Are we headed for a plunge?

While I am sure that the kool-aid drinking Bush supporters would say otherwise, I believe that USA has been in a moderate to serious recession since early 2001 (in the months before 9-11).

The Bush administration has done NOTHING but set into motion laws, regulations, taxing inequities and has turned a blind eye to wanton corporate greed.

What little gains made over the past 7 years of Republican rule were pocketed by BIG OIL & organizations like THE CARLYLE GROUP (which is partially controlled by the first George Bush and Middle East Oil tycoons).

Live Free or DIEBOLD.

Various economic forecasters say that the worst is yet to come.

If I were you, I would take my cash savings out of the USA Marketplace and transfer that currency to the EURO immediately. Many different brokerages offer Money Market funds that are traded and valued on the EURO. As the dollar weakens, you will now be partially hedged. If you need money, just convert back to the dollar.

In the coming future, the big financial news will be OPEC pricing their oil with the EURO instead of the now current US Dollar system. When this occurs, the US Dollar will free-fall to collapse. Over the past few years, the EURO has been very stable and gaining ground, while the dollar depreciates in value. Currently you can exchange $2.10 per EURO. The British Pound is around $1.90, the highest in decades. Gold is well over $1,000 an ounce.

Get the picture???

We cannot continue Business As Usual. Fundamental changes must occur on all levels. A balanced taxation system must be adopted. People making under $50,000/year pay more as a percentage of their income towards taxes & regulatory fees (read: licensing, property taxes, sales taxes) than a person making $500,000 or more. Private equity firms are taxed at the capital gains rate of 15%. Think about that for a moment. The corporations (which are supposedly set up to serve the PEOPLE) get better treatment than the man or woman making twice the minimum wage ($13/hour) working 50 hours a week.

America really sucks right now. And we have only ourselves (and our own ignorance of what our elected leaders are actually doing) to blame.

God Bless America. We’re gonna need all the help we can get.

Sounds like someone got up on the wrong side of the bed.

Your example of people paying more as a percentage is an bald face lie. Sales tax is the same percentage if you spend a dollar or a million. Property taxes are proportional to the value of a home and taxed as a percentage of the assessed value.

Corporations are not set up to serve the PEOPLE. They are there to provide a good or service and in turn, make money.

Take another hit off the bong and cry about being in the best country in the world if you want, I’m going to be earning a living in the greatest country ever created.

There’s no doubt we are blessed to be in a great country populated by many great folk, both past and present. That’s why I like it here. Like a lot of middle class americans, I love my job for what I get out of it professionally and financially. God has blessed me with the ability to provide.

But that doesn’t change the fact that milk is approaching $5/gallon. My recently born children, assuming they go to a state university and assuming the current pace of educational costs, could be looking at a $400K-$500K tuition bill by the year 2030. My retirement adviser stated that to retire at our current level of income we would need a nest egg of over $2 million in today’s dollars to cover future health and living costs into our late 80s or 90s. He stated bluntly that barring any changes in the way medical costs are handled my entire retirement could be wiped out before we die under today’s medical insurance system.

The point is that the cost of doing just about anything is rising faster than wages. And the past several years have seen nothing but high inflation, a total collapse in american manufacturing (outsourcing), more dependence on foreign oil and imports and a string of disastrous foreign policy decisions.

Unfortunately, for most americans this passing decade has seen nothing but sorrow and a general feeling that prosperity may be out of reach.

The problem with being poor is that it takes up all of your time.

I think the economy is basically as sound as people think it is. The main ingredient that is needed in a healthy economy is confidence. Confidence in our country, the dollar and in ourselves. Too many people find fault with the country, the economy and not enough with themselves. This is the land of liberty and provides the greatest opportunities that exist in the world. The only people we have to blame, if things aren’t going well, is ourselves.

Yes, we are in a recession and perhaps a mild depression by the time summer comes around in June. Remember many business start there business year on July 1.
One thing the government can do is get people OFF the public aid rolls. We have moms who have numerous kids, numerous fathers for these kids and who’s supporting them,,,the taxpayers who work and pay taxes. These women have first one man and then another living with them who won’t work and live off the Section 8 money and the public aide that is suppose to go the children. Throw the bums out.. Section 8 should be outlawed immediately. Millions, Billions of dollars are going in the pockets of rich people who buy and rent and 5 times the normal rent value and get their checks not from the renters but from you and me. I’m 69, I have worked since I was 13, sometimes two jobs because I never made much money. I worked, had three children and my ex-husband deserted me back in the 50’s. I NEVER EVER had public aide of any kind. I put a garden in to help feed my kids, I never had a man living with me because I don’t feel it is morally right to do so without benefit of marriage. I sure as heck didn’t sell, use or permit illegal drugs at my home. I kept my home clean, my children clean, well feed and took them to church on Sundays. I had the respect of my parents, my friends and my family. And I had repect for myself. I never had money to play int stock market. I had a Christmas club account for my children. The government needs to plug the money hole for these people who won’t work unless they make $20. per hour and get a two week vacation after working 2 months.
We are in a recession, and all the candidates for President are doing is bad mouthing each other. I don’t like any of them. The Recession and probably a Depression is the fault of George Bush and the corrupt Congress. The Recession will stop when McCain reinstates the draft.
Remember that on 23 Sept, 2003, the Defense Department Website called “Defend America” posted a notice for people to joil local draft boards. “”If a military draft becomes necessary.” the notice explained, “approcimately 2,000 Local and Appeal Boards throughout America would decide which young men, who submit a clain, receive deferments, postponements or exemptions from military service, based on Federal guidelines. In early November 2003, the notice started to receive media attention, with articles from the Associated Ptress, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the Oregonian, The Toronto Star and the BBC and the London Guardian. and in a familiar turn of events, the notice suddenly disappeared from the Website.
It went on to list the requirement for selection as a draft board member and to be considered for the Selective Service Board Membership plese visit our web site at http://www.gov/fslocal.htm

