How is the economy affecting you?

Obama should conontrate more on making the domestic economy better.Why? Because America is getting worse by the minute! Obama should forget spending all that U.S.dollar in Afghanistan,and on Health Care issues.The American people should come first! Soon,if NOT already many will be standing in soup lines,and asking for hand-outs! Something has to be done!

We are faced with a new real estate tax increase of 400% which is now going to cause us to loose our home. So even if you have a low mortgage balance they are finding a way to even out the debt. I wonder how many more Americans feel like sitting Ducks!

Im personally going through a ton of hardships right now. My income has been cut in half, my health is fading, my job is on the fence about keeping me, bills are so way behind and I am fed up with trying to seek assistance at a time when there really is none, inspite what I’ve heard

in regards to how the stimulest package.ifeel that all people could benefit from it to lower it’s high interest rates that our banks,finice services that was put into law dureing the former Bush adiminstration. The compound daily interest have been extremely too high.

Actually i’ve personally been in my own recession for the past 14-15 years, so now i feel i just have more company. James D.

TOM HENRY / PUBLIC PROMO RELEASE
Song: “I’m Looking for a Bailout” March 15,2009

I grew up in Detroit and lived in Nashville for periods of time. I currently live in Friday Harbor, San Juan Islands,WA. I played many of the venues in Nashville including the Bluebird, and may other songwriter nights at the Broken Spoke etc. I am a song writer and have a new song that is being well received on Internet radio….It is called “I’m Looking for a Bailout”
I wrote and recorded it on Jan 25 2009.
A video has also been created to support it. It can be viewed on YouTube using the following link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPGOrPIrnos .It was posted Feb 12,2009.
To date the song has received recognition with KIRO 7 news in Seattle on Feb 12 2009.
It has been getting extensive air play with independent Internet radio
I interviewed on CNN HLN with anchor Chuck Roberts on March 13,2009. You can view the interview using the link: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/ireports/2009/03/13/hln.irpt.rocking.the.recession.cnn?iref=videosearch
Another taped interview occurred March 14 for future broadcasts
with CNN affiliate radio stations throughout the U.S.

WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?
Please give consideration to the song due to the nature of its cause and uniqueness. I sincerely wish for this song to reach a large audience as it is my wish to start helping struggling families via the non-profit organization I have developed called http://www.imlookingforabailout.com . I am donating 50% of sales from this record to be put into this foundation to assist other families. The other 50% will go to assist my local community.
I am working on soliciting other artists, hopefully some BIG names will join the effort and possibly create an album dedicated to helping working families in need of assistance during these hard times.
Please give a listen at my artist web site http://www.broadjam.com/tomhenry
It is available at http://www.itunes.com and http://www.broadjam.com/tomhenry for download. Broadjam has also alerted me that will not charge any extra fees for the download so that all proceeds may go to this cause.

My slogan is this: download it for a buck and stick it in your truck…. Help change the world for only a dollar!
Help keep food back on their table, keep a roof over their heads and give kids a safe place to have sweet dreams again!

Thank you in advance for your consideration!
Sincerely,
Tom Henry
4tomhenry@gmail.com

Our financial situation began to decline after the law that was passed in 1996 that allowed Corporations to spin off into smaller business and renaming them. This allowed them to get around laws designed to protect the workers and maintain their reputations. Now the spin off business is being sent to other countries and my
husband and I lost retirement and medical benefits. Who is our government working for?

The Economy is run by our Government — and padding the pockets of the rich — is a slap in the face to the millions of people that you work for! TRICKLE AT THE VERY BOTTOM SO WE CAN SPEND IT AND MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY.

BE VERY ASHAMED at what you have done. You are dealing with millions of people, some are depressed and unstable, and more are freaking out (and have you heard how many are killing each other?) — AND YOU GIVE MONEY TO WHO?!

ALSO, IF you really want to know how much GASOLINE the USA is using — Check with The Energy Department — DO NOT ADD SENSORS AND SPY-CRAP TO OUR VEHICLES.

WE NEED JOBS to have a home and food on the table!!! Only then can people be happy and the economy flow properly!!!

Well – I worked my A** off (60+hours/week) for 50 years, saved my money, and retired at 68. In the past year my retirement income has dropped by 25% (that’s 50% from social security and 25% from savings, 401K, IRA etc) It was SUPPOSE to be 50-50 (and was that most of last year).
AND no one will hire me back!

BOOHOO! – I’ll just have to eat hamburger and my own, home grown vegetables – like I always have!

L. Smith…..YOU ..yes YOU and people like YOU are the reason we are in this mess. NOT Ms. Allie You see Ms Allie, like myself works her ass off to make ends meet. I work over 80 hours a week some weeks, but guess what… ITS WORKING! I do not want my hard earned money, the little that i have, going to people that sit on their ass all day and do nothing….I 100% for sure believe in helping others BUT the government should not TELL ME who to help. Because their are TOO MANY people NOT TRYING. If everyone would stop bitching about the economy and how bad its getting and begging for handouts and put HALF of that effort to working harder, sacraficing, being a better parent, being a better person, and things will eventually get better. Its going to take hard work from EVERYONE! If your in the worst spot of your life right now, I’m sorry and i hope that things get better for you. Keep in mind your not the only one that needs help. If everyone would stop holding out their hand for a handout and instead used their hands to accomplish something then SLOWLY but SURELY things WILL GET BETTER. Even if we have to start over or if some people have an advantage or another, LIFE IS NOT FAIR… but with hard work, dedication, and sacrafice, along with being a “good” positive person. Things can turn around! You only have once chance for this life, no matter how it is going try to make it your best.

my husban lost his job as a plumber so i hope an pray this stimules packege will help so he could get a job am the only one workin an its very hard my bills is late my credit get messy .d.k.w.t. d

It is frustrating to see that, as far as I can tell there will be no help for our family.

I live in Fort Myers, Florida and we are a family of five – my youngest son is unemployed (actively seeking and applying daily), my oldest was injured on the job in April 2008 and is unable to collect unemployment and is currently trying to get Workman’s Comp to help pay for back surgery (the reason he is unable to collect unemployment is they can not clear him to go to work until his back is fixed but they won’t help pay for it and none of us have the money), I was laid-off in October 2008 as Director of Design & Print Media and am unable to collect unemployment because I worked for a church/non-profit – a fact I was unaware of until after being laid-off. My husbands hours have been cut which is the only income we have at this time. I can’t help but wonder how accurate the unemployment figures are when so many laid-off are not even eligible for unemployment?

Unfortunately for us, we paid off our mortgage last year (by not spending, sacrificing, in order to pay off the debt) – it was the right thing to do; (we had been 3 months behind and for the past 2 years my salary went to paying this off). Now because we have done that there will be no assistance?
Our home is in dire need of repairs after having been hit by hurricanes Charlie and Wilma – obviously we can not make those repairs (need a new roof, kitchen floor, ceiling repairs, etc.) and our insurance company State Farm dropped our coverage – currently we have no home insurance.

I feel like we would have been better off going on a spending spree with my past income – not paying off our debt and with our new president we would have been eligible for help.

We spend day after day looking for jobs and there simply are not any unless it is 100% commission sales or the medical field which we are unqualified for. We have one vehicle. I know that in our area they need to clamp down on illegals and those companies hiring them, because MANY of them seem to have jobs that our citizens need. I have no problem with anyone coming to this country, but if they want to have jobs, receive financial assistance, etc., then become a citizen and pay taxes just like the rest of us Americans have to.

In case anyone is wondering, no my family is not receiving any assistance. We just want to be able to work.

The last time I was in Rhode Island, I was a Senior atVassar and my husband to be was an Economics Major at Brown. I currently live in Tucson, Arizona, and after a series of very succesful careers spanning the non-profit, consulting, import/export and retail management and business ownership, I find myself as a REALTOR in Tucson, AZ, an area particularly hard hit by both the mortgage and the credit crises.

I now spend much of my time counseling clients on short sales, foreclosure and bankruptcy-not folks with subprime or even Alt-A loans, but long term homeowners with conventional, prime home mortgages-I find myself working without remuneration to advocate for my clients, middle class and upper middle class folks who never anticipated finding themselves seeingly without a future, full of shame and paralized from action.

I logged on to this website and am responding to it because I don’t believe that our leadership is addressing the ‘on the ground’ realities that, we the people, face on a daily basis-what is happening in RI is happening in AZ and professionals and trades people like me are expanding their roles to help our clients while at the some time we face the same realities of un/underemployment, loss of income and inability to meet our financial and familial obligations.

I truly wonder what the actual unemployment rate is when you include those of us at the front ranks of industries in trouble, real estate, automotive and mortgage/finance. Where is our safety net, our umemployment check, our access to health insurance while our incomes and our industries shrink to a point that we acutally should qualify for public assistance, but many times don’t or won’t because we can’t imagine that our lives are so upside down that the very programs we might have voted against or organizations that we may have donated to are the only ones that can get us thru to the end of the month-all at the same time that we provide counsel and direction for clients in even worse shape.

The good things that come out of these bad times are increased feelings and dproducts of community, neighborliness and the realization that we are all in this together.

yes a major recession in the economy is occuring, but our attitudes towards it are only going to make it worse. While going through this recession, we just need to keep our heads up and give it our all. We just need to stay focused and work harder like never before. We need to rise above the tough times, and accomplish what we want and need to. This week I have been doing research for my essay on the topic of “the us economy”. When I first started, I wanted to write about how the economy is affecting people. But as I studied more on this topic, I came to find out that i needed to narrow it down even more. So I decided that I needed to write about how the economy is affecting peoples attitudes. People are giving alot of self pitty, and complaints. Well why not get off your butt and work on making things better. Stop complaining and strive towards creating a firm future for you and your children and their generation.

I live in a rural area of southern Utah, I’m 55 years old, a cancer survivor and a retired police officer on off duty disability. I live on a fixed income and am just above low income levels by $300.00 a year to qualify for any assistance. I’m one month behind on my house payment, my vehicle is paid in full. My credit is bad and I couldn’t get a loan or a refinance if I tried. I want to pay off my debt but am just getting by at this point. I need to replace the furance and heat pump because I can’t get parts any more. The windows all have broken seals and need to be replaced. If I had a little bit of this stimulus package I could do the things that needed to be replaced, pay my debt off, catch up on my house payment and maybe buy a new vehicle. If the government is afraid of us saving the money, issue a debit card with a expiration date in the short term. Everything I need would help put people back to work and would help me to put away a little savings out of my own pay check. I need help now, not in little increments!

I had to respond to Ms. Allie’s comment about the american public being ‘cry babies’. Allie, I hope to God that you encounter the worst tradgedy ever intended a person for your carelessness, rude and obnoxious comments. You are the reason people are suffering as the way I read your comment you are a greedy ignorant ass.

Living in a very rural area, the economy here stunk BEFORE this downturn. I would be growing a garden, but the drought has caused my wells to dry up and it doesn’t make any sense to buy and haul water to grow food… It also doesn’t make any sense to drive 50 miles each way for a $10/ hr job. I’ve been working locally part-time for $15/ hr on contract for the BLM, but haven’t been paid since
September. I made just over $5000 last
year and am 55. Haven’t had steady employment since just after Bush got in (2001)nor healthcare. The only thing I can say about his administration is I sure am glad SS was not turned over to the market scammers and that I doubt this country will survive him intact. The repugs have made sure of that.
Take from the needy-give to the wealthy.

How is the economy affecting you … Profoundly and with greater conscious efforts to do more to combat the greed and avarice on Wall Street. My wife and I are dedicated to the service of others, she is a psychiatrist treating women returning from the Iraq War and I am working at a CDFI to bring capital to low income communities,

The crisis is one that raises our awareness to the plight of those less fortunate this us and to the compassion and empathy for many without options for childcare, medical services, a roof over their head, a decent education and
money to feed their families. While Congress debates a stimulus package, scolds executives who took bonuses from $350b already spent, and fails to enforce
accountability and transparency, we offer the perspective that a family, while incensed, is hopeful that Obama will bring Main Street to DC and inspire change for the better.

To paraphrase Thomas Huxley as quoted by Niebuhr in “The Irony of American History” “…what is commonly understood as national pride. I cannot say that I am in the slightest degree impressed by your bigness, or your material resources, as such. Size is not grandeur, and territory does not make a nation. The great issue, about which hangs a true sublimity and the terror of overhanging fate, is what are you going to do with all these things? Your are making a great novel experiment in politics on the greatest scale, which the world has yet seen..Truly America has a great future before her; great in toil, in care and in responsibility…(and) great in shame if she fails.”

–
Matthew
Los Angeles, CA

I am not suffering as bad as others ,I feel terrible for those who are at a loss as solve their problems .My one idea is that one of the reasons why the auto industry is in a slump,beyond the fact that many people buy foreign ,is that the tax code was changed .Do you remember when you could write off the interest on your car loan ?They took it away ,and thus a great incentive to buy a car was lost. I use to buy a new car every two years before the tax code change on auto loan interest

The Government should give $ 5000 to each tax payer and bring in a provision asking them to spend the money. Instead of saving.
Receipts should be sent sent to the government showing proof of purchases this way they know the money is spent. This will boost the economy. Forget about all the other stuff

My husband works construction, I dont work, Willing and able, but I am overqualified for the hourly jobs available so can’t get hired. We own two homes – one we rent, but our tenants cant afford the rent any longer and we cant affor two mortgages, so we are going to sell the second home, probably at a loss and hope that it does sell and that we arent chalking up the credit card debt to pay the mortgage till it does sell…

Is it just me – or is any one else out their still sickened by the fact that we have given bail out money from our taxes to companies that are giving bonuses to their “top dogs” for the wonderful job they did of putting them in the tank…and why isnt someone going to jail yet over this whole wall street mess….

Like a lot of folks in this state, I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck, I am required to pass a random urine test with which I have no problem.

What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don’t have to pass a urine test.Shouldn’t one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them?

Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their butt, doing drugs, while I work. . . . Can you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check?

Pass this along if you agree or simply delete if you don’t. Hope you all will pass it along, though. Something has to change in this country — and soon!!!!!!!

I guess we could title that program, ‘Urine or You’re Out’.

here is an idea, instead of the goverment putting out $x million/ billion in a “stimulous package” that is only going to be a short term fix, why dont they create jobs by buying stuff. say… a new stealth bomber? think about how much goes into making one of those, engineering, electricians, not to mention the materials it take that would help boost metal plants and what not.

instead of “bailing out” the auto companies (since the chances are high they wont see that money again), why dont they order a new fleet of vehicles to replace the ones they have? guess they cant do that, its too logical.

instead they are gonna throw a ton of money, at a bunch of random things that need help, and hope everything is going to be ok. including giving tax payers a few hundred bucks. not gonna work as long as people are allowed to do with what they will. in my case i got $600 last year, i saved it. and im sure im not the only one.

demand=strong economy

p.s. nice to know gm gave the new battery job for the volt to a korean company. they are screwing themselves, maybe they should go bankrupt, give them a taste of their own medecine for all the american suppliers they put in the tank.

This recession has not affected me at all. As a public school teacher, you know that occupation that everybody loves to destroy, I am gainfully employed. I have great healthcare insurance, dental insurance, and my retirement is not as damaged as everybody elses. Besides, it was Ronald Regan that said, “People are poor is because they choose to be poor”. So my fellow Americans that spent their way to happiness, you’re paying for it now.

I live in South Carolina where the unemployment rate is the 3rd highest in the nation. Last week I had to take a pay cut, my 401k match has stopped, my Roth IRA is dropping like crazy, and many of my friends have been losing their jobs. I worry and pray every day that I will keep dodging the bullet. I am back in school to make myself more marketable, but that will cost $20k when I am done– ouch! I will probably work until I’m dead. BTW I have 2 bachelor’s degrees and I’m 10 months from an MBA but that’s not good enough in this lousy economy.

bahumbug.

RE: “I am saddened by the smugness and harsh judgements of those who are not being negatively affected” by Kirsten, San Antonio, TX

Thank you Kirstin. I have not had to look for work for 15 years, now I am looking. I have the experience, the recommendations, plenty of past successes, and the desire to work. I have been unemployed for 10 months. I am perfectly willing to take a job for which I am overqualified for, but the job market is harsh.

After reading the CNN Money/ Fortune article, I felt sick to my stomach at the audacity and arrogance by the Edward Jones managing Partner Jim Weddle in “Get Your Dream Job” at

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/fortune/0901/gallery.bestcompanies_hiring.fortune/index.html

who said, and I quote “… Someone who is unemployed and looking for a job probably would not succeed here.”

The arrogance is simply unfathomable.

My husband and I are in our 30’s and own our own home and luckily are still employed with good credit and no debt besides the mortgage. We have one child, because even when the economy was booming we felt one was all that we could support from birth through college. Life is made up of choices, if you want children – SUPPORT THEM. If you want a house – SAVE FOR 20% DOWNPAYMENT. You want to go on vacation – DO NOT CHARGE IT. You do not have 3 month emergency fund – DO NOT BUY ANYTHING ELSE BUT FOOD UNTIL YOU DO. I know that most people are having trouble because of no fault of their own, and for them I truly feel sorry. Who knows I may be one of them soon, but now is the time to start taking responsility for yourself and those whom depend on you. Needs before wants. At the end of the day you only have yourself to rely upon, the government will not bail you out.

I live in the state of florida. first we were hit by all the hurricanes and then the rising cost of homeowners insurance, then the rising property taxes. After that it was the rising cost of fuel, in oct. I had my hours cut to 32 hours a week, then the first week of Jan. was laid off. I sold my car and pawned most of my jewerly trying to stay afloat.

I am very sorry for everyone who’s being affected by this crisis. It’s very sad. I was homeless a few years ago. A friend took me in, but my belongings were under the stars in the back yard for several months until I got on my feet. Life was a struggle for several years, but not anymore. My hubby and I have everything we possibly need, including jobs. I have never been happier and I couldn’t possibly be happier than I am today.

Just because things are bad today it doesn’t mean there is no hope for the future. Climbing back up the mountain will be difficult, but everyone can make it with a lot of hard work and patience. If I could do it so can everyone else. Hang in there and always live within your means.

My employer is fairly secure right now. So as long as I can meet the expectations, I will be employed. We make fire-protective clothing. The fire departments get their money from the government, so as long as the government keeps paying, we stay running.

My boyfriend’s employer isn’t quite as secure. They have a temorary lay-off every year over the holidays. This year, that lay-off was a week longer than normal. He works for a company that makes motorcycles and ATVs. Not exactly necessary items. So if people keep losing their jobs and stop the extra spending, his company will be hurting.

Several local companies has announced rather large lay-offs. One company is closing intirely. There are other job openings in the area, but not enough to absorb the number of people who will be looking. So while my boyfriend and I are sitting OK for now, we’re still worried.

I hear everyone talking about the Recession and the Thousands of Americans that have lost there jobs! I hear talk about the Big Bailout for the Big Cooperation’s, Big Banks and a bailout for the Americans that are in for closer! But I haven’t heard anyone even minion the 1000,00 of Americans that have only been able to rent… We are Americans also…we have lost your job or we have had a big cut in your hours and we are having a hard time keeping a roof over our families head food on the table also! While you all act as though you have the American people best interests in mind don’t forget There is still large part of us that has to rent …we vote, we pay taxes, we are apart of this Great Country too. If there is someone that really cares about all the American people maybe they would find away to make the Corporations that own the Apartment Building put a CAP on the rent…we are suffering also the rents keep going up and up $20.00 to $50.00 every six months! Some of the Apartments that we once paid $150.00 a month for we are now paying over a $1000.00a month for! We are all subject to losing our homes!!!

I am saddened by the smugness and harsh judgements of those who are not being negatively affected. If you have not been affected by the crisis and are weathering well, be proud of your successes and sound decision making, without belittling others. One should never judge another until one’s walked a mile in someone else’s shoes. Financial security, good health, and job security are not guaranteed. One’s successes does not diminish or elminate the suffering of others around you. People are hurting; a little sympathy and some compassion costs nothing and provides hope.
As the following illustrates: it’s
all relative.

For want of a nail, a horseshoe was lost. For want of a horseshoe, a horse was lost. For want of a horse, a knight was lost. For want of a knight, the battle was lost. For want of a battle, the war was lost. For want of a war, the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
– An old English nursery rhyme, included by Ben Franklin in Poor Richard’s Almanac, and re-used as a slogan during WWII.

Cassandra,

You hit on something good there. A large amount of government spending gets lost along the way down to the people on the bottom, those that really need it. Take for example money allocated for hurricane relief/rebuilding.

God knows where the bailout money given to banks is going to go. Oh wait, we know – the pockets of the rich.

Since they are going to do bailouts regardless, instead of giving billions or trillions directly to banks, why not give it to them through their debtors – the millions struggling to pay credit cards and mortgages. Banks get their money and average people are helped out.

Tamille,

Studies have been done comparing 5-8 to 4-10 work weeks, and have found that most prefer the 4-10s and that in general the 4-10s result in not only improved quality of life (for employee and their family), but improved efficiency on the job! It should also be better for our economy – more days off may result in more spending. It could be better for our environment as well since most emission polution comes from people driving to work. Sounds like a good idea to me, there should at least be the option.

I am so sad so many people are hurting. I am still working and cannot save a penny. It all goes out to bills, bills and more bills. I am so sick of eating chicken thighs but all I have to do is remember those that have nothing to eat at all. I am afraid the other foot has not come down yet. I said that last summer and there is still more to come. No, I am not psycho or psycic but I do read the writing on the wall. We need Uwe Reinhard running our financial system. We would all be better off.It is time to Nationalize Banks until they can prove to do the job they are there for. In trust with our hard earned money. This man, Uwe Reinhard spoke on C-Span last night. He explained how we got where we are in simple layman terms with graphs, etc. I vote for Uwe Reinhard not Timothy G. to run our treasurey. We own the banks! We give them money. We should tell them what they can and cannot do with the money. Especially millions in bonuses. They think we are all stupid? Protest-get your money out if you have any. Otherwise homeowners being forclosed on do not leave your homes until you see the actual note. If they cannot find it, then you owe nothing. Do not leave your home until they show you this. It has been sold down river, up river, out of country, etc. They have no right to make you move until they can produce the note on your home. Let us pray we get out of this soon. Our President can only do so much, therefore we need to do our part. Support him and let him know how you feel and what you think. Free internet at library if you can wait to stand in line long enough!

Just to set the record straight Heather commented below that

” So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billon that equals $425,000. My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a “We Deserve It Dividend”.

I hate to break to you Heather, but thats only $425/person. Nice idea though.

But if we did give everyone $425,000 a loaf of bread would cost $25,000.

However count me in for the Coast to Coast Block Party

Work hard everyone.

I have been an employee of the United States Postal Service for 14 years; my fiance’ for 20+ years. We have always felt that our jobs were secure, but I have slowly had my hours cut back over the past year. A little over a year ago I enrolled in college with concerns of things to come; I wanted to have something to fall back on.Yesterday I was informed that I would only be scheduled for 20 hours per week until further notice. This is a huge set back for our family. We had already fallen behind on our mortgage due to previous cuts in hours, and have been trying for two months to work something out with the mortgage company, with no success. We have three teenagers, and may end up losing our home due to the loss of income. I know that there are many families out there who are in more difficult situations than we are, and my heart goes out to all of them. My feeling is that the government should be helping out the families before the large companies. If families were given a little assistance, they would be able to pay their bills, and possibly have some spending money to put back into their communities. As a result, maybe these large companies wouldn’t be in financial trouble. Also,what about those families already receiving assistance? Is it even conceivable to cut back on Social Services? Many families are living below poverty level now. What will become of them? I guess there will be no “quick-fix”, and I know that Congress is working to come up with a reasonable solution, but I think that they need to start focusing on the families who need help.

I was out of work for 6 years after 9/11. I had worked in the DC arear for 16 years in computers. I couldn’t get a job anywhere in DC because I didn’t have a “current” security clearance. So that should tell you that I had had a “previous” clearance. A very “high-level” one! After exhausting my life’s savings($6000.00) I came back home to New Jersey. I worked as a limo driver for 2 years making “peanuts.” I then switched to what I “thought” was a better limo service. It wasn’t. They just ran me all over New Jersey and didn’t pay squat. In the meantime, my credit card balance went from $3000.000 to $8000.00 because of interest. It stopped at $12,000.00. Since 9/11, I have sent out almost 5000 resumes!!! I was profiled in USA Today twice, once featured in a huge story about government security clearances(White House Looks For Faster Top-Secret Clearances) on 2-14-07 by Richard Willing and the other time I was featured in a 2005 profile on the “letters” page about the economy.

The fact that in my field(computers) there are “thousands” and “thousands” of jobs with defense contractors that I can’t get because I don’t have a clearance is “maddening.” The job market has literally “crashed” except for the government. I just applied for a job with one of those “3-letter” agencies back in DC. We’ll see what happens.

To Whom it may concern, West Islip, Long Island New York is suffering from the mortgage crisis, I am one of three neighors, losing our homes. We all have been trying to get help thur HOPE for Homeowners, Acorn, and Long Island Housing know one can heip us. We are told to hire a attorney by our mortgage companys. We do not have the money for an attorney. Where is all the government programs to heip the homeowners. The homeowners were sold bad mortgage loans. the banks overvalued our homes and gave us 95 precent of the equity,and increased our interest rate to 3x’s the current rate. They made a poor investment and now expects the homeowner to give them the property back, and put family’s on the streets,were is the justice the goverment is protecting the banks and the top employees, allowing them to take bonuses, well families are losing there only home. well the top execertive have more then one house.Pleae we need the help, as soon as possible, know where to turn. Please get our stories out there.

The that makes me the sickest about all this is the incessant griping about how much the government isn’t helping and how the handouts are being cut. Instead of calling the feature “Stories from the recession’s frontline” it should be called “Crybaby Stories of the Day”. When you choose to depend on others for your well-being, you place your fate in their hands and forfeit your right to complain. Stop whining and complaining & take some responsibility for yourself.

I’m closing a retail business due to poor sales. October was like the faucet of steady reliable sales turned to a slow drip. We can’t support a business under these conditions so when our lease is up in May, we are closed. It could be worse. I’m debt free and I don’t have to lay off employees but I’ll probably take a price beating on some of the stock and the dream of owning my own business is dead for now. It’s scary out here for retail.

I have worked all my life since I was a teenager and I have witnessed many young women where I live on Welfare and Food Stamps who either work and still get all the perks or who don’t even bother to work and still get a nice place to live FOR FREE and FOOD FOR FREE and MONEY FOR FREE!

Now I thought Obama was against this but obviously I was wrong or mistaken because all I see in his plan is MORE Food Stamps, More Welfare, More Free Money handed to HOs who just popped out kids from God only knows how many different men!

And WIC well that sends a great message to our young women, go on get pregnant because The Government will take care of you!
Oh and don’t bother to work we will take care of it all!

I have worked my whole life I have no kids but I have a home and I have worked for every single thing I have ever had as did my father he worked two or more jobs sometimes so it really sickens me to see this disgusting, pathetic excuse of a Government taking our hard earned money and handing it to these pathetic over used programs that should have been DONE AWAY WITH many many years ago!

Not to mention the corrupt banks, financial institutions and Car Companies who refuse to make economical and affordable cars?

This is beyond an outrage! This really is getting to the point of an all out revolution!

I think it is well overdue for these old used up politicians to leave office and move out and stop being paid good money they don’t even earn anymore!

I want a new Congress I want new fresh faces who are NOT corrupt who REALLY care about America and Americans and who want to change this horrible, corrupte system and get all the garbage out of it!

I think our Government’s time of reckoning is WELL overdue and it is up to US to take Control before this goes any further!

Hate to burst any excitement bubbles over the “We Deserve It Dividend” posting, but $85 billion divided by 200,000,000 people is $425, not $425,000.

Don’t spend it all in one place…

Why are we trying to put money back into the schools that is what the lottery money is for. If all the states did lottery we wouldn’t have that problem. Putting money in petty places is unreal and trying to give people jobs. He is not giving the money to the little people. He is giving the money back in the rich peoples pocket. To fix the roads and the electric, the scientist. Come on are you kidding me. Thats whats wrong now that you are putting money were it doesnt need to be.

I sympathize with all those who are directly affected and those who are indirectly affected and unable to recognize the times that we are in.

The melt down of our economy, affects each of us, whether we care to admit it or not. I pray that we take inventory of our needs vs. our wants as a Country, Community, Family, and Individual.

We need to find a way to revive our children, they need education to continue our country moving forward. Perhaps it may take, cutting back business hours/work weeks/work days. What happened to Monday – Friday, 9 to 5.? What happened to stores closing on Holiday’s and Sunday’s? Where is the emphasis on Family, Integrity, Humility, Faith?

We have become a Country of greed, but perhaps the balance lies in our Integrity and Honesty. Where are the plans for lowering mortgages, for implementing renting plans for foreclosed homes?

The problem doesn’t only rest on unemployment rising, but on the fact that we are not regulating rents, mortgages, and/or utilities. People can afford the expenses of survival. And frankly, I’m tired of our new reporters, and blog’s speaking as if this is only the responsibility of those who signed on the dotted line. This is the aftermath, of what happens when we turn a blind eye to corruption, when we accept dishonesty as a way of life. Selfishness!

In my opinion, pointing fingers is not going to get us out of this turmoil we find our selves in. Let’s pull together, with the common goal of saving our communities and businesses, by thinking like owners. Changing work schedules, gives families the ability to practice the very meaning of family.

As long as America continues to disregard its children, that are the future, it’s elderly, that are its’ past and history, it’s veteran’s that provide safety and security, we will never be the Country we should be. Responsibility and accountability, it should be everyone’s mission if we expect to be apart of the change.

Due to “restructuring” my father was laid off 2 days before Christmas (which is also his birthday) without any prior notice and no severance. His boss didn’t even have the balls to call him himself.

He was the best salesperson in the company, more sales than the 6 or 7 others combined! Now, the greedy bastards above him are living off of his sales.

With a masters degree and over 30 years experience, he still has a relatively hard time finding a job. Often the victim of age discrimination, even though he’s only in his early 50’s. Greedy companies would rather hire 1.5-2 uncommitted 20 somethings instead.

On top of that, my parents home was destroyed by hurricane Ike, so they’ve been living in someone’s garage for half a year while the insurance company hoards the government money provided to repair their home.

My parents grew up quite poor, my mother sharing a bedroom (and bed) with 5 siblings, my dad living in a trailer with a closet sized bedroom.

They are good people with integrity, moral and ethical, hard working, honest, dedicating their lives to serving others. They worked from the bottom up, paying for college themselves, into the middle class, but still struggled to earn every pennie to provide their two sons with a decent upbringing.

They make just over 100kpy together now, after over 30 years of hard work. They are not greedy, but conservative and generous, with a home in the mid to upper 100’s, sharing one car that probably has over 200k miles on it (IKE put a tree through the other one, which had over 300k miles!), not many clothes (certainly not stylish bless their hearts), not much furniture, just a bed in the master, but they have what they need.

Do good people like this even exist anymore? Yes, though not very apparent, I believe so, even more than we know. But there is little grace for virtue these days. Even though the worst of men would publicly admit what is right, what is just, what is good.

Our country, our economy, has fallen to pride, selfishness, and greed. But there is no law against these things, there are no laws for virtue, so we say that whatever is within the law is good, but this is obviously a false assumption. We all know what is honorable, ethical, and moral – but choose not these things.

As long as our culture, especially our leaders, are selfish and greedy, nothing will change.

I live in North Dakota and we have not been hit hard by the recession, yet. See http://money.cnn.com/news/storysupplement/economy/gapmap/index.htm to compare North Dakota with the rest of the nation.

Because of the housing crisis, we were able to refinance our home. We will now be able to pay off our home in 15 years with payments that are now the same when we had a 30-year mortgage.

Our house is a simple ranch style house. Only 10% of our income goes to housing.

Our house may not look anywhere near as nice and spacious as some homes I’ve seen that have been foreclosed on in other parts of the country, but I am not worried about losing my home nor having my house payments drain my income dry.

Before the recession, $4,000 a year was being put aside for retirement. My wife has her own account. I diversified by account using what I learned in Personal Finance for Dummies by Eric Tyson. With the stock market going down, I did lose about 25%-30% of what was in the account.

I have read of people losing 40% or more of their retirment money. Did they invest everything in the stock market? Didn’t they diversify?

I still have over 20 years to go before retirment. I opened a Supplemental Retirement Account and I am now placing an additional $1,000 a years towards retirement.

I feel now is a good time to increase my investments in the stock market since stocks are so low. I am hoping that once the recession is over, I should see a good return on my investments.

My wife and I have always watched what we spend. My wife is a big saver and tries to get money into savings every month.

So far, we are doing good. I just hope the recession doesn’t eventually hurt North Dakota as bad as it has done to other states.

Something that I am going through and have never heard really talked about is the all the people who have recently or will soon graduate from college. The unemployment figures don’t include them because they either don’t work enough to file for it or haven’t even had a job. The very few jobs that are actually available are being taken by people who will take pay cuts whom already have the experience to take the position. It does save all the companies money on training but where are all the graduates supposed to look for money? I graduated in August and passed up some jobs that apparently I should have taken because once October came around it was too late. Now I’m working a job that I could have gotten without a degree and college loans that there is no way I can pay. I know that there are families that are struggling out there that need the money more than myself but part of the money from this stimulus needs to help do something with all the student loans as well. I am aware that I can request for deferment or forbearance but when you can’t save any money to actually put towards the loans when they come back around its not really going to help unless the government helps or the economy magically changes over night.

Not everyone is in the situation of losing their home because they were greedy and bought a bigger more expensive house then they could afford. My situation was my husband decided he wanted a divorce and that was the end of it. And that was a year and a half after we bought a new home with a bigger morg. I was / am unable to sell my house I am raising my daughter I have a full time job looking for a second job hard to find. Oil, food, gas, propane has gone up so much I pay all my bills, somehow very minimum payments my guess is the grace of god and thank god for family, friends and a great company i work for. but it is really really hard and the mrg company and credit card companies do not even want to hear anything about you are going to be late with a payment or no do they help they just tell you your debt to credit ratio is to high no sh–. I just go on day by day and pray every night and thank God for all the blessings in my life. Because someone told me once “It is what it is” I get it now . I live paycheck to pay check and get no help from ANYONE but there are people worse off than me and if I can help just one person I do it because if we don’t help each other no one will !!! Remember to PAY IT FORWARD Have a nice day

Do an article about the crime spikes. My house (in a quiet, mostly Mormon, suburb and 2 blocks from an elementary school, in the best school district in Colorado, was invaded and burglarized two months ago. In the middle of the day while we were at work. A small store on the main road was also robbed. There have been four car thefts in the past two months, as well. AND THIS IS A LOW UNEMPLOYMENT STATE. Lock your windows, people. And buy ammo.

My heart goes out to all those who are unemployed. That is why we dont need all these bailouts. Market and economy has its own way of correcting itself. No bailout esp to home foreclosures. People and businesses got greedy in buying homes they cannot afford. Same goes to those who refinance to cash out. Now is the time for payback. Homeownership is not for everyone. Those who spent well beyond their means deserve to be out of their pretend homes and on to the streets. They are the ones who dragged this economy down. Greed & ignorance. True, greedy businesses prey on these greedy and ignorant people, but nobody twisted anybody’s arm to sign the dotted lines. Now bec of their greed & ignorance, a lot of innocent people are affected. No bailout. Let everyone who deserve to go down, learn their lesson the very hard way. Enough is enough. Show off time is over.

This is to all of you self absorbed people that keep saying people should loss their homes because they were to stupid or don’t deserve a home mortgage in the first place. Watch what you say, crow is not a very good dinner. One day all of you that are on the soap box maybe in the cardboard box, within a blink of an eye. Never say Never! Thieves are getting very good at sucking all the money out of people’s checking account.
Trust me I know. I check my account everyday, and one day I checked and someone had made a electronic ACH withdraw (Aurthorized Clearing House)in the tune of 3,000.00. Thank God I was able to put stop payment,close that account and get my money back. Even though you may think you are untouchable, you are NOT. I hope you guys never loss your jobs or your children loss theirs and move in with you. Don’t forget the law the feds. passed that the state can take you house and make a parking lot and you can’t do anything about. Then you too will be living under the bridge in a cardboard box. KARMA is a B—-!

What happened to helping all these families keep their home? Giving New Homebuyers 7,500 is great but all the homeless people that used to help toward the taxes now have no jobs and no homes. The states are going to have to spend more money to feed shelter and hospitals will be the next ones to have money trouble with homeless coming in seeking medical help. That’s ok, at least the national mall will have new grass. What the hell are these people in Washington doing? I promise you as a mom with a heart and soul, If the Good Lord were to send me a fortune at least a million or more, I would open a charity to get familes on the verge of losing their home money to make their mortgage current. This people that make millions in sports and TV should help their fellow americans and forget about gobel warming. we will need it for the homeless so they don’t freeze to death in the cold. If you guys want to help raise awareness about something here’s your new cause. Oprah can help america. Charity starts at home (USA). Then work on the rest of the world.
GOD BLESS THE POOR, MAY HE KEEP YOU IN LOVING ARMS. PLEASE FORTUNE 500 HELP YOUR FELLOW AMERICANS.GIVING FEELS GOOD. ” TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN MUCH IS EXPECTED”.

I have been saving since I was 10 years old cutting grass for people in my community. I got my first mortgage when I was 25. I paid my mortgage off on my current house just last year. My house was only 130k and is only 1400 sq ft. I make over 100k per year. Yes – I could have a bigger house with a bigger mortgage but then I would be susceptible to the very same situation that others are in during these hard times. I don’t owe anyone a penny (no credit card bills, no mortgage, no auto loans). All I have to do is pay the normal bills like taxes, insurance and utility bills and I put the rest in savings. Oh – and did I mention that I have 2 kids and a wife that’s a librarian aide at an Elementary school. People have got to learn to prepare for the worse. I would not worry if I lost my because I have enough savings to get me through more than 10 years. Plenty of time to find a job.

This is a ridiculous piece of journalism. You do not leave the voter with anything positive.

You have three very negative things: Housing Meltdown, Job cuts and cutbacks in Government services.

Anyone with a lick of sense should have not relied on the government and when they do, shame on you. Provide for yourself, and quit being a leach.

Job cuts can hurt anyone, but if you have prepared, you can weather any storm. Quit whining and get to work, the corner store or hamburger shop will be glad to have some help.

The housing meltdown is the hardest on the people that should NOT have been buying houses in the first place. If you are not smart enough to know what you can afford, you should not be in a house. Houses take maintenance and if you are too lazy or too stupid you will not get the maintenance done or will not solve the maintenance problem.

Put in a category that includes “I have been taking care of the problems and am getting along as best I can without being a drag on the economy also”.

Well, I was laid off the end of October, as soon as the stock market fell off a cliff, and my customers stopped spending money. I have been in the Automotive/Powersports business my whole life, and to see so many people I know get laid off all at the same time, and then try to pay the mortgage off of my savings, and unemployment barely helps anything. There are NO JOBS out to look for because everyone is clenching their butt-cheeks waiting to see what happens. Add to that the fact tax returns will be delayed a minimum of 30-days, and it is like being kicked in the balls all over again. I have 3 degrees, and nowhere to use them in a totally dead economy, where even Starbucks is finally feeling the pain. Crime is going to go up, and more people are going to resort to things they never thought before. Like the murder-suicides of entire families and other random acts of violence. I am trying to stay positive though, with diminishing funds, tightening constraints, I may have to rent out spots on my couch to other people who have already been foreclosed, just so I can pay the bills. I can’t even afford to have kids. I have owned my house for 6 years too, so it was before all of the crappy mortgages. Haven’t missed a payment yet, but sooner or later it could be living out of a car or something if there aren’t any jobs available

My sister lives in Coventry RI and she has told me how bad its getting.

I’m in NYS and things here are getting bad but so far my fiance & I are making it. We have no debt other than mortgage & 2 car payments. We have been saving money by shopping at the cheap stores (Aldi’s, Big Lots, Salvation Army & Rescue Mission), not going to movies, out to dinner or even McDonalds. We have rediscovered making our own free fun: playing board games, making dinner together, going for walks. We are still going on vacation this spring although we changed our plans slightly to save money: instead of a cheap hotel in Virginia Beach, we are staying with his cousin in Tennessee.

The US economy has been hit with real hard times in the past, we will live through this.

i laugh at the ridiculous people on here whining about how upper class has it made. and because they make 1/4+ million/ year that they are lower than dirt, and they should share their money with everyone else, since they dont “need” that much to live. obviously those people earned and work hard for it. i doubt there are people making that kind of money, that have a completely work-free day, with absolutely no responsibility. upper class invest in companies, not middle class. not to say no middle class people invest, but i believe the ratio is a little on the upper class’ side. the way i see it, they built this country. so, quit complaining because wal-mart only pays minimum wage, and your trying to raise a family. thats not what minimum wage is intended for. if you dont like your job, then you should have gotten into a differnet field. and by the way, im 22, i got laid off from a job that paid ~$35,000/ year, i live in michigan (one of the worst places to find a job), and im kicking myself for getting into the auto industry, and not going to college to get into something like medical. thank you

Fortunate, but working longer hours.

I’ve been relatively unaffected by the economic downturn. I have my own business and was fortunate to see YoY growth in November and December, but this month will be down slightly. I have increased the numbers of hours I’m working from around 50 to 80 hours/wk to try to keep the business going. My girlfriend’s company had a large layoff, but she kept her job; however, her work hours have increased also, so we have to make an effort to spend time together.

I’m also fortunate to live in Texas, where we don’t have huge budget deficits like most of the blue states and unemployment and foreclosure are lower than most states. Property values have also held up quite well and my house is still above its 2006 value when I bought it.

My husband and I are in our early sixties. We would love to “downsize”; sell our home and move to a city with lower taxes. The housing “crunch” leaves us with no choice but to stay where we are. My husband will never be able to actually retire because we both have chronic medical conditions that are not covered by individual insurance plans. Medicare is not enough coverage to pay for our healthcare. He must stay on a group policy (large employer). Our 401 and IRAS have lost over 40%, we have barely enough for 6 months if we used them. The cost of food, utilities,insurance,has skyrocketed.
Yes, like other Americans, we sadly have been paying our bills with credit cards and have more consumer debt that we ever had in 42 years of marriage.

I have read all 647 pages of the Stimulus Bill, HR1.

Why doesn’t Congress get it? If a bill is over 600 pages–
it is too much! Too little-too late!

President Obama should just allocate $16 Billion(if he & Congress insist on throwing away our children’s futures) to each state and let them take care of what is needed.

Why do Republicans say spending on Amtrack, Schools and Healthcare are such a terrible WASTE? Because these are jobs and funds that CAN’T be shipped overseas for robber-barron profit… Like the $350 billion that has just evaporated without a trace.

Having been conservative and a child born in the late 30’s we were indoctrinated to save not spend! What good has it done? Perhaps we should have spent like the Wall Street Bankers! We are really upset with the dishonesty, greed and darn outright theievery! It is a shame that a family who has followed all of the rules has lost 30% or more of it’s net worth!

I am a 44yr old woman married for 22yrs and i have 2 children one in college and one on her own. I am on disability and my husband is a chef we lost our house almost a year ago due to my disability and the mortgage co not willing to work with us after living in our home for 17yrs. I agree with the president stimulus plan, but I wish he would some of the money in the taxpayers hand we would turn the economy much faster. It is very diffcult after losing your home and all of your savings everything has gone up. I wish that some of the people we put in office had some faith in the educated and working class people instead of the large corporation we are the ones who keep the world going. It does not take a genius to figure that out

I own a small business that is closing
after 33 years. I am losing my house after 33years.(missed my first payment after 33 years)yes we remodeled
8 years ago. My A/R went from 25.000.00
a month to last month (dec)were 4,000
I lost my health insurance in Aug.
I’m insulin dependent. The insulin is 45.00 a bottle. My blood sugars were 110,now over 300.I can only take the
insulin 1 time a day.
My credit cards are all with collections,one sued me and took all 273.93 out of my checking,We need help
we have too many assets for help.
But we cannot sell our commerical building,it’s been on the market since
March.It’s now worth 300.000
less now,It’s not enough to pay everything off. My husband is working
2 jobs he is also diabetic. I have interviewed for 3 jobs only to be turned down because for my credit.

People who assume everyone lives on credit and overextends themselves are dead wrong. My husband and I have a modest house payment and a very modest car payment, but still, how can I pay for those things along with utilities, food, and basic necessities without an income? We live very frugally- we don’t even have cable for Pete’s sake and have not taken a vacation in 5 years- but none of that matters if you have no income coming in. We have savings and investments and retirement, but how long will those things keep food on my table? What if I am out of work for a year or more? I knew a year ago that I would be laid off, so I have been looking that whole time and NOTHING has turned up. I am college educated and skilled, yet I can’t even get recruiters to call me back.

So those of you who still have jobs should not be so smug. It is not as though us unemployed masses have lived each day like it was our last and are suddenly reaping what we sow. We have held good jobs, been good employees and citizens, not racked up debt, gotten a college education, and still we find ourselves in a losing battle.

Health care records: $20 billion. Modernize the health care system by computerizing all of the nations’ medical records in the next five years.

Is Obama serious?? I voted for him, put all my hopes on him, and he does this with 20b$!!!! Who gives a rats @** about computerized medical records! Whith no job,losing my home and car, with virtually no foodstamps to eat with (first time ever to use it) how dare Obama spend that unGodly amount of money. Does he think this will generate jobs. It will add up to a drop in the lake!!
I thought Science was supposed to be one of his top priorities to invest in and help create new jobs.
WTF
Where’s the Funds?

Obama your not off to a good start in my book!!
Don’t let me and the rest of America down!!

The same people will be hired to do the infrastructure jobs as are doing them now..ILLEGAL ALIENS. Super Highway..NAU/SPP…pick your poison…we’ve been invaded without a shot..scratch that…with shots fired, from Mexico.

Of course being retired it has decreased my savings and inflation has added to my costs. I find it unbelievable that the Republicans who got us here are in the beginning are now SO vocal. What nerve!!!!!!

You might also be interested in the FACT that illegal aliens got mortgage loans through a special program. There were no background checks, no job verication, no IRS records, AND NO IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED..SAW IT ON C-SPAN DURING A COMMITTEE HEARING LAST MONTH.

Oh, and now Obama.he promised change…well, by the looks of his cabinet and all their corrupt baggage, I’d say the American people had better wake up and stop voting in idiots just because it sounded good. Do some research for God’s sakes. Who would vote in an amateur during a crisis of this magnitude? I have no faith in my fellow Americans anymore. You people have let them sell us out. Everything we;ve worked for, you have allowed to be taken away. Have you people even seen what he’s got listed in the stimulus bill? PORK and money for ACORN? You’re all idiots.And I hope you’re ready for all the illegals to get amnesty and legally be allowed to bring in an estimated 81 people per family (grandparents, aunts, uncles) all at your expense. Can’t afford medical help…it’s because you’re paying thiers…same with tuition and insurance. Good luck

I have a good job, but I do worry about getting laid off. My sister is in college and she and her boyfriend live with me. He lost his job last May and hasn’t been able to find work even sacking groceries. He makes a few hundred dollars a month working as a day laborer like many illegal immigrants. My sister may not be able to find a decent job next year when she graduates. I pay most of the bills and we all pool money together for groceries. I hope the economy improves , at least we have each other.

I’m lucky. We own our own home and my husband can afford to retire any time. I’m finding sales, like Costco’s 200 dollar Reebok exercise bicycle, complete with at least 8 programs, heart monitor, etc.. and Land’s End deals on clothing..under 100 for a cashmere wool blend coat, etc… look for your own folks.. they carry curvy sizes for heavier people like me, and they have an online measuring chart to make sure it fits when it arrives..I used a measuring tape and made only one return..look for more things before they go up, like Rio Grande’s 15k wedding ring for 5 3mm stones..great for proposing, anniversaries, or mother’s rings(when the child is born, etc…) Look at everything,every online page, no matter what your size is or needs are..many of these online websites have online help ask for help

We take walks and rent vitage movies from our library at very low cost. We also pick up new sports and hobbies from library books. I learned to perfect my tennis game using books, etc.. when I was a teenager…lots of hobbies can be accomplished by using community resources, like the local high school ceramics room, public, or high school or community college weight rooms and pools, at nominal cost
our community college has free emeritus programs for retired people, for example the Sierra Club has its own book of hikes, bicycle rides, and other activities at nominal cost, because they own their own facilities at various locals. They own a lodge at Yosemite, for example..

My husband was hurt at work so he gets workmans comp but their are 0 jobs in Michigan and our town is closing companies monthly. Crime is going up and people are starving. Groceries, gas and utilities seem to keep rising which is making it even more difficult for families. This economy is terrible. I don’t see it getting any better by this bailout. It is too late and companies will not be able to rebound. We need some serious help!!

I’ve lost money in my retirement savings fund. I blame the democrats for every single problem we now have. 1) Clinton selling us out/our jobs to China 2) Kennedy ia a being bleeding heart to illegals who take what is left(jobs) 3) Noone in Congress having the guts to do what the American people demand 4) Wall Street/IMF/Federal Reserve 5) and thre biggest crook of all: Barney Frank, for starting this housing ripoff

when was the last time you reported about the price of land and the way it is priced you can not buy land and pay the price they or asking and try to make living on it.
are gas prices oil coast less but the price keep going up..

So far, it has only been the cost of food and the utilities. I am retired and had a small amount of money put aside and it was supposed to have been nvested where it woulld be fairly safe. so far I have lost about 1/4 of what was put away. I guess the son was not as good at investments as his father is. I was smart enough this time not to let a bank invest it for me.
I do have to help my oldest son who is laid off as their rent in outrageous but his own fault for listening to his wife. She who never had anything in her first marriage thinks she has to have the best of everything. the other son lives with me and and I feed him and while he is not getting the full amount of unemployment as he used to he doesn’t help me at all.

when was the last time you’ll reported the rate of what you get for the dollar when buy some thing i e. a loaf of bread by weight and size ???? are how much the dollar is worth??? for real not inflation:::: $1.00 = .20 cents ….. are when was the last time you could $20.00 marks for a Dollar ???? just like some product are in the same box, rapper, sack, bottle but you pay more for it but it has 12 oz. in it and not 16 oz. OOOOOO we the people are not suppose to see this>>>

why do you’ll thank all of us are so dumb???? you people report just what you like to and put a slant on it tell it sounds so good… just like the war why would you feed the news to the people here like it is our fault for all deaths on both side are our fault???? are just like here in the states the paper only reports what it likes.. because the news was about a friend so it has a slant on it so the people who report it are the ones out there…

I just read one of the postings about an e-mail floating about, giving all legal families 450,000. Think about it, what would you do with that kind of money? I have asked a lot of people the same question and EVERY single person said they would pay off their bills, catch up on mortgages, buy things they normally could never buy, sounds good to me. Give the money to the people and let us take care of getting the economy moving. The government ideas are getting pretty lame. Joan Clark, Michigan

My company is scaring out the workers who are 53 yrs old or older with near enough time to retire to retire now or possibly lose their job in the near future and have nothing. I wonder how many companies are using the scare tactic to reduce their workforce and doesn’t it seem like they are pushing out the higher paid and OLDER employees in hopes of hiring new for less or part timers, because they still needed that position filled, but wanted to pay less because they made too many Vice Presidents who do less for their large salaries.

I dont believe there is a real answer to the economy. It will get worse before it gets better unfortunately. The biggest problem is even with the stimulus package coming, it wont be felt that quickly. The other problem with the stimulous package is that the funds are going to programs not needed right now. The money needs to be in the hands of american tax payer, not banks, wall street or anything else. Give the tax payers 90% of the package and 10% to help with other needed programs. The more money the people get the more they will put back into the economy. Create new jobs, YES, but lets give back the jobs to the people who was laid of or there hours cut short.
Most people can not live on unemployment, just does not cover the bills.
I can not complain myself, I still have my job, but that could change soon. I barely make it on what I make, so if i do loose my job then I wont be able to pay my bills. I certainly could not make it on unemployment.

Lets face it our governemt is not listening to the tax payers, but is willing to put us deeper in debt.

Let your voice be heard, contact your state legislators and congressmen, but be sure to let them know you are a registered voter

I agree. Check out the receipts of the people on food stamps!! I have a “friend” on food stamps who has offered to buy me expensive meat, shrimp, etc. whatever I wanted – in exchange for cash or babysitting services! She also doesn’t want to get married to her “boyfriend” because she would lose her Medicaid and wouldn’t be eligible to the Earned Income Tax Credit which gives her $4000 a year for having a couple of kids. Her kids have Nintendos but mine doesn’t and HERS are the ones getting free lunch at school?? There is something fundamentally wrong with this system!! There are people that come to my workplace who are on disability because of PAST drug addictions or “mental conditions” like ADD – people that could and should work!! I have heard so many people say its easy to get disability for depression because you don’t have to wait and nobody can disprove it – that should not be allowed to happen!! Teachers in some urban areas can tell you that teenage girls have babies FOR their mothers – so she can claim more money from the government. When will hard-working people like myself who pay taxes and play by the rules get rewarded? I have kept a job for 11 years just to have good health insurance for my family. A friend of mine voted for Obama so that she would finally be able to move to L.A. to pursue her dream of producing movies and would no longer have to keep a job she hates just for the health coverage – because Obama promised that everyone would be covered – with OR without a job – how wonderful is that?? I am angry – When I go to work every day, why would I want my tax dollars to make it easy for somebody else NOT to work?

This was sent to me in an email and I think it makes alot of sense. But will anything be done about it.

Hi Everyone,

I’m against the $85,000,000,000 bailout of AIG.

Instead, I’m in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in

a “”We Deserve It Dividend”".

To make the math simple, let’s assume there are 200,000,000

bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+.

Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman

and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up..

So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billon that equals $425,000.

My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a

“We Deserve It Dividend”.

Of course, it would NOT be tax free.

So let’s assume a tax rate of 30%.

Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.

That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.

But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500 in their pocket.

A husband and wife has $595,000.

What would you do with $297,500 to $595,000 in your family?

Pay off your mortgage – housing crisis solved.

Repay college loans – what a great boost to new grads

Put away money for college – it’ll be there

Save in a bank – create money to loan to entrepreneurs.

Buy a new car – create jobs
0A
Invest in the market – capital drives growth

Pay for your parent’s medical insurance – health care improves

Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean – or else

Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks

who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company

that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed
Forces.

If we’re going to re-distribute wealth let’s really do it…instead of
trickling out a puny $1000.00 (“vote buy”) economic incentive that is
being proposed by one of our candidates for President.

If we’re going to do an $85 billion bailout, let’s bail out every adult
U S Citizen 18+!

As for AIG – liquidate it.

Sell off its parts.

Let American General go back to being American General.

Sell off the real estate.

Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.

Here’s my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn’t.

Sure it’s a crazy idea that can “never work.”

But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!

How do you spell Economic Boom?

I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion

“We Deserve It Dividend” more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in
Washington DC .

And remember, The Family plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because
$25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.

Ahhh…I feel so much better getting that off my chest.

Kindest personal regards,

A Creative Guy & Citizen of the Republic.

wow i own a restaurant in missouri and my bank which i have borrowed and paid back loans from wont lend me a paltry 10k for remodeling. its like they are afraid to lend any money dont tell me that this money going to the banks will be helping me a customer with what i thought was good standing and good credit when will i get a bailout it would cost less and let me add employees instead of cutting employees

perhaps congress can now start to help those of us who have paid the bills on time, stayed sober and drug free, lived within our means for many years and yet are let go. Perhaps it is time to keep some money “home” for us to survive, I am sorry but we can not continue paying for everyone to “own” his own home (I would love to have a really nice one, that I don’t have to pay for too). Until recently I was one of the 20% who is paying for the other 80% legally here or not, to actually have a higher standard of living than I have had.

The stupidity of postponing the convert to DTV, because a few slackers forgot, did not get around to it, can’t afford it, or too stupid to understand that if you already have cable/satellite, you don’t need it is jsut so typical of our government. At some point YOU have to be responsible, there is not always going to be someone around to hold your hand or pay your bills.

It will get worse before it gets better.

Tell me just how does the govt create jobs?
If the govt has to prove themselves as being cost efficient (which we know doesn’t happen), then I guess they can’t make all of the agencies start posting hollow vacancy announcements. Or can they?
Someone has to explain this phenomenon to me.
The glass is neither half empty nor half full. Just pour out what’s in it and fill it up with beer.

I graduated college in 2006, so fortunately, I have been out of school long enough to establish myself in a good job with a good company. I rent a room in a 4-bedroom house, I paid off my student loans last year, and I am not in debt. I earn a comfortable living (39,000 a year), I spend a little, save a little and am very happy with my life. But even if I get laid off tomorrow, I won’t worry. My wealth doesn’t come from the amount of money I make or save, it comes from the way I manage my money.

Sure I worry about my bills, keeping my job, my parents. Buy hey, that’s life. This economic crisis is a blip on the radar. When I think about what adds value to my life, money isn’t even in the top ten.

My husband & I are in our mid 50’s and both of us have worked since we were 14-15 years old. In 2007, my husband lost his job and was unemployed for nearly a year before taking a job making half as much. In 2008, I lost my job and was also umemployed for nearly year. Recently I found a job and I too am working for half as much. My husband has survived type I diabetes for over 50 years, however neither of our companies offer health insurance, so we must purchase our own. It is nearly impossible to find a provider for my husband, and the one I found will not cover his diabetic supplies. On our limited income, we pay over $1000.00 per month for medical insurance and perscriptions!!! Over the years my husband & I have raised quite abit of money for the American Diabetes Association, so I contacted them to see if they could help us or refer us for help with his diabetic expense – They only “accept money for diabetic research”, and could not refer any help! If things don’t improve, it would appear our “golden years” will be reduced to “dirt poor year”!

It seems that our government is interested only in bailing out banks, insurance companies and other large corporations. We have seen that this does not work. I say bail out the taxpayers. Take that $825 Billion and divide it up between those of us who pay our taxes. We will pay down our debt and make purchases. This will put money back into banks for new loans and mortgages and companies that supply goods and services, etc. That is what will stimulate the economy – SUPPLY AND DEMAND! this will lead to new mortgages and loans and new inventory orders as well as new business. A tax break or reduced taxes puts NOTHING SIGNIFICANT in taxpayers’ pockets and will make no significant difference in how much money they have to spend on necessities which include paying for housing, transportation, food and clothing. Since the corporations that have been bailed out already have shown that they will NOT utilize their handout to help our economy, then let the taxpayers do it.
Posted by RWS, Marietta GA

Beginning this month I was forced to take a 30% pat cut or lose my job. I am in the wholesale sector. I have been trying to refinance my home for almost a year, but the plummeting home values have all but eliminated any hope of that. Nancy Pelosi was quoted today as saying that with the impending stimulus package, Obama is taking the country in a new direction. That is ridiculous and innacurate. It may take us back to where we were previously, but certainly not into new territory. We are no longer an industrial and producing nation. We are a consuming nation. FDR had a war economy with which to create jobs. Obama is kidding himself and the American people if he thinks he can create 3 million plus jobs in the areas he has indicated. In teh meantime, my situation gets bleaker by the day and our country is becoming a nation of two polarized classes: the very wealthy and the struggling masses.

I still dont understand why banks can sell foreclosed properties for fractions of the cost, yet couldnt offer that same deal to the homeowners. No one can answer that. We are finding everything hard right now, and have to make choices about who will and wont get paid each month. Why isnt more money going directly to the American people to truly stimulate the economy and offer REAL relief???

I am 21 years old and live in Califonia. I am a full time Sales Associate at Ford and have been for 3 years. I am also paying for my girlfriends CSUMB Education and for our condo. I came from a poor home but have learned from it. Not having money to began with has helped me tremendously in today economy! I am very business minded and have found that if you THINK fresh and new thoughts about how to get more money than you will. Don’t put your eggs in one basket!

Here is what I have done -

Don’t have a job? Heres one for you.

Google – Wholesale DropShippers and start selling stuff on ebay. I make – $2,200 a month extra while I work my full time job! (ITS FREE!)

I started working vitually as well for:
My company
http://www.uptrending.com selling web design -

http://www.cafepress.com – designing shirts and having the company sell and ship them (ITS FREE!)

YARD SALES! Woohoo! You can buy and resell on Craigslist or Ebay ( I make around $1000 a month doing this)

Here are some tips I wrote -

Tips and Tricks for Sales In Today’s Economy!!

Hello everyone! I am Matt a new member to this group.

I am a full time sales consultant for two companies. I am a manager at Cypress Coast Automotive Group and a sales consultant for http://www.uptrending.com a web design and marketing company.

Today’s economy is different from the economy three years ago.
In sales especially there is particular challenge but is the economy really to blame? Personally I am too young to waste my prime career days thinking I am in a hole and I am sure everyone here feels the same.

Here are some great tip’s that help me and may help some other people!

Tip #1 – (You are What You Believe!) If you believe there is no opportunity or that people are not buying than your sales will reflect that attitude. If you have that feeling about your job than your customers feel it. People buy your energy! You will be amazed at peoples attitude change when you tell them “Business is great!”. They feel they have met a company that is doing professional business.

Tip #2 – (Not all News is Good News!) I have worked in car sales for three years in addition to web design and marketing. Currently if you turn on the news all you hear is “Banks are not lending” and “Auto Group Bailout”. TURN OFF THE NEGATIVE NEWS – If I believed that was true I would quit my job because you can’t sell when you believe something like that. In reality that’s the opposite of the truth where I work, banks are lending still and people are buying cars still.

Tip #3 – (How people Buy in a “Bad economy”) Here is a hint *VALUE – Consumer confidence is down and even people with money are reluctant to spend it. Uncertainty in today’s world makes people uneasy about big purchase decisions. People are looking for good deals and will fork up the money if you can show them value! Have a reason why today is the day to buy. Whether it’s a small discount. Advertise it to get people in the door.

If you have questions or wanted to discuss further feel free to contact me.

I have an Idea!!!!!

Go down the welfare roles and pick out 12 recipients. When you file your taxes, just claim them as deductions!!
That way, we get our taxes back

I live and work in rural Ohio where most people support their families by working in a factory. The factor jobs are disappearing quickly, due to layoffs or factories simply closing. My family has been blessed so far, we are both still employed, but how long will that last?
I think the government screwed up when they bailed out the banks and automotive industry. Yes, I know it affects a lot of people and their jobs, but how about giving the money to the taxpayers?! I could have used the money to pay off my bills, which would have inturn helped the banks. I could have bought a new car, which would have inturn helped the automakers. And then I could have afforded to buy the things my family needs, which would have helped the economy.
Families are having to choose between food, medicine, utilities, and bills. And the ones who really suffer are the kids who don’t know why they have to go to bed hungry or why they get to eat but Mom and Dad don’t.

I agree that things are just too expensive. Although gas price have dropped back and that has eased shipping and food prices somewhat, companies like cable, phone, insurance etc, are actually raising rates. Almost every necessity has gone up this year and I don’t have an increase in income to cover it. Companies should know this, they are cutting their throats in the long term. If they go easy on us, we will stay, if they keep raising rates, we will eventually cancel cable DVD rentals etc, and it is going to hit bottom lines in the future. Corporate America still hasn’t learned from last fall.

I believe that THE true indicator of the economy IS NOT the stock markets or the banks but the airline industry . everytime the general public is hit with a falling economy the airline industry has felt the impact 2 years prior. far too many years hundreds of thousands of airline employees have suffered tremendous losses in their personal lives and everyone turned a blind eye blaming union greed….. while exectives walked away with golden parchutes and sold off profitable assets into newly formed subsidiaries and mergers. what the airline industry has been allowed to do to it’s workers and companies is the manual to follow on how to throw the country into financial turmoil and personal profit.

My husband and I are retired, but he has a part time job. We pay our bills every month and would like to take a trip or two while we still can and enjoy our time left(thus, the part-time job). We have 1 credit card for emergencies and recently had to use it for a new roof. Our heating bill doubled this last month and our Rx are a constant fight. We do generic, when possible and contact drug companies for discounts. Our Dr.s work with us, too. We do the best we can, but it is getting tougher.

Why can’t they put the funds into the hands of the tax paying people rather than big business and long term Welfare recipients that do nothing but feed off of others. Have you seen what most of the foodstamps are spent on? check out the register receipts and you will see steak, ice cream, candy, pop, tenderloins and crap that the working or retired person can only hope will go on sale to purchase. I’ve seen 3 generations making their purchases with their own food stamp cards at the same time.(pet Peeve) It has turned into a profession by some. Need more money? have another illegitimate kid….. They don’t pay into the system, but expect the system to support them!!!

If they divided up the 800 billion among the tax paying citizenry, they would get half of it back in taxes the first year and the states would get a financial boost as well. It could be used to pay up mortgages, pay for insurance, spent for travel and invested….. Put a portion into savings and you will help the banks.

The politicians don’t want this because they can’t get their hands on it for their individual pet projects. We won’t see any relief, only a deeper hole for our children and Grandchildren and their children… I’m sorry kids

I got laid off in may,Iam 54 years old and at this age it is a bit harder to come about a job so I am attending a technical college. In one year my family has went from 3 people working average 60 hours a week two working 64 between them, no overtime. Many people my age are having to go back to school because employers want youger people and want even tak to us. But we never give up. I have nine weeks left on unemployment at $320 a week. But overall my family lost 40% of its income and my brother has had to move in with us. It’s hard going back to school after 35 years. but we have to in order to keep up with technical advances and keep America strong, do our part as each person can and we can compete and win in the world market and stay strong. “Let’ts Roll.”

Something has to be done real fast. I was unemployed in april of 2008 an have been looking for a job since. But I have been un able to find one an get no call backs. I am on unemployment an I get a BIG $89.00 a week an I only get $14.00 in food stamps a month. Talk about a hard life. It is pretty sad when other countries get taken care of before our own people who have worked all there lives. I have no idea what I am going to do when my little bit of change I get for unemployment an my messley $14.00 I get in food stamps. This is a very SAD thing for all of us who have worked many many many years an then get kicked in the head when you need help. We AMERICANS should be TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE ANY THING ELSE OR PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. WE HAVE OUR OWN LIVING ON THE STREETS AN GOING HUNGREY. WE SHOULD COME BEFORE OTHER COUNTRIES as we have lived an worked all are lives here in AMERICA.

I am 63 and I lost my husband then 2 weeks later my job. The construction company I worked for had to cut back. I am a Drafter/Civil Engineering Tech and jobs are not there. I’m living on unemployment, but like many others it isn’t much and the bills are not going away. I hope it is better for the younger groups soon.

We have many problems in this country but neither Congress nor the administration (old or new) seem to care about our citizens.

First, why are qwe giving hundreds of billions of bailout dollars to wall and banks, when the core problem was millions of citizens losing their homes through foreclosure. Why isn’t some of this money being provided directly to these homeowners by roviding low fixed rate loans so they can keep their homes. Congress is telling us that by giving billions to wall street and banks, that these predatory companies are going to modify loans for those in foreclosure? Think again. Millions more will lose their homes while the bailed out companies give their execs millions in bonuses.

Second, why is congress and this administration not putting in regulation to curb predatory lending, penalties ans excessive fees? Congress is giving billions to thease banks with no accountability, and then allows them to continue their predatory lending practices.

Lets fix the problem and not continue to allow lobbiests to buy off congree and this administration.

Mitch

It great that all this money is being given out, by our Gov., but none seem to go to the Poor or old, and our Soc. Sec. has not been updated at all, in all this, I am under the impression that the Gov. in the past has taken part of our Soc sec. for one reason or the other, and now it not going to be repaid and it will run out, it not that much to live on now any way. That my views.

My kids happily wear second hand clothing and we prepare simple meals for ourselves from basic inexpensive ingredients; we don’t always have meat. I have work, but their father, stepmother and others in our family were laid off in this last month. We care for my mother in my sister’s home. She has Alzheimers. We would find it hard to tighten the belt any tighter.

And yet, I think people need a better understanding of what “pork” really is. I personally would like to see use of the word discontinued, and have each expenditure evaluated on its own merits without the glib terminology. For instance, funding for art and research creates jobs for those that are talented in those areas, and their efforts enrich our lives. What is “necessary” spending to one person is not strictly “necessary” for another. Remodeling the National Mall could create work for many people. I visit the National Mall but rarely, but I see the value of both the jobs provided and the end result.

Skip the label of “pork” and let’s talk about why an expenditure is or is not necessary. More than likely, proposed spending will benefit people in ways that are not obvious at a casual glance. Don’t oversimplify the discussion.

We live on ramen lately, (can’t afford the other white meat) but my family will pay some taxes this year. And we would be happy to help fund a public works project. Despite these very hard times, we feel some hope for the future, because we believe that our currently elected leaders have a genuine commitment to the common good.

I am in my 50’s. I have no debts (including my house and credit cards). It wasn’t easy getting to this point — a lot of economic dissapline (which means lots of not buying stuff just because I was ‘told’ I needed it). What ever happenned to saving for the ‘rainy day’?

I was laid off in November, and despite my vigorous job search, I can’t find anyone to even call me for an interview, despite having applied to dozens of different companies. I’m getting $304 a week on unemployment, but after rent, utilities, and food, there is literally nothing left. Anyone who smugly thinks they’re safe needs to understand that we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg; this recession is now spreading to retail and other segments of the market and I predict double-digit unemployment by the end of the year.

Cathy in Texas you are more than welcome to your president duche, I mean Bush. The reason TX is doing ok is that he made sure it did. Bush didn’t give a crap about the rest of us TX sucks and I feel sorry for those of you in TX. Montana is the place to be we are all struggling here becuase no one cares about montana until they want to come vacation here. Use up our resources and trash our lands. Thanks a lot MR. Bush for ruining this country that I have fought for. You are the worst president ever.

I have a wife and four kids ages 10 7 3 and 1. My wife has a full time job making 24000 a year and I am a stay at home dad because I got laid off at my job doing tile work. Now I do part time work at night just trying to get caught up on our bills. I have lost my truck because we could not afford to pay on it any longer my one and only credit card is maxed out and we can all most make the minimum payment.
We are struggling and with no jobs around our town and no one to really watch our kids there is no choice for us but for me to stay home with our kids. Adding child care to the long list of bills would put us over the top and we can’t afford it.

I’m concerned as the “unemployment rates” are NOT accurate. They only count those who are unemployed in an employee status. What about those of use who are contractors?

I joined the Change.gov site for President Obama and many voiced the same. STOP OUTSOURCING – at least of our private information. I’ve lost 2 medical transcription contracts since last September, 1 to Pakistan and the most recent 1 to India. Lets think about this – American jobs to countries overseas = money to people overseas = American money NOT being spent in America. No wonder! With the increase of identity theft and now medical insurance theft (google it, you’ll be surprised at what you find), I understand that President Obama says we can’t reverse outsourcing, but at least this!! Think of all of the IT jobs it would create – not only in medical transcription and billing, but did you know many credit cards are processed overseas? Bring American jobs back to America, Bring America money back to America! I and many others seemed to have fallen on deaf ears at Change.gov, maybe we won’t here.

You’ve got to laugh at the stock market.

It is amazing that a bunch of investors are buying stock in this climate. One minute they are complaining about the economy and how the ‘world will end’ if they don’t get a bailout but yet the stocks keep going up. Doesn’t seem like an ‘end-of-the-world’ scenario to me. They know the government will bailout everyone out and that it why they are not concerned.

Wall Street has become a bunch of little kids screaming and kicking to get what they want. “Give us this or we will tank the market until you do”. The American public has become hostage to Wall Street. Stocks are rising because of a stimulus plan…are you kidding me? Are they completely oblivious to the fact that if Americans don’t have jobs, they aren’t going to buy anything…hellllooo?

This country is screwed…just wait till the government starts bailing out companies like Japan has…then there’s no hope. No need to worry about unemployment if the companies continue to receive cash flow. Screw the Americans, as long as companies have money. The companies will keep getting bailouts and we’ll soon be a third-world country like I’ve been forecasting the last five years.

I have been unemployed now for one year and two weeks. I went from making 73,000 a year to 320.00 a week (unemployment) I have a mortgage (that I could afford while working)and all the other normal bills gas, heat electricity, water, car insurance, life insurance, credit cards, charge cards and food just to name a few. I can’t pay all of these bills now, I can’t even answer my phone because I know it’s a bill collector on the other end. I have medication I have not taken for a year and two weeks because I have no health care. I look for a job every day however, I live in a state where the unemployment rate is now 8.2% there are no jobs and if there are employers are geting thousands of resumes for one position. I’m glad president Obama has included 43 billion in his stimulas package to extend unemployment until December of 2009. I wish they would add though (for those of us on unemployment) not to have to pay taxes out of our unemployment checks. I can’t afford to pay taxes and did not pay them all last year. Believe me when I’m working I pay plenty of taxes because I get a salary plus commission and commission is taxed higher because it is considered supplement income.

So far my husband and I are managing ok. We don’t have any debt other then our credit cards which we pay off every month. My husband is retired and I work full time. But the company I work for has laid off our field employees because of a lack of work. If something doesn’t open up soon I may be out of a job too. Our savings has fallen in value but luckily we are not drawing on it yet. I don’t know how people with debt can go on much longer. This is a big mess and I see the big banks who are to blame being taken care of but not the average citizen. Giving money to AIG, CITI, and Bank of America/Merrill Lynch so they can continue on their merry way makes me sick. I will be severing my associating with these companies as soon as I can. That is the only way I know to fight back.

Well, for one thing, we have awakened to this “PROBLEM”that is swirling all around us, and yet to this point,we are pretty much not affected! WHY?!? Because we have never depended on CREDIT to get us through life. At this point in time, we have no major debt(other than our home loan, which is the ONLY monthly payment (other than monthly household bills…i.e. water, electricity,insurance). Other than that, everything we own…. we actually own. Paid cash for big ticket items that we were sure we couldn’t do without, sometimes it took awhile before we could make these purchases (as we had to save for them.) But we used the wait time to research to make sure we were making the best purchases possible. Also, in our research (and savings) time, we once in awhile realized, we didn’t need (or want) these items as much as we first thought. And in the long run, gave us money to look at our next big ticket item on our list. Don’t get me wrong, we don’t have jobs that pay tons of money, we don’t live in a mansion,and we don’t drive expensive cars. BUT… we do live comfortably, and are very satisfied with what we have. The problem in our country is caused because people do not know how to live within their own means, meaning people (most, but not all) seem to want more than they can afford at the moment. We have to remember… CREDIT IS WEALTH THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN CREATED!!! And unfortunitly there are no guarantees that this wealth will be created!!!
I am so glad we have chosen not to put our necks in that noose. Because of this decision, we don’t need (or want) anything from our govt. except to be left alone to live our lives, until the day comes when we can be planted in the ground. BUT we are not so sure this will happen either……but that’s another story…

I am still employed, but have cut back my hours enough that I can still survive on my income, but making more than I would on unemployment. I am a single mom, I live a quiet life style somewhat the old fashioned way of life, I have animals, grow my own fruits and vegetables, and basically have tried to live off my own land, and put my own foods away. Now, the CA government wants to tax us more for having God’s creatures at home by adding additional tax to having animals if they get ill (Veterinary Tax). Medical for us is out of reach, now they are putting in on care for God’s creatures, when will taking from us ends. But it seems the more I do on my own, the more the county and state want more from me. I have taxes from “Things” that are miles from me and can’t use, that I am taxed on. There has been no incentive over the years for anybody to actually “Save” money for a rainy day in which we all seem to be in now. It is all just spent and spent, and that is not what our forefathers did before us. They only used what was needed. This whole society has become a throw away nation. Use it a few times and get rid of it, or get a bigger and better and add to the waste of the nation. Nothing is made to last any more, there is no care or pride in production, just make as much and more to sell as possible. Bring our Country’s Pride back to our nation and bring our production home, but make it to where we “As a Country” can survive on our own home land. Not this foreign garbage that is not healthy for us and our children to digest.

PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE BANKS… Lower your interest rates to 3%. Can’t you see the benefit to homeowners as well as yourself? Please ask yourself, WHAT IS BETTER- 5% OF NOTHING OR 3% OF SOMETHING? Everyone would benefit.
Fellow Americans, there is strength in unity, please contact these banks, mortgages, etc. Tell them to lower rates to 3%.

I am a single mother of two teenagers. I was devastated when lost my job with Solo Cup in 2005 when they closed their Glens Falls, New York plant. Fortunately, I was able to attend college through the NAFTA program, but jobs paying what I was earning at the plant were hard to come by. I eventually went into business for myself thinking I may have a bit more control over my future….boy was I wrong. Everything that could go wrong, went wrong. Gas prices soared, the cost of my ingredients went through the roof, (flour, flour based products), New York State began the Route 4 construction project two weeks after I took over this business and suffered great losses, two summers in a row. Not to mention that when the project was finished in front of my building, I was left with no parking on the main street.
Needless to say, the economy and other unforeseen hurdles have caused small business owners to become an endangered species so to speak.
My home is in foreclosure at this time and it is a daily struggle to keep the business going and am doing so in hopes that things turn around.
Honestly, at this point, I do not know what to do. I am burned out and at wits end.

Unemployment is up, Government spending is up, the working class is maxed out, the banks are hoarding cash, the small businesses are strapped or closing, the non-working are still looking for a handout, the hard-working are tired. This is a load of BS. Here we go…more entitlements. You cannot keep milking the middle-class (or the rich for that matter)…the well is running dry.

Some lady wishes her husband was a union worker because he would have seen pay increases…typical Democratic mentality. “I think it should be this way, let’s vote it in now and figure out a way to pay for it later”. That is where we’re headed folks and what on Earth will all the people receiving entitlements do, when EVERYONE is receiving entitlements?

The people on Capitol Hill don’t care about us…they’re in the Lala Land of glorious pensions and book deals. If you are truly an American, stop letting the Government spend YOUR hard earned cash. And if you’re an American receiving my cash, and your only job is working the system…do me a favor and give back for a change. I’m sick of working for you.

Well this has been a very long hard process that I have been struggling with for the past 3 years. I am in the low end of the middle class or high end of the low income families. I was divorced in 2006 after having a new born. I was living in CA where I was born and raised. I did not have medical coverage when I found out I was pregnant with my son. I applied for Medi-Cal emergency insurance for pregnant women. Come to find out I had a co-pay of $1500.00. It was not stated how this co-pay was to be paid. After having my son the collection calls started and I was $27k in debt just for having a child and the Medi-Cal health assistance program being seriously broken. I say seriously broken as my “room-mate” in the hospital have immigrated to CA illegally and had her insurance paid for 100% and now gets to stay in our country for a min of a year cause her child is now a naturally born citizen of the U.S. There I was 21 years old, working and paying taxes since I was 15 years old to only receive $27k in medical bills. Please honestly tell me that the State Medical Insurance program isn’t broken. Our immigration status doesn’t need fixing. Yes, this country was built on immigration, and I am 100% for that. My only question is why can’t our country hold its people accountable for doing it the correct way? Why do we still allow people to get away with coming to this country illegally, and have its citizens bear the brunt in our taxes?

I ended up leaving CA and moved to CO this year after filing a bankruptcy to be able to support my son. Things are getting a bit better now. I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel financially, but with the way the economy is out here it is still very hard to have anything extra. Between the cost of Day Care, Rent, Food, Energy, Gas, Clothes, and everything else that comes along with having a family to only see big companies getting “bailed out” when it is the American people that are suffering cause the “lay-offs” aren’t stopping even with the companies that are being bailed out. It is still on the American people’s shoulders to have to pay those bail outs back. Who is going to bail out my family? Who is going to make sure that I have heat in my house or even a roof over my head? That falls into my hands, is the government really assisting the people that work so hard for this country. What about our military? We all say that we support our soldiers and I have a lot of really close friends who have decided to physically stand up for the rights and freedoms that I enjoy. If it wasn’t for our soldiers fighting for our freedoms where would we all be? Yet, watch the “news” why are our soldiers on trial for defending their lives and being charged with War Crimes. We are at war it is all a crime is it not? Isn’t murder a crime? That being said shouldn’t everyone be on trial then for being at war? Why are our soldiers coming back to the US and being treated like 3rd class citizens when they are the ones making the sacrifices so that we can be free?

Yes this recession is affecting some more than others, but what can us American’s do to help bring back the economy? If the economy relies on us spending, yet we are living pay check to pay check to just maintain a home, how are we supposed to go out and buy the nice things? The cost of living has not come down, bills have not decreased to run a house hold, the nice things have only increased and are still at high/normal prices, so how can we go spend if everything is still so expensive?

My husband lost his job approximately one year ago due to the economy. Right now, I am the only one working and supporting my family with the small amount of money I’m paid.

Since he lost his job, we have lost our home and our vehicle. Luckily, I had a friend who had a vehicle that sold it to me for $10.00. This is our only way of transportation. My husband’s unemployment benefits have expired and I pray everyday that I don’t get sick, because then there would be NO income coming in.

What I don’t understand, the president is attempting to help the American people and are getting nothing but roadblocks from the Republican party. It makes me mad that they dicker around, due to politics, and we’re the ones that are being hurt. I would love to have some of the politicans work at minimum pay, use up all of their savings trying to pay for utilities, food and shelter for their family because one, or both, family members have lost their job due to the economy.

B. Cardwell is a lucky one, but the comment about where we spend our money and it sure beats depending on the Government to “bail” us out should pray that they don’t become victim to this economy. They will be in the same boat with the rest of us and the attitude will change quickly!!

So what do YOU propose?? ,,stick our head in the sand? no one is going to agree on everything in the plan,people always want to find fault with everthing that is attempted lets just sit there and do nothing see where THAT action gets us

Texas is doing well? Doesn’t surprise me at all since our POTUS of the last 8 years comes from there. Why wouldn’t Texas being doing well? Just some sarcastic humour, but truth also.

Many, many businesses in Connecticut have cut back working hours and where I work people have volunteered to take an extra day off to ride this out. Just keeping our health benefits means alot. Life is what it is and we do what is necessary to sustain.

On the matter of the bail-out that occurred I am very angry about. Why does this country have to bail anyone out? Banking Institutions made their own messes and KNEW what they were doing when they made the messes. I also believe that the Feds. need to start regulating the banks again. Banks are out of control and the interest fee’s for their services I liken to legalized loan sharking. They also are not very generous with higher interest rates on CD’s and savings accounts to encourage people to save. If they can charge a customer from 10 to 29% for a bank loan or credit card then they can give a person 8 to 10% return interest on a CD or savings account. When deregulation happened within the banking institutions it was giving them the ability to loan shark legally and they do. They needed no bail-out.

On the matter of Wall Street they needed no bail-out either. Let all the millionaires bail themselves out. They could have pooled their money and saved themselves, but instead they were given a gift, just like the banks, to do whatever they wanted with the money they were given. Who bails out the average American? Nobody. When the 1st part of the bail-out money went to the banks I started getting calls and e-mails from people to refinance my house with Federal programs like Fannie Mae and others. I could not believe how easy loan writers were making it all over again. Were these people offering the same to people in foreclosure I wonder? I doubt it.

For now I just want to keep my job. I am 59 and need my health benefits. To the person in Texas that says Texas is doing ok I can only say that that need to get out and look at the rest of Texas because this country is NOT doing well at all.
Have a great day!!

Does anybody realize who does most of the road, bridge and home construction? A significant portion of this labor is illegals. Therefore a good portion of this part of the stimulus will head south of the border with money being sent back home. Is a laid off office worker going to find a job in the construction boom ahead? There needs to be much better controls and specifics in this bill.
WAKE UP AMERICA AND GET INFORMED

My husband is a temporary employee. The company can’t afford to pay him full time…hiring freeze. I am a full time employee for now. There is a chance I might be outsourced this year. What is our government doing to stop our jobs from going overseas…to India, etc.? I think … increasing the FSA limit would help most people out. Right now, the FSA for Dependent Care is at a limit of $5K per couple. One kid for a year…could easily be $9K at today’s child care prices. If you have more kids, it’s cheaper to stay home and not work.

I have noticed that the TAX EXEMPT Churches are doing NOTHING!

They own multi mega dollar buildings all TAX FREE!

They provide NOTHING to the local community except CHEAP LIP SERVICE

In my town we are LOADED with GOOD for NOTHING churches…..

Sucking down TAX EXEMPT dollars with MEGA multimillion dollar buildings locked up tighter than a DRUM.

No food banks NOTHING but the most WORTHLESS words ever spoken by so called ‘ Christians’

We’re going to PRAY for you Brother/sister’

That’s ALL you hear from the good for NOTHING church! just worthless WORDS

FAITH without WORKS is DEAD!

You get the ‘Faith’ part because it does not COST anything …… but when it comes to the WORKS part watch them RUN like jack rabbits!

People have told me that they we’re members of Churches for YEARS

They Paid their Tithes and helped out when needed….

They are finding out that now they need HELP….The ‘Pastor’ & his wife push them out the door of the ‘church’ like a TURD! into the COLD!

I tell them the BEST church is the HOME church house to house…… where Two or three are gathered together in MY name ……..

My husband and I both are still employed, thank goodness. However, we worry daily about what could happen. Neither of us are in very high paying jobs but we are, for the most part, debt free. That being said, we are still being very careful with our spending. One of the things we are trying to do is not buy anything, unless it is absolutely necessary, that has not been made in the USA. Of course buying only American made items severely limits what you can buy, which makes one think that it is definitely our own fault that we have lost so many jobs and companies. If we all would stop and think about where we spend our money and who ultimately gets the money wouldn’t our country be better off. It sure beats depending on the Government to “bail” you out.

While I feel sorry for those who have lost their jobs, or have been affected by govt. cutback why didn’t your vote include an option for not being affected in any manner? There many people who are middle class who are managing quite nicely.

I own my own business got out of total debt years ago so I am a free man no longer a SERF.

I have cut back to no less than 80 % in my working.

I have plenty of work enough to hire 10 to 15 people but no way! way to risky….. with all of the TV & Telephone book lawyers hawking sue sue sue & SUE …… NO WAY!

In addition the Govt is now taking almost 60 % in taxes :

30 % federal tax 15 % in FICA 6 % state income taxes then another 8 % in other taxes such as FUTA SUTA use taxes,permitting taxes on on and on! MORE taxes

So find some other sucker to play the game I am DONE!

I agree. This is one awful mess. My work has slowed down and I along with my husband too will probably be out of work soon. I guess me and my spouse will lose our house now since we will no longer have jobs and now I feel like I am also being punished for going too work everyday and paying my mortage for years. Is this Justice??

Texas is doing well- to be honest, we are having difficulty understanding what the rest of you are talking about with regard to the terrible economy. Unemployment in my town, San Antonio is just a little over 5% – that’s 2% LESS than the rest of the nation. Hate to tell you all but our state gets it, no budget problems, housing market pretty good….and funny thing…it’s a RED state…go figure! Wake up America….it’s starts at the local level – the Federal government cannot “bail” us out. WE CAN. Get involved – know what your local officials are doing and hold them accountable. Watch “news” other than CNN or NBC. Read. Educate yourselves and be wary of politicians who keep blaming the RICH…..I highly doubt any of you have EVER been employed by a poor person. Think about it…the rich are not the bad guys in this – look instead to the politicians and “giddy” media as the root of this problem. Neither have much credibility with sensible Americans. They’re counting on you not to pay attention or to react just as you are to their hysterics…. so prove them wrong!

May God help our country.

And…welcome home, President Bush – we’re glad you’re back in Texas!

I work for a small Accounting firm. 2 empl and the owner. We the the financials and payroll for 100 clients whom own a small company, restaurant.
Everyday they call, and I hear how bad their business is doing. But instead of laying off their employees, owners dont collect a check, because they rather have their employees and Fed. taxes paid. My boss takes months without collecting a payment from them, because he know their financials essues, Some already losss their business and had to close down, and their are still more that are closing this year.

This ecomony is affecting everyone, specialy does that live pay by pay.

I have two twins and my husband are from a low class,but with class, my husband and I make about $63,040.00 a year, I dont have benefits, my husband pays $300.00 of insurance every 2wks, leaving a net pay of 930.00, he works for a larges apartment property worldwide, we pay 1280.00 for rent, plus $400.00 of utilities.

We have about a $100,000.00 debt of medical, and about 3000.00 of credit cards. That is getting harded for us to pay and fix our credit so we can provide our kids a stable home.

We need more that just a stimulus check.

We need permanent stable jobs that can provide good benefts, we need help for those small companies that is impossible to collect thier liabilities from clients, so they wont have to close and be able to pay their employees and their payroll taxes.

So is not just about helping the rich, get richer help the pour that dont have event 1000.00 in a savings account.

HELP….help our kids survive.

Let me get this straight, Republicans eagerly signed over billions to the very industry that was willing to put us in this situation and when it comes time to bail the American people out they find the measures to be over the top? Hmmmm the way I see it, I’m in this position because of them. That is not to say that I’m pro-Democrat but it appears that the Grand Ol’ Party is extremely invested in perpetuating class divisions among the citizens of this country.

I am a single mother, I don’t get child support, and I’m in school getting my masters degree. My son doesn’t have healthcare because my job with the university pays me just over $100 more then the allowed monthly income to receive state benefits. So my salary is used to pay rent utilities and childcare with roughly $250 left to spend on groceries, gas and any other expense that pops up. I’m a law abiding citizen and generally a good person, it bothers me to endless measures that my (and my son’s)life circumstances have been greatly influenced by the selfish motivations of big business and the misdirection of a idiot with glazed eyes and a low vocabulary capacity.

Hello, I am posting because I come to work everyday afraid that I will not have a job when I come home. I work for one of the financial giants who have been bailed out by the government and it seems that they are making decisions way to quickly and without thinking how it will affect the people who break their backs to get the job done.

My husband and I were affected by the economy early last year. He was laid off and then went on to find really whatever was available because of course as everyone knows just because you don’t have a job doesn’t mean the bills stop coming. Although his weekly unemployment check of 275 was something it was definitely not what we were use to. So we came up with ways to make it work. Now that he has a steady job, still at a lower rate than he is accustomed to we have stuck with the changes we made when he was not employed. Thinking that because we are renters we were safe from the mortgage crisis we didn’t have to stress about that. However, we were wrong. In November we were served papers advising us that our owners had not paid the mortgage since July and were now in foreclosure. So the poor economy is affecting us in several areas.

I hope that with the new administration we are able to turn things around and get things going. My only comment to the new administration is that instead of giving corporations tax cut for sending American jobs overseas or giving them tons of money to bailout companies who have obviously mismanaged at some point in the game is that we should have significant stimulus to the American people because at this point most people have bills to pay and any stimulus check we get will go to that first and not back into the economy.

But at some point we have to think that we could see this coming. If you keep sending jobs overseas and we get away from being able to manufacture items and increase our GDP what did you think would happen. Your customer is definitely not going to be the thousands of Americans who have no job so how do you ever expect to recover.

iwould like to know why we keep giving money to banks that will not lend money to people who are laid off or make substantially less money then they did a year ago.The stimulus package does nothing for people who need money now,to help them keep their homes and put food on the table.Stop giving to those who have and help the ones that really need it.I see nothing to help the individuals who really need the help.All i saw was ways to impact us down the road after we have already lost our homes and jobs.I only work every other week because business is very slow and my husband is retired and gets only a meager amount from social security.We are barely holding on.The people need help now not later.What about people who are retired,how is a tax cut going to help them?It’s an insult to give us a $500 tax cut,that is just a drop in the bucket to people who are in the midst of losing everything they have worked long and hard for.

The recession is really hurting my family in many ways. I still have my job but when it doesn’t pay more than unemployment pays its sad. We had to get credit cards just so we could get groceries. I have to be able to feed my wife and son. Now we are struggling to keep paying our mortgage on time and we would like to be able to refinance but they wont let us because they say our credit score is to low and its at 710 I thought that was the average. I also thought the banks were suppose to start helping individuals out with the bail out money but they are just hording it. Its all just a big joke!

I want to know answers! I mean why don’t the American tax payers not have a say in what is done with our money. Why do we just have to rely on people who make 300 to 400,000 a year and will really never have to work in their lives again? This doesn’t affect them nor their families. Obama and the Dems. just want to repay those individuals who helped pave the road for them to White House. They don’t give two thoughts about what the American people really want or need! I smell a civil war splitting our country apart again! I mean look at it now are we still really the land of the free? I don’t think so, does anyone else? I guess all great empires have to come to and end, I guess its just apart history.

Why can’t the government see that the best way to spend the money is to give it to the people. Take the $850 billion and divide it between all the hardworking taxpayers and we would in turn buy cars, houses and pay off the credit cards (that are like loan sharks) and it would stimulate the economy much faster than just giving the money to all the corporations that are misusing OUR money. GIVE IT BACK TO US!! We could stimulate jobs this way because all of the people related to the housing and auto industry would be working again. ALL GOVERNMENT SEEMS TO BE LOOKING OUT FOR THE BIG CORPORATIONS, NOT THE EVERY DAY HARDWORKING AMERICANS THAT MAKE THIS COUNTRY!!

I think that we give enough money to the people that receive food stamps. If we keep giving people money, then they will never get a job. Also, what is $1,000 going to do for families per year. We need to keep bailing out those big businesses that make tons of money and they can’t manage it. Who would bail me out if I could not make my house payment to Bank of America? Maybe the stimulus plan. All I can say is the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

Instead of bailing out banks, investment firms, auto companies by spending billions. wouldn’t it be wiser to just give every U.S citizen over the age of 18 one million dollars.It would cost the government less. it would also promote spending and investing.Why hasn’t anyone in Washington considered this option. Sure just keep giving to the greedy that got us into this mess in the first place

This mess that our country is in is awful. My husband of 25 yrs lost his job with out any severance pay or 30 day notice after 11 yrs or service. Thank God we dont have any credit cards but we do have a auto loan and mortage payment with gas and water and electric and cable and car and house insurance. The price of FOOD is out of sight a loaf of wheat bread is $3.00 its awful. How does the Republican think that $20 would not help speak for yourselfs it would help me. Please dont speculate what that extra money wont do. Its mine I work for it. Its been the toughest 25 yrs of our lives. We never ate out before this happended unless on Mothers Day not even a wedding anniversay would see us at out for dinner. This is unreal for the USA… My state has the largest unemployment in the entire country so whats the deal. Saddned by this mess the REPUBLICANS GOT US IN TO. So now its up to all of us to work harder to help Pres Barack Obama to get this package together to begin a NEW.

The economy is affecting my family and my live in many ways. My husband was laid off work in Feb 2008 and the place closed down after his 11 yrs of service. Keep in mind there was no severance pay or 30 day notice. I work and all the bills are on me. We dont have any credit cards but we have a mortage payment and auto loan. Plus monthly bills electric, gas, car insurane home insurance life insurance with cable bills and phone and the food is so costly I sometimes buy ground beef and prepare as many meals with one meat till we both get tired of it. I work 40-45 hrs a week just to keep up and I am not as young as I use to be I am 55 in pretty good health and I have a 90 yr old mother whom I pay a man to plow her driveway out and make sure she has what she needs as well. This is taking a toll on my husband for 25 yrs and he continues to pray that something gives in. Please pass the bill this will provide my family with appx $20 a week and boy let me tell you $20 means a lot to me more milk bread and gas so dont let this fool the wealthy or the Republicans $20 to a working poor woman is a lot so dont get this twisted fellows.

Two years ago this month, I lived and worked in Middletown, Rhode Island. Then I quit my job as a Software Engineer, moved to Germany, and began working as a technical translator.

At the time, it seemed crazy. Rhode Island was not in obviously bad economic shape at the time. I had no guarantee that I would be able to make a living in my new occupation. But I did it anyway. Now I have more work than I can handle. My income considerably is lower than it was when I was working as a Software Engineer, but I love translation and my home in Germany.

It doesn’t look hopeful for the US from my perspective here. Almost everything I see, read, or hear, including many of my fellow posters’ comments, tells me that my compatriots are going to have to hit rock bottom hard before before the attitude adjustments needed for recovery are adopted.

I’m sorry that the country has gotten itself into such a mess, but I’m not surprised. Whatever happens, it’s going to be an interesting, and hair-raising, ride. Buckle your seatbelts folks.

Why am I being punished for staying out of debt? – I should be rewarded. Give me some of the stimulus package, then I will buy a new car!

I am completely out of debt and have been for years. I was responsible for getting myself in this position. Yes – I too wanted that house,nice new flashy car etc – I did not fall for the trap. I knew years ago that this economic storm was coming. Its the derivative game that caused all of this and the information was out there for everybody to see so I dont feel sorry for people who made unwise decisions all because of their instant gradification needs.

Let me begin by urgently trying to get the facts across to the people as I see them…

If we do not allow our PRESIDENT OBAMA, to do what he needs to pertaining to these important issues, where will our children end up? There is not one american out there that cannot admit they themselves or even someone they know or are familiar with….has not in some way been affected by the lack of funds for EDUCATION….
Everyone is screaming about this that and the other….WHAT ABOUT STARTING WITH OUT LITTLE PEOPLE…This is my passion, and I along with many others are just fed up with our schools budget cuts and schools not being larger, trailers being added, teachers being under paid and our children suffering….

We need to cut the number of students from classes, and allow teachers to have more one-on-one with the students that require their attention. My daughter is a 4th grade Honor Roll student, and her dad and I enforce education and explain to her the importance of it all..

I am willing to do whatever it takes….Because it, STILL TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD.

*ALL OUR CHILDREN ARE A BLESSING FROM GOD….WE MUST TEACH THEM MORALS FROM THE START….OUR CHILDREN ARE ONLY ON LOAN….WE MUST TEACH THEM…STARTING AT HOME….EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS… AND WE MUST TEACH THEM TO ACHIEVE AND RESPECT ALL THE REST…BECAUSE THEY ARE THE FUTURE….AND YOU BETTER BELIEVE…HIGHER EXPECTATIONS THEY MUST REACH…AND ACHIEVE..

(c)Vivian Christine Powell

I am 56 years old, and while my husband and I still have our jobs, my company restructured our pay plan and my salary has been cut in half compared to last year. My husband also makes less than he did last year. We do not live extravagantly at all, and have had to subsidize our income with credit card money to continue to make house payments, utilities, etc. We will be lucky to hold on another 6 months. I too believe the bailout money should be given to the citizens. We will pay our mortage payments, pay off credit cards, buy cards when we need to, and all of this will stimulate the economy. I can see no other way to save us all.

What I don’t understand is how the government is going to help all the American’s in the U.S. Everyone losing there jobs, homes, not making ends meet. We were so struggling during the summer living of of about $60.00 a week because of my husbands job with a family of 7. Then they have a plan of sending money to us to help. Well when I did my taxes and found out I was getting an extra return because we had another baby. They are giving us $27.00. Are you kidding me. $27.00 what is that gonna do for the economy. What is that gonna do for me. Nothing. We are behind on losing our home and gonna live in our cars. We can’t even afford to live in a hotel room let alone groceries to put in the house. Groceries is still going up and I can’t buy anything. The other thing I try to get help from the State and they say we make to much money. Hmmmmm that’s crazy. We a family of 7 make to much money. I work part time and my hours got cut just like my husband’s got cut. Tell us government what are you going to do to make it better for us in the U.S.

My wife and I have cut drastically.She is on a fixed income,I work we are in late 50’s,and it’s only 2 of us.Our School and Property taxes have gone up evry year for the past three for us ,which make my mortgage climb.We are barely making it we dont have pay raises to accomadate the taxes.It is way out of contro; , we have our own water ,sewer,tanks,and no snow services because they say the road is private and BEST of all no children and school taxes are killing us.TAX TAX TAX !We think this will be our last year in the house ,we cant afford ANOTHER INCREASE which they say is coming again…
WHY WE have no children using the system we provide our own property needs there has to be changes its not fair for the older people to keep paying out we dont have incomes .
We live on soups,eggs,MILK IS now a luxory drink for us….We make one trip a wk.to shop ,pay bills and back home cant afford much elese.
Ya know its funny the public sees story where some of the so called upper class is loosing jobs and are schocked at how they have to downsize NOW.WELL WAKE UP WHAT DO THESE PEOPLE OTHER HUMANS WITH MUCH LESS HAVE BEEN LIVING?
THIS HAS TO CHANGE WE SEE THIS COUNTRY TURNING INTO A WAR BETWEEN THE RICH AND POOR IN THIS COUNTRY..
ONE RICH MAN ..MADOFF WOW HES OUT ON BAIL STILL HIDING HIS STOLEN MONEY
WHY HASNT ANYTHING BEEN TAKEN FROM HIM WHY ISNT HE PAYING BACK WHY ISNT HE IN JAIL C’MON IF IT WAS THE LITTLE GUY HE WOULD BE IN JAIL
ITS ALL GETTING TO BE TOO MUCH WITH TOO LITTLE

I applaud President O’Bama for his tenacity along with his compassion and loyalty to the American people. I believe, except for any foreseen problems along the way, that History will end up looking at O’Bama’s legacy as the best thing this country ever had such as the likes of Presidents John F. Kennedy, President Carter and Ronald Reagan. I do believe that President O’Bama genuinely loves our country. He’s not favoring the Muslim cause or aligning himself with any other religion. Lou Dobbs, I watch your broadcast on CNN and I’m trying to find the radio channel you’re on. I am like you, Lou, an Independent. I love your segment and I make sure to watch it or listen to it on the radio 24/7, if it were possible. Go CNN. God Bless America.
Paul Marsden alias “American Joe”

My name is Susan,
I think the Goverment should know our names.They would think more if the cuts they are putting on us that are disabled.They are rich and never ever had to live on what I get from SSI 208 and 719 from my social security.I live in CAlifornia and they are trying to take the 208 and give us an IOU.
I always worked my whole life and when I see them giving to the rich, Banks and all their cronies and raking from the poor it makes me more ill. They have all ready taken 349 state income tax for the elderly and disabled. I think that is enough….

Hi ,
Our country is already is Debt, and what I See hurting is the Small buisinesses. I See Alot of them going out of buisiness. I See people Standing at Wal Mart holding signs that say Help Me. It makes me sad .If there were tax cuts for the Small buisinesses that do create Alot of the jobs in our nation, would help them to keep others WITH jobs, would help. Do you think spending more money is the answer? I dont know, but i do know there are alot of people hurting. People with house payments, cars, etc. About to lose them. America is hurting.
Wonders… about the nurses statement … they at least give you 3 meals in prison… which i am affraid .. in time to pass… is more than you may get in the free world.
Unfortunately.
Agrees that the Amount of the bill is just an Ungodly amount.

My husband is a truck driver for a huge corporation. His job has gone from working 5 days a week to 2-3 days a week. We have 2 little girls and I am disabled and can not work. We now have to move to a small cheap apartment just to have a place to live. We don’t have any debt thank god, and our cars are both paid off. I just pray every night for things to get better for this country. We are thankful that my husband is still working some and that we have a roof over our heads and food to eat but if things keep going the way they are we won’t.

My husband and I have been blessed that we have not yet lost our jobs in this major economic slump. But many people in our community are struggling. I believe the government should let failing companies fail, survivors survive, and then regroup. Flooding big companies with more money isn’t going to help the economy. I think the root of our problem is the USA imports everything, we export hardly anything! Seventh grade economics would tell you that we should be a poor country! Almost everyone holds a job in a service field (eg. teacher, nurse, accountant, cashier, etc.), I know I cant think of anyone who actually produces anything. If taxes on imports would be put back in place, it would be cheaper for companies to have factories here and pay US citizens to make thier product, instead of starting companies overseas. The problem should be addressed from the bottom up, not from the top trinkling down.

I knew this recession was coming two years back, but when I’d tell people I was worried about our economy, they acted as if I were crazy.

I THINK I am okay financially. My job at this time is secure, and my house is paid for. Never-the-less, I am one who likes to be prepared so I have begun to plant fruit trees, vegetables, and am looking into raising rabbits. Sound crazy? Well maybe, but then again, if it really gets rough I can feed myself, and my neighbors.

Even though I have savings, I have cut my costs by not having cable, and I only own one car. I have the minimum service on my phone (no call waiting or caller ID). I also don’t own a cell phone. I read the newspaper on-line and hang my clothes out on a clothes line. I eat out occasionally, maybe once per month and I haven’t been to the movies in years. Most people wouldn’t live like I do, but I think this is what it will take for many people to make ends meet and even then, it may not be enough. If you don’t have a job, you can’t make money out of nothing or pay your bills, right?

I wish everyone the best in these extremely rough times.

So how long does everyone plan to re-elect these idiots down in DC – it is time for people to do their homework before casting their ballots. Vote all incumbents senators and congressman out of office and you will see one huge improvement in job preformance. Chris Dodd should be the first to go!

Why aren’t you reporting the real Obama stimulus package? You know, the one with billions going to ACORN, money for the arts, money to redesign the National mall? How come you make this guy out to be a star when in fact, he might be the worse thing that has ever happened to America?

I am a banker who works for one of the largest banks in the country -a bank that incidentally has accepted one of the largest bailout amounts and is still asking for more money to cover losses from the other failed institutions they have purchased this year. Yet all this bailout money did nothing to help me- I have lost my job due to massive layoffs. But the fat cat Executives are still employed and drawing obscene salaries; yes, the same Executives who made poor credit decisions in the first place and directly contributed to our current economic meltdown. This is my 3rd layoff in a row in the banking industry. It turns my stomach to see these institutions receive bailout money to keep their Executives employed while us ordinary worker bees fight and claw our way for $40,000 a year jobs. With so many layoffs and so few jobs left in the financial industry, we are at the employers’ mercy. They offer us lousy severance packages and then all but force us to take a $12 an hour replacement job and act like we should be grateful to have it. I am an educated professional with over 15 years in my field and all I am worth is a $28,000 a year call center job. It is incomprehensible.

We should not succumb to “economic crisis we need action now” that will take years if it works.
Propose a 3% mortgage rate for all homeowners that qualify through FHA Fannie and Freddie.

A $2000 mortgage payment at 6% would now be $1000 mortgage payment at 3% for 30 years NO ONE would default on that rate.

Use the “stimulus package” to buy the mortgage backed assets from FHA Fannie and Freddie. The government would earn 3% on the money from the stimulus. Homeowners both new and current would, as in the example, have much more money to spend and get the economy going again. Real estate values would stop their decline and houses would be bought. This activity would employ many in the construction, housing and finance industry as well as the auto industry as homeowners could afford that new auto. The ripple of economic growth would start in 90 days. Ceasing the induced rate reduction is simple; the rates could rise every 2 years such as 3.5% then 4% then 4.5 percent then let the market take effect to end the induced rate reduction.

It’s easy, don’t spend more than you make. This is what my mama always told me. My husband is a policeman and I am a teacher and we have put 2 kids through college (one a Christian school) without ANY debt. You just have to decide what is most important to you, stuff, or things that will last. The government is the problem, not the solution, if the government would butt-out the price of college would come down, for everyone, not just a lucky few.

I hope to show people there is hope. We Americans will make it. I’m an Army Brat and a single Mother of two teenagers with special needs. I have Army friends from all backgrounds. I’ve travelled the world as a kid. I was a young mother, but I’m very proud of the fact that God gave me two wonderful kids. I drive 3 mountains to get to work (one-way). It takes me an hour to get there. I earn just a little above minimum wage. My job cut back in November and December and I had to work another job at a ski resort, an hour away, as well. That job paid even less. In the past, I had vollunteered with ACS (Army Community Services). There are places in your community to help. I live in a very rural area. In fact, I live on a mountain. (I’ve travelled all 5 mountains to work this winter.) When you contact your local Health and Human Services, you can get a little assistance. Plus there’s always a food bank once a month. My children never go hungry and are always wearing clean clothes that fit. We had to go without a phone and tv for a while, but the children stayed with family for safety reasons, before and after school, while I worked. I have to get up at 4:30am every morning for work. This is even before the economy was in the shape it’s in. My family knows the true meaning of the word “family” and we feel like the Waltons all over again. Fellow Americans, we will make it through. Put the value back in the families and relax a bit. Be thankful for your health. Good credit/bad credit…there’s always a cheap housing program that can help. At this point, take any job you can get and get past greed. You will learn alot and still prosper. My kids have everything they ever need. And believe it or not, we’re thankful. My children have made alot of progress, and have even exceeded doctors expectations, while my sacrifices have actually been gifts to them. Another thing, we don’t have to worry about violence in the country. Breathe and, in time, the economy will do better. It’s time to live simple and cheap, while appreciating time with your families. Everything else will fall into place.

I am sorry so many workers have been blind sided by this ecomomic fiasco.
I thank God my wife and I are still employed. If one of us lost their job, we would still be ok. How?
Early in 2002, I saw the handwriting on the wall, living through the first George Bush administration and convinced my wife we needed to be out of debt as soon as possible (I remembered the Neal Bush bailout by daddy. After paying off debt we starting using and saving cash, cash, cash. We have bought 3 houses (2 rentals) and are looking at 2 condos in
S.Padre Island. I love when the GOP are in office, everything tanks and opportunities exist everywhere. They will make Warren Buffet the first Trillionaire. Party on Repubs!

ITS REALLY SAD FOR EVERYONE THAT IS POOR AND HAS HIGH MED BILLS LIKE THE SENOIR CITIZENS AND CANT GO TO THE DRS the price of food people are going to starve its redickulious ly high prices and the keep going up every time i go to the store plus utilities keep going up and you can never get ahead! credit card pecentage rates keep going up plus rent all way out of sight its sad the rich get richer and poor go to poverty and middle class gose to poor sad but true

Hi, on behalf of “Rob The Builder” (Not Joe the plumber) We are hitting an all time low due the economy!! Due to the trickaling affect that so many people lost there jobs, they can’t afford to do ANY work around there homes… We are feeling it the most!!From bounced checks to “Oh I’m sorry but we can’t complete the job because I just got laid off!!” It would be great if we can go collect unemployment but guess what WE CAN”T!! If any one needs a bail out it would be for folks like “Rob The Builder and Joe the Pumber” but at least Joe The Plumber got; I’m sure, plenty of work thanks to McCain! In the mean time we have to say to our 4 children “Sorry But We Can’t afford anything for your birthday and christmas was, well I cry just thinking about it! and well yes we can’t even put you thru college” Thanks Bush for making America the “ugly”.. In the mean time we will have to ask our retired parents for help on our morgage, or maybe they can make room for us! Yeah the affect is unsurmountably painful, that at times I feel like I’m going to have a stroke!! And then what?????

You know I have read all of the comments on here and I can relate with alot of them. I am a single 28 yr old mother of an 3rd grader. I was laid-off for the winter season for the first time in 4 years. I am still out there looking for a job. I am glad I have family that does help me.
I did however recieve an e-mail the other day that explained how the government can help get the economy back on its feet. Why not give every LEGAL tax payer $450,000.00 and tax that. It leaves each person with about $300,000.00… the government gets their money by taxing us, people will then have the money to buy a car=dealerships back and running, mortgage is able to be paid=banks out of debit, and credit cards paid off= credit card fincials are back. This would solve all the problems and wouldnt cost as much and the rest needs to go to the schools…not rebuilding government offices. there are to many schools that need funding so that they can afford to keep the teachers and books that are needed…not these governments that are already sitting high and mighty just so they can have more.

This bailout plan, just like the first one is total garbage. The government thieves need to be stopped from taking our money and wasting it on pork spending that helps no one. How about forgetting the bailouts that do nothing, and quit taxing the crap out of us so that we can keep the money that we have worked so hard for. Let the American people decide how to spend our money.

I was born at the end of WW2. I learned from my parents how to handle my finances. I learned I did not need every little thing that “we must have to keep up with….” Our standard of living has not changed much as we have no outstanding debt: a mortgage, a car payment and two credit cards paid every 30 days. We are middle class but do out and operage our own business.

The media and politicians have created panic. People have been sold on the necessity to live above their means. It is truely sad.

I did read more than 40 of the prior posts on this page.

For those who got their financial act together, well done. My wife and I have been consumer debt free since 1987, always pay cash for our used cars, shop grocery sales weekly, haven’t paid any bank fees in years, and have been happy renters in Miami, Florida area since 2003.

Folks, you have to learn the difference between a good deal and a sucker’s bet. Real estate in middle class Miami areas was already too high in 2003 when we moved here. The simple tipoff was that renting a house cost less than 2/3rds the monthly outlays to try and buy it — and we have pristine credit so the teaser mortgage rate is what we’d have paid. [You buy the house when the relationship is the reverse -- and then ONLY if your employment situation means you'll likely not move for at least 7 to 10 years.]

For those of you with retirement plans: you’re having a harsh learning lesson. Putting your future in someone else’s hands just doesn’t work. If you’re invested in any kind of assets, YOU have to be the manager and decision maker. You have to decide what to buy and when; then when to sell and what to accept when you get out. It doesn’t matter whether you’re putting your savings into rent houses, mortgages, stocks, bonds, buildings, mutual funds, small businesses, or government debt — YOU have to be the manager and make the hard decisions.

Why is that? It’s pretty simple really — people with small money [and that's under 10 million these days] simply can not afford to hire a manager who is actually any good — the manager has to get paid so much for his skills and to keep the costs within your budget means the manager [like a mutual fund] has to have so many clients and such huge amounts under management that he literally can’t deliver the results you want — that much money can’t move fast enough when opportunity knocks, or when trouble looms.

We’re retired now. No, things aren’t perfect. Yes, there really is inflation in the necessities of life. Yes, we’re ok. We weren’t savaged in the crash of 2008 because I’m the manager of our funds and I went to cash last March and stayed there.

For those of you who suspect the government has no clue and is flailing around in circles — my suggestion is that Congress has no clue and is trying to buy votes again. Do the Treasury and Federal Reserve have a clue? Yes, I think so. I also think they’re frantically trying to prevent an almost unbelievable collapse — not quite on the order of the Great Depression, and plenty severe enough for an urban people who literally can’t move back to the farm.

How many of you literally grow any significant portion of your own food? My family did when I was a kid. It made a difference that I’ve remembered, and acted on, all my life.

Were are the jobs for ex felons. It is going on 7 yr’s. I paid my debt to society. I had a job that paid $15.00 an hour 2 yr’s ago I was working as a construction secretary. I was laid off due to lack of work. It took me a month to find employment at that time. I took a job in the same field for less pay $12.00 last year, I have been laid off again. I has been 6 months now. I have been looking for work as an Admin Asst. I have 5 yr’s experence in this field, the problem this time is there are very few jobs to apply for and when you do 100 0r more people are applying for the same job. What does one do to find at least a 10.00 an hour job now days. Where are all the jobs at??? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

My husband and I are self employed. Everyday our income goes down and our expenses go up. It makes me sick to see what our politians are doing with our tax money. I don’t think govenment cares about the average American worker. I think we would be better off with more tax counts for the American worker -then we would have more money to spend. Instead of giving money to the very people that created the problem give it to the American worker..

No health coverage, no dental coverage. Do not qualify for bank lending on any level so buying on contract and forced to pay *her* taxes etc or we’re out of a place to live even though in 3 years we’ve not been 1 day late. Was homeful in this economic stimulus for ‘minority’ businesses but that isn’t likely either. The job creation looks to be great for those with engineering and tech degrees. Not for the rest of us.

We’ve managed to hang on to this place but it’s not the long term plan; and am wondering if there’s really any point when they’re talking billions and banks looking at defaulting but trying to get any land at all for farm related things is impossible without banks or being independently wealthy with $40-50k to put down. There’s people with more than that in credit card debt – thankfully I don’t qualify for those either so work on a cash basis.

Sister in TX is unemployed looking for a job.

There’s only so much belt tightening one can do but at this point the biggest thing choked off is the thought of ever getting a farm even on a small basis.

This is my 2nd or 3rd run with a serious recession. Fortunately this time I’m not trying to raise kids or go to school. I still have my job, knock on wood, am saving more money than I ever have, and have about 12 more years til “retirement”, whatever that is. It could all end tomorrow though.

If anyone cares, as my family’s main bread-winner, I became unemployed in August 2008; a homeowner in SW Florida (the highest foreclosures community in the nation in 2008) and I own more than my house is worth since the houses here are now worth 40% of what they were 13 months ago; so drawing unemployment benefits of $225/week after bringing home $1,250/week has hit us very hard. We have no credit cards. I have been searching for work in medical management for 7 months without sucsess at the age of 50. We cut our family expenses to the bone and have been living off my inheritance and savings until now, defaulting for the first time on our house payments and auto loans. Without work and money we will soon being living on the street, my two daughters 13&6 and my wife. You think you have it bad? How will help come, for my family, if not sooner iy will be too late. I agree with a previous comment, direct cash in family hands and we will spend it throught the economy and the economy (demand drives supply) will take off on its own!

The recession, the bail out, do the people that run the country know what they are doing? They give the banks money and yet they are still wasting it and wanting more I see. The auto industry now wants their hand in the pot also. Now word is going around that small busniness wants in on it also. There are just some simple things the government should do first. 1. Stop just giving the banks money and take them all over now.
2. Don’t even bother giving the auto industry any money and the same for small business.
Why don’t give the money to these you may ask? They give the money to the banks who in turn line the pockets of their higher ups with no questions asked. The auto indusrty sees this and they say , hey what about me, and then the small business goes the same. Well stop right there. The government should give the money to the people of this country who worked hard all these years to this day. Give the average family say $75,000 to spend on bills and credit cards and home loans. That takes care of the banks need for money. On average a family needs reliable transportation to get to and from work or school. Well this takes care of the auto industry needs for bail out money. Then let the average family use the rest of the money on clothing, food, health care products and what else they need to survive. This will take care of the small business now. The only stipulation is that come tax time next year that family has to turn a report in showing the use of the money for the good. If all is done the right way they would not have to pay any tax on it. But, if they spend the money for gambling, vacations, partys or just out right wsate the money then they would have to pay it all back along with any interest that would be imposed on it. This is the simplist way to help the individual and family along with helping the economy at the same time.

Obama’s stimulous package does nothing for people like me: Not low-income, not middle-of-the-road either, just somewhere in the middle. I really do not see how an additional $19 per paycheck is going to help me, and he is a fool if he thinks it will do any good. Sorry Obama, this just proves that you are out of touch with those that got you elected, as the McCain supporters always claimed you were. You want a real stimulous? No taxes for 1 full year. Everyone get a FULL refund of their tax dollars, since they are just being poured down the governmental drain anyway. All he is doing is supporting those that have ALWAYS refused to help themselves: increasing food stamp benefits, who pays for that? Me! the guy who makes just under $30,000 a year, and cannot even afford a 1 bedroom apartment in the State of California? Meanwhile, there isn’t a single person in this country that NEEDS welfare and food stamps, only those that are too lazy to help themselves, and are too lazy to work.

The recession has hit me hard. I am an ex felon, it is going on 7 yr’s now I am unemployed and have been for 6 months the unemployment pays my bills but thats it not my rent,groceries and gas I can hardly afford. I am trying to save my credit. I am glad that I didnt own a home at this time and I am sure that there are alot of other people that are having it alot worse than I am. It is a hard and unsure time but we will get thru this. Remember if it doesnt kill you it only makes us stronger !!!!

This “stimulus” sounds like the mother of all earmarks. What’s McCain’s thoughts”

Uncle Milty

Hi and good evening! My husband is active duty Air Force; he will be heading out for a second tour of duty in Iraq later this year or early next.
As I read the posts, I am struck by the pain the house crisis is causing so many, and I am trully sorry. Not all individuals borrow irresponsibly; no one can predict a layoff, a loved one falling sick, or the erosion of home values and equity.
From my perspective, the economic crisis has a significant impact on military members, infliciting even more stress and monetary pain during a time of war. (As I sit in the comfort of my home typing this, my thoughts go out to my husband’s co-workers recently deployed.)
When military families are ordered to relocate, no is not an option. I see more and more families, ours included, not able to sell their home, purchased 3-5 years ago. Some families choose to live apart for months at a time, hoping their house will sell. Others become unwilling landlords and pray for good renters. Foreclosure, deliquency, late payments are not options, because of the detrimental effects on one’s career.
Also, more and more members are opting to stay in, choosing more duties in Iraq then the uncertainty of the civilian sector. I personally am thanful for the job security and health benefits the military provides.
But sometimes, the worries, the stress, the unkowns just become too much.
What I have learned is to be thankful for the little things, life’s simple pleasures. I have learned the value of living debt free, and I am working diligently towards that goal.
I have learned not to judge others so harshly and to be compassionate and be a better neighbor. If history teaches us one lesson, it’s this: times could definitely be worse (no soup lines yet) and times will certainly get better. Until that time comes, I will continue to support our troops, hope for a buyer/renter, cut back, and find a little something to be grateful for every day. Hang in there!

I’m a single male working at Marriott as a Sushi Cook/Line Cook. The economy has affected me on a few levels. First off, I’m very thankful to still have my job to this day. I know many Americans are losing jobs everyday, so I’m glad to still be able to pay my bills on time and not worry terribly about money. I work pretty much just to pay my bills. every month, I practically break even. I cut back on all my unnecessary spending and only the essentials. I had a Korean girlfriend that was in a work visa program with Marriott. Things were going good and she had planned to come back in December to renew her work visa. Due to the economy, she got denied. Now, the love of my life is halfway across the globe and I never know when I will see her again. I’m just fortunate that my situation isn’t worse, although it could be a lot better. God Bless everyone out there without jobs trying to support their families.

I was one of the 355,000 people who lost their job in November 2008. I was the General Manager at the Los Angeles branch of a national print and online recruitment media organization. All southern california offices where consolidated in to one office in Rancho Cucamonga to save money.
My husband after having three heart attacks in late 2006 and early 2007 has been on disability. I am the only bread winner in the family. My second appointment with a bankruptcy attorney is tommorrow. I am fifty-one years old, and while I believe I would be one of the greatest employees a company could hire and the references to back it up. It has been a struggle even to find a job to apply for. I have been struggling with depression and trying to dig deep to stay positive and optomistic. Good Luck to all you out there, I hope you find a job soon. dd

My husband andI work at an automobile industry. Well, I did, untill I got layed off after being there for 5 and half years. Luckily, my husband is still there. It is really tuff. We have 3 kids and 1 on the way. I am in school now but we are struggling. I am dependent on TRA for school and I can’t get a pell. Missed it by just a hair on income verification amount. I hope things get better by July. That is when the baby will be here. I am worried about feeding the kids and paying our bills. We had just built a house 1 year ago and I am regretting now after this recession took place. Worried we can’t pay for our home. I am tired of worrying about life in general.

I think that Mr. Obama needs to stimulate the working American people by sending each one $100,000.00, to heck with bailing out the millionaires and billionaires of this country. None of them are held accountable for any money the feds actually give them. You want Americans to spend? Give Americans the money TO spend!! The other thing this federal government of ours needs to do is stop DEregulating everything and the FIRST thing Mr. Obama should have done was put the brakes on ALL financial institutions. Financial institutions NEVER should have been DEregulated. Regulate them all again, regulate the power companies also, and the phone service companies. Banking institutions are so out of hand it’s ridiculous. It effects every human being. Whatever happened to the good interest rates for CD’s and savings accounts? Deregulation killed them. Deregulation allowed banking fee’s to spiral out of control in every aspect. So, thats how it effects me! The rich get richer and the middle class pays for it all the time. One other thing, how is it a person that is an alcoholic/drug addict qualify for SS Disability ? When is this country going to stop enabling these drunks and drug addicts with a monthly check at very young ages? SS disability was not meant for drunks and drug addicts and if your going to give them checks then you need to give every smoker a check too because this country ADVERTISES that people that smoke are addicted to nicotine!!! I see a can of big worms getting opened up.

I have a small cleaning buisness and have lost 4 accounts total $5000.00 a month

Once upon a time a hundred dollars didn’t seem much to pay for a bill due, now I struggle and juggle who will get paid. I own seven properties, built on three of them, can’t sell one without losing my shirt and now when I am willing to lose the money nobody is buying. I had five employees had to lay off each one right around the holidays. I still lose sleep over it. I had a showroom in Campbell California, had to close that in Oct 08. I have a company that I invented a full face goggle, the mold maker made it wrong and won’t admit it. people want the mask but I can’t afford to have another mold made. I asked three attorney’s to take the case they wrote back that would not be enough money in for them. I have eight people and small companies that owe me enough to go forward but they can’t pay me back. I am selling on craigs lists anything that I own of value Art, car, motorcycle, furniture and everyone is trying to steal it away and it is getting to the point I just might take it. My banks that i have done business with for fourteen years are not helping me with my mortgages, they are threatening to close on my loans. The credit lines that i paid back over and over again have been stopped or lowered to exactly what my balance is. I wake up each day counting how many days till the first of each month trying to figure a way to make money so I can pay my bills. Everyday I meet someone else and we talk about the situation our country is in, we always coup with solutions. First let me say that if our parties forget who they are and remember that they are all Americans and pull together pass legislative laws instead of worrying about if they will make the other party look good then we might get somewhere. The day I will always remember was the day all of congress stood on the steps of congress held hands sang God Bless America together promising to bring our nation together after Sept 11th. Shame on you congress we are the people who put you there, where is our voice, we are the people who get up everyday and work for a living, we are the back bone of America, with small business owners taking the chance to become something we would have nothing. Help the companies who are already struggling to make ends meet. every time one person gets laid off, it is another house ready to foreclosed, shame on the banks, interest rates are 0 to.05 they are keeping the money and at the same time laying the people that work them off. Mr president stop it all if these companies that are this large need financial help make them give loans and keep loans that are already there. when a payment is missed they come down hard and add more penalties, I f person is really trying don’t throw him a anchor while he or she is trying to swim. I am an American, A Vietnam Veteran, a Business man, an employer and most of all a family man. My Name is Ernest Pino, My email is ernestpino@yahoo.com
As for the rest of you who might read this good luck.

Its pretty bad ,we went to the store for a few things for supper it cost over thirty dollors to cook a simple meal for three . We have cut back on stocking the freezer,now maybe two or three things in it and thats including the ice tray,thats making sixty thousand a year at that ,it seams we just cant get ahead ,theres all ways something we have to pay,bills food gas for the car school lunch money for the kids,i could go on and on ,we americans need a break ,They need to get rid of the old farts thats running our country and go with something different. And the IRS needs to get off peoples back ,thats another storie they need to look into! ,people cant get ahead oweing the IRS ,its the poor people that the IRS goes after cause they cant lose what little they have .Theres people out there that only bring in two or three hundred dollors a week or less ,for reasons unknown,but its there and they struggle from month to month ,it takes alot to keep it going .If it wasnt for GOD and prayer i dont know what we would do.

As a depression era child, I grew up with a horror of debt, so worked my way through college, and no loan to repay. This has been my way of life, and will continue to be. I consider myself rich as I don’t owe any money.
If I can’t afford it, I don’t buy it.

Small business owners like myself are being hit the hardest. We cannot look for work elsewhere if we are to maintain our business and keep the doors open. We remain, being slowly killed on taxes, insurance, and license fees while our laid off employees can collect extended unemployment benefits.
I have had my business for over 20 years now and recently incorporated over two years ago. I consider our (construction/home improvement) business to be one of the finest, with first rate service, skills, and knowledge. We just aren’t getting the calls. These last few months are draining our cash reserves and I don’t know how much longer I can keep the doors open. My concern is: If many small businesses like mine fail, who will be left to service homeowners when they are in need? We are already losing skilled labor by the hundreds.
I feel less like a man every day. The worst part is, I can’t keep enough work to keep my son busy. He has been working with me for a year now. He learns fast and works hard. He works even harder to earn my respect because he knows I don’t pass out unearned compliments, and have a low tolerance for laziness. Many fathers dream of being able to work side by side with their son(s). Mine will be short lived.
I recently told him he doesn’t need to go down with the ship and should start looking for work elsewhere. He is still sticking with me. It warms my heart knowing he is devoted to me, but it tears me up knowing he is walking around with an empty wallet.
I have enough capital left to hold out for a few more months, OR, make one last business venture. Aside from a mega(property)damaging storm, I don’t see the construction industry recovering anytime soon. I’m going to take my shot, wish me luck, I’m going to need it.

I follow closely the series on how the economy affects people, and I have been meaning to write here for quite some time.
Firstly, I would like to express my frustration with this rubric and its presentation of “economic survival.” I am sorry, but the people in all the stories that I have read so far are doing much better than my family is doing. Nonetheless, they are complaining. This feels like a slap in my face and in that of my hard-working mother and sister.
Most of the people sharing their stories have no debt and own houses, cars, savings accounts, all kinds of fun vehicles and recreational equipment, have many kids, continue having kids, have weddings, and so on. My family consist of my nearly 60 yo mother, my 20 yo sister, and I (22). We own no houses, no vehicles, and no property whatsoever. My mother was laid-off almost 2 years ago and has had no income ever since. My sister and I are in college, and before I was laid off last September (starting my senior year), I spent 3 years working 5 jobs simultaneously and year round, while being a full-time student. Now I am unemployed, and the only income in my family is my sister’s $200 from a school job she got last month. We live only at school, and my mom stays at different family friends for some weeks.
My family moved to the U.S. from Europe about 6 yrs ago. My mother has a Masters degree recognized in the U.S., is fluent in 4 languages, and had computer/software/Internet proficiency but found no job to match her qualifications. Everywhere, high-level jobs receive only relatives to whoever is hiring. For everything else she was over-qualified. So she started working as a lab technician for $8.50 per hour. Because the company she worked for was small, ill-organized, and ultimately failed, her salary did not increase for the 4 years she worked for them. Only prices for rent and food and gas and everything did.
My sister and I went to college to get a degree and hopefully, jobs. I started working the 5 jobs listed to make an additional ~$600 per month and make ends meet. No single job provided enough support. My sister could not find a job until recently, but now I have none.
I am sorry, but I get really annoyed when someone with nothing but a high school diploma makes $40-50-65k, and when they ultimately lose this incredibly profitable for their educational level job, they complain that they cannot find anything comparable or goof enough to retire on. My mom has worked hard all her life and has no health insurance, nothing to retire on. She actually studied her bottom off for a Masters degree and some more, but is willing to take any job, in any field – comparable or not, new career or not, anything that makes at least minimum wage, even if part-time. I am graduating in a few months, and looks like I will be in the same situation – even after graduating from an Ivy League University. Do I hear someone complaining that they cannot take a vacation like last year? My family has never had a vacation, ever. Do I hear someone unhappy that they shopped clearance? How about you never shop at all, even for food? Do I hear that someone with no education or special skills has to swallow their pride and work at a fast-food place (which, surprisingly, requires no skills or education)? How about you swallow your pride, give me that job, and go digging in dumpsters? Oh, by the way, I am also planning a wedding – the wedding of my dreams – to the man of my dreams, whom I have actually found; only the wedding may be missing because my fiance and I are kind of trying to make sure that we all, my family and him, actually survive. Oh, another note: I may want to have a baby too, or a place to consummate my upcoming marriage for that matter; but I cannot really afford any of those, can I?
CNN, I would truly enjoy reading a story about people who are actually trying to survive for a chance. Or are people like my family and I not survivor-, but casualty stories? I am tired of listening to spoiled people (who never really deserved the high incomes they were making to begin with) complain that life got tough. They do not even know what “tough” means.
P.S.: However, if you ever put your life on the line for this country, my hat’s off to you. None of what’s written above applies.

I lost my job in the Fall of 2007. I am at the midpoint of my life. I have been unable to find employment in my field of information technology.

I had to give up my place in Maryland and move to Rhode Island with a relative. The biggest struggle seems to be trying to get my resume noticed. I have sent out over 400 resumes, with only about four responses. They say my skills aren’t current. I am surviving on emergency unemployment benefits and my retirement funds. I have learