People who are talking "Depression" need to discuss the meaning with someone who's actually lived through one. Poverty has been defined down to "only Basic cable and two Ipods".
Things aren't good, but so long as you continue to see lines at the local "Applebee's" and a goodly number of cars on the road....we're not even close to a Depression.
Even during the last Great Depression, there were large numbers of people who lived very well, indeed. In fact, if there was 25% unemployment, at a particular time of the Great Depression, there were still 75% still employed... :-)
I would say parts of Michigan is definitely in a ‘Depression’. Also, some home builders and construction workers are certainly in a ‘Depression’.
+++”Things aren’t good, but so long as you continue to see lines at the local “Applebee’s” and a goodly number of cars on the road....we’re not even close to a Depression.” ++++
Americans are fickle and do not like to change the routine they are used to. Most Americans enjoy getting out to eat, stroll the malls and simply take a drive to the lake or beach.
I think you’ll see a change from going to the movies and out to dinner every night to hanging around the house, going for a walk in the park and simply doing inexpensive things with the family to keep your mind off of things.
My prayer has been for the people of this country to turn back to God....if this “depression” does not do it, I have no idea what will. It seems that when times get really bad, most people turn to God and back to the basics of life.....like eating dinner together, having actual conversation and hanging out with God and family.
Think I’m off track....you’ll soon see I am not.All I can say is when the 9/11 tragedy happened, for about a year or so Americans were friendlier to each other and put their petty differences aside. We knew we needed to rely on God and each other and I saw a lot of good come out through that period...FROM EVERYONE! Give it some time. Remember, something that seems bad can actually turn out good in ways we never expected!
This really bothers me. The restaurants were packed this weekend. I was there too. I asked the hostess how people were paying for their meals. 99% CREDIT CARDS!!!!! Americans don't have a clue how to be poor. How to save and live on cash. So... when this one blows, think currency collapse. It won't be 1935, it will be MUCH worse. Think Berlin 1921.
:(