I don’t know if this web site is still in service but I don’t think so.
I would like the St. Louis Post-Dispatch to try and find out who in the St. Louis and surrounding area’s are on the Selective Service Boards. There names, they job, political or private business.
I would like to see a story on the draft boards that ended almost 35 years ago. Who was on it but MOST of all, I want to see a story on who is on the Selective Service System Board NOW.
There’s nothing like a draft to kick start a war outside our country of from within

Again John you are way off base. I won’t waste my time and energy pointing out all of your exaggerations. State school will not cost 400 grand in 2030. Inflation has been below average for the last 10 years. I bought 3 gallons of milk for 2.52 a gallon Friday night, you may want to shop around.

Your adviser may be right. You may need 2 million to retire and have a lavish lifestyle. Many of my retired clients get by on much, much less and don’t seem to miss many cruises or winters in the south. 2 mill will let you pull about 100 grand a year in income. I don’t think in 30 years that you will be in poverty on that.

Get to living and quit the chicken little crap.

JoT,

We find ourselves as a country in our present state not because of the poor or immoral welfare moms recieving assistance but, because of the corrupted state of the hearts in our government leadership starting at the very top from our Presidents to the law makers, judges, prosecutors, police and anyone else in government you can name. A sick corrupt and disfunctional government causes for a very sick disfunctional society. Wow, can’t we all see the truth of this now, just as the Holy Scriptures tells us.

It is very possible that it is too late to turn the devastation that we are certainly headed towards around but, bibilical accounts do show that God has been known to change His mind if a nation repent and turn their hearts towards Him in a real a nd genuine way and start doing what’s right in His sight.

You are very correct that main problem is a moral issues same as like that of “The Woman At The Well”.

We will always have these moral issues in our society, and thank God above and Christ for the sacrifice for us sinners. Christ came to save these very woman you speak about, not the righteous ones. These are the very lost ones He came to save.

Pray that like, “The Woman At The Well” that these will find Him also and will change. In the mean time, maybe do something to help these ones that you obviously personally know of to find Him by loving them as Christ did. A woman such as what you describe yourself as being could be the very blessing needed to mentor and plant the very seed needed into one of these lives. You have so much wisdom and qualities that could help so many.

I find it interesting that folks still defend the status quo when they are just as at risk from continuing down this path as those who question it. We need legislation to keep the good jobs in this country because the corp fools don’t give a crap about anything but making the figures look good, at whatever cost to this country. By definition recession may not be here yet. But there are so many pieces to the present economic story that aren’t “normal” that it might as well be for many. I feel the name calling folks do is in response to fears they aren’t ready to admit, and focus onto the proper people. I am struck how many poor middle class folks tout the folks who steal from them daily through legislation and selective enforcement of the laws. You didn’t used to see that kind of ignorance in such a widespread manner. America has turned into a me first country in many ways. We now see if we can do level playing fields here, and accept other countries are now getting a piece of our fat old pies. Never gonna be the same. deal!

“I bought 3 gallons of milk for 2.52 a gallon Friday night, you may want to shop around.”

What kind of milk did you buy? Better check that label…I would bet that every single glass of that milk contains carcinogens, dangerous levels of hormones & perhaps tastes overly pasteurized. Also, be sure to check the levels of BGH in that regular mainstream supermarket milk of yours. I would bet the levels are off the charts…

I have friends whose daughters are menstruating at EIGHT years old! One of them at
SIX YEARS OLD! What the heck is that? Can there be another explanation
besides BGH in our milk & meats? I think not.

Thus, I eat very little food that isn’t organic or free-range. In addition to not having to worry about hormones, antibiotics, irradiated food, and genetically modified food, everything just tastes *so* much
better.

My only complaint is the expense. Food cost is about to go through the roof
for EVERYONE, and the presidential candidates are saying almost nothing
about it, but those of us who try not to eat poison are really being
gouged… especially at Whole Foods. As chain stores go, Trader Joe’s is
comparatively affordable but they don’t have a good produce selection.

So enjoy your food, enjoy the recession…and be happy you get to live in a country that you can buy poison milk for $2.52/gallon. I’ll continue to buy the $6/gallon stuff for my family.