn promises new Walmart business as we all shop for new waste cans. And, of course, as we shop for waste cans we'll probably find something else we want to buy.

Hmmmm.

Bottom line is that I think Bill Gales future is safe. And, before you know it, there'll be a new election and a whole set of new promises.

Does that make you feel better?

Who are you and what have you done with skip?!

__________________
Put me on wheels and I'll turn tricks.

Clever? Nah, I ran out of that years ago. But if you find this, let me know, k?
"The road goes ever on..." ~ Tolkien

In memory of my friend skip...
Go then, there are other worlds than these

I dunno but this new one makes me drip

oh the old one did too

__________________

The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there.~ Betty Grable

If I wanted your opinion, I'd remove the duct tape and ask you for it.~ Me
<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>
One man's dream is another man's nightmare~~~~> §¤ Lilith ¤§
~>My Scribbles<~
==>Gone Shopping<== ~Just a Quickie~ *~A Celebration Vacation~* ~Surprises~ Sleeping With the Window Open
What Did You Do Today? Self Defense Class ~Short Sweet Snippets~ § Summer Spin § Story Challenge Submission Pajamas

Geez show my RL personality just once and see what happens...

__________________
Love...the slowest form of suicide.

Don't worry! I'm absorbing it all and I appreciate you any way you present yourself.....(though I have to admit I love you nakky most of all) *kisses*

OK...so if I get this straight.......We have to go back to go forward? I understand the juxtaposition.....but I can't fathom a back peddal from anyone at this point. The state governments have never (and correct me if I am wrong here) redirected their economy to reflect a time when things were good. They (heads of state) still keep their jobs, still get regular and ridiculous raises, and still tax us with the pretense that it will make for a better economy! I've never heard of them taking a pay cut to bestow upon us more money for economic balance.

I agree with the spending cuts........I don't own a toilet seat worth $5,000.00 and neither should the asses on capitol hill (pun intended). I know...I know...the cuts to which you refer...I just had to put that in there so "big brother" knows we are watching back!

I know no recession has lasted forever....but I heard a report the other day that we are not just in a recession at this point, but more closer to the depression of the 20's. I don't like standing in line for a loaf of bread......I hated it when I had to get gas on "my" even day in the 70's.

So.....I guess what I am now asking is......what can we....as common folk......do to make this thing turn around?

TY for all the replies thus far......even the silly ones....I hate getting this deep....but inquiring mind that I am....I need to know!

__________________
Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~

Spend

__________________

The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there.~ Betty Grable

If I wanted your opinion, I'd remove the duct tape and ask you for it.~ Me
<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>
One man's dream is another man's nightmare~~~~> §¤ Lilith ¤§
~>My Scribbles<~
==>Gone Shopping<== ~Just a Quickie~ *~A Celebration Vacation~* ~Surprises~ Sleeping With the Window Open
What Did You Do Today? Self Defense Class ~Short Sweet Snippets~ § Summer Spin § Story Challenge Submission Pajamas

Bingo Lilith....Econ 101...it is the only way to make an economy grow.

I knew you were smart as well as sexy.

__________________
Love...the slowest form of suicide.

Silly one(s)? Who would reply with a silly response? Ahem. Seriously, I think we will see a turnaround yet this year assuming no more "9/11" kinds of things. There. That was serious.

TY all......just wanted to know.....and as usual......you summed it up inna nutshell (to coin a phrase from another thread).

Move along.....nothing more to see here!

__________________
Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~

All I know is that my heart goes out to people like my parents whose business will probably fold after 50 years, and all of their money is tied up in it. They've managed to survive every other recession, but it doesn't look like they'll survive this one. They live in Rockford, Illinois, a city with a lot of machinist companies (not sure what to call them), including theirs (a drillhead company). They've cut their employees from 30 to 8 and all have taken drastic cuts in pay and hours. I know the recession has hurt them, but from what I understand, most of it is because customers are taking their business overseas or are buying from overseas businesses rather than the U.S. ones and the U.S. ones can't compete. My mom said on Sunday that it's really scarey to drive around town and see the large number of companies that have closed, ones that have been around for years, like their own. She said companies are filing bankruptcy right and left, far more than in past years.

__________________
Communication is the key.