Posted on 03/12/2009 5:34:20 PM PDT by Lorianne
ELKHART, Ind. - In this job-starved city where President Barack Obama last month made a public appeal for his economic stimulus plan, hundreds of volunteers — and an agency that specializes in handing out food — worked together Tuesday to feed 5,200 hungry families.
Roughly 300 local volunteers worked with Feed the Children to distribute more than $2.1 million worth of food at Concord Mall as part of the nonprofit relief organization’s “Feeding Americans Emergency Caravan.”
The caravan of semi-trailers is visiting small cities and towns across America hit hard by the economic crisis. No area in Indiana has been hit harder than Elkhart County, where the jobless rate skyrocketed to 18.3 percent in January.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
And so starts the march into dependency on the nanny state.
We’re starting to look like Africa.
Where’s the pie?
From the email I got (and there are more funny pics, google it)
I love this. At the Mesa AZ protest against President Obama, KFYI listeners brought signs telling Santa Obama what they wanted from the savior-based economy. Hats off to KFYI's Bruce Jacobs and J.D. Hayworth. Reader Al Swanson sent these priceless pics:
They do that all the time for 3rdWorlders under any current regime. It makes the regime FEEL GOOD
Think, Hugo Chavez! Ever wonder how old “Hogo” gets all those people to his rallies? Simple, he PAYS them!
same in Iran- they pay them, too!!!
For those not familiar, Elkhart is the US capital of rv manufacturing. Unfortunately Baraq has decided that us rich guys should send that money to the Fedgov instead of spending it on frivolous things like private jets and motorhomes.
Would J.D. have a chance against McLame?
Lots of boxes with red x’s in them
They show for me in the thread and in my comments.... they’re really pretty funny. Try right-clicking on the X and select ‘show picture’.
That’s because they are in YOUR email. We can’t see your email. Look at the url.
I think this is the way to go with 0: get your local talk radio ‘community organizing’ us with what WE want and need from 0.
I personally need him to give me an ‘09 F-250. Santa Obama can afford it.
I also don’t trust the RNC not to crucify JD if he should try... sorry state of affairs, man.
JD rocks.
Feed the Children? What a bunch of BS. This is US, not some war-torn hellhole. 5200 families? Way over-inflated figure.
Chicago Sun-Times
suntimes.com Member of the Sun-Times News Group
RV industry skids off a cliff
ELKHART, IND. | Jobless rate soars as credit crunch, lack of financing batter manufacturers
March 21, 2009
BY ROGER YU
Time was, Elkhart County, Ind., proudly boasted it was “The RV Capital of the World.”
Today, that title might be considered a millstone as the recreational vehicle industry has hit the skids.
Last week, the Labor Department said Elkhart-Goshen had 18.3 percent unemployment, one of the highest for metro areas in the nation.
Elkhart-Goshen, which once had more than 70 recreational vehicle plants and produced two-thirds of all RVs, has been bruised by layoffs. Hundreds of workers have lost their jobs at RV makers such as Monaco Coach Corp., Keystone RV Co. and Pilgrim International.
“If you look at where the greatest need is in the United States of America, the city of Elkhart, Indiana, should be on top of the list,” Elkhart Mayor Dick Moore said last week. “That’s not a title we’re very proud of, but it is reality.”
Tightening credit and a lack of financing options are keeping new RV customers on the sidelines. Shattered consumer confidence is forcing many RV owners to cancel extended trips.
For years, RV dealers could do no wrong. The number of units sold grew for five consecutive years until 2007; there are now 8.2 million RVs on the road.
But in 2008, when gas prices hit $4 a gallon and the recession gained strength, RV shipments fell 33 percent from the year before, to 237,000 — and could drop to 130,100 in 2009, says the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association.
In March alone, RV brands Fleetwood and Monaco filed for bankruptcy, and industry leader Winnebago last week reported a $10.4 million quarterly loss that exceeded analysts’ estimates.
“I’ve been in this industry a lot of years,” said Bob Olson, chairman of Iowa-based Winnebago. “This is by far the worst time for our industry I have ever seen.”
The industry’s woes were brought to the forefront last month when President Obama used Elkhart to pitch his economic stimulus plan.
“Part of what’s happened in terms of the RV industry is basically people who want to buy an RV can’t get financing right now, even if they’ve got good credit,’’ Obama said in February.
The downturn does mean that RV prices — which range from $10,000 to $400,000 — are “easily down 25 percent,” says John Mancinelli of Redex RV, the largest dealer cooperative.
Apart from deep discounts, some dealers are even offering a free moped or car as an incentive. And campgrounds are offering free nights to get families to stay longer. The industry is hoping to benefit from the country’s newfound sense of frugality by pitching RVs as a cheap way to travel.
RV blogger Jim Twamley says the future of RVs is smaller vehicles using more lightweight materials.
“Americans love to RV. It is an American institution. It is firmly established, and I am positive it will continue,’’ Twamley told Salon. “It’s just that the industry will have to create new products to meet the new market demands.’’
Meanwhile in Elkhart, the mayor said the attitude of its residents is “pretty darn decent for what we’re going through.’’
“But an economic downturn like this takes everybody down a little,’’ Moore said. “Even if you’ve got a job, you’re not feeling really great.
Obama Returns to Elkhart as Free Fall Slows in Indiana Economy
By Nicholas Johnston and Roger Runningen
Aug. 5 (Bloomberg) — President Barack Obama returns to Elkhart, Indiana, today at a moment when the town — so hammered by recession that Obama made it a symbol of the need for his stimulus plan — is finally getting some good news.
Obama will announce Energy Department grants for electric- car development during a speech at a Navistar International Corp. factory in Wakarusa, about 10 miles south of Elkhart.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=a8xWU46Zco1k#
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