For Sybil in Santa Rosa: With processing comes packaging, and you pay for both when you’re buying processed stuff–not to mention transportation of the item.

My nutrient-packed short shopping list for produce goes like this: carrots, broccoli, red peppers, berries (black-, blue-, and straw-), plums, and navel oranges. I call this my “magic 8″ list. Although not produce, small red beans can’t be beat for antioxidants–even higher than blueberries!

I’m not a vegetarian, and do eat grass-fed meats, especially now–so much of the commercial meats have been polluted with soy, and soy is a hormone disruptor (bad for diabetics, people with thyroid conditions, and fertility). Unfortunately, there is no labeling or growing standard that covers the use of soy in feed, and yes, I’ve had to contact dozens of producers (both commercial and organic) to find out who isn’t using soy in their feed. My soy-allergic hubby and diabetic cat appreciate it.

Still, there was income growth 2000-2007. The article sources point out 90% of income growth went to the top 10% highest earners, the top 1% incomes grew 204%, while the top 0.1% had a 425% income growth. So, in general, if you make a lot of money, you did OK and spending is not an issue. For working Joes spending is an issue even for those in the high end of the middle income bracket.

So why are most cutting back on spending (if they haven’t already)? Let’s run down a list of a few reasons why:

1. Increasing unemployment/underemployment (unemployed for more than 6 months? Congratulations, you are no longer counted in the unemployed statistic). What about those with jobs having no medical coverage, working at a lower wage, or part time? Well, you are employed – too bad you have no money and can’t share in the American dream. That’s the way it goes – sorry, now get back to work, or I’ll find an illegal alien that will do your job at half the wage.

2. Rising medical costs – nice job there Republicans passing a drug bill that prevents Medicare from negotiating prices. Why should medical care destroy a family’s income or force them into bankruptcy (see the recent Harvard study that states as many as 80% of presonal banckruptcy is medical cost related, not scamming the system). We pay much more for medical care than any other industrialized nation and have little to show for it in terms of quality of health or life expectancy gains. Better hope you don’t get really sick.

3 Declining home values – poor fed and monetary policies that encouraged excessive housing growth and questionable financing schemes. Oh, since 20 and 30 somethings have less disposable income, who’s going to buy all those McMansions that Boomers and Gen Xers will want to sell in the next 10-15 years as they downsize? Wage/age demographics represent a hidden housing crisis that no one seems to address. Good bye home equity values and anticipated retirement age cash.

4. A tax structure that supports transfer of wealth to the monied class. That and hiding monied class income from taxation increases budget deficits and decreases ability to pay off the growing national debt. The tax code does little to increase the “acceleration of money” passing through middle class hands, the real engine of the economy – how many washer and driers, or TVs will the wealthiest 1% buy versus how many will the middle class buy. Hmmm, sounds like “demand” really does drive the economy, not this bogus “supply side economics” foisted on us by the conservatives. Now there’s the real “voodoo economics”.

5. An occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan that has drained the treasurey with little to show for it – Last I heard bin Laden is still on the loose and how much is this military expedition really costing, we don’t really know since so much is off the books (greater than $3 trillion some claim). Oh, I’m a retired military officer and understand the nature of war with its costs during and after. VA benefits for wounded troops? Forget it. Flag waving “Support our troops” Chinese made lapel pin American flag wearing Republicans don’t want to spend the money. Remember: Rumsfeld’s Dec 2004 comment: “you have to go to war with the Army you have, not the Army you want”? Costs money to care for post war injuries, wonder if that was considered in the ramp up to war. That’s a necessary and appropriate Government cost that will fuel deficits and the debt growth for years.

6. Growing energy costs – another good job there Republicans. Let’s Keep tax breaks for oil companies with record profits but refuse to develop comprehensive energy policies that look beyond oil or pass tax legislation that benefits “green” businesses. Even Fortune recognizes “green” as the next major economic wave and job growth engine. The Rebulican solution? Drill drill drill, which even the Dept of Energy says will have little impact on energy prices (on the order of cents per gallon reduction). So we postpone real action for 10-20 years. Carter recognized the strategic importance of reducing dependency on foreign oil and started a “Moon project” for improved mileage standards. Reagan and company immediately dismantled that of course. Think where we’d be today, if that plan had been allowed to continue.

7. Off shoring and outsourcing work overseas placing downward pressure on wages. How about increasing customs and duties a little to help pay off some deficit/debt and bring jobs back to the US? So let’s see, Bush comes into office with a surplus and this year they are projecting the largest deficit in history. So much for tax and spend Democrats.

8. Weak dollar – No doubt related to unsound economic policies (high deficit spending and national debt)

There are probably many other reasons why spending has or will continue to decline. In general its pretty clear, the current administration’s policies with help of their Repbulican cronies in Congress are outright hostile to the middle class. This war on the middle class is destroying ability to spend. Finally, the chickens are coming home to roost.