Then three years ago, Mr. Salter left Boeing to start a machine-shop consulting business to work with the aircraft industry. The new business took off, he said. "Then Sept. 11," he said, "it dried up, like overnight."
Sept. 11 was a year and a half ago. His new business went great for a year and a half. That's hardly a fair testing period. If he took out as much capital to start the CONSULTING business as you claim, what did he spend it on and at what point during his 18 good months did he start turning a profit?
Mrs. Salter started at Boeing 15 years ago, waited out a three-year layoff, and returned. She last worked in a warehouse there for $23.02 an hour. "They told us in October after the attacks there would be deep layoffs," she said. She was let go two months later.
It doesn't say at what point during the 15 years she waited out a layoff. I doubt it was during her husband's business upstart. But, $23,02 an hour for 12 years (less in the beginning -- but cost of living was less too) should have covered the layoff time.
These people did not handle their money well. Period. I still feel sorry for them, but I'm not crying crocodille tears. I also am not willing to squeeze my budget or sell my house to accomodate a bunch of similar spendthrifts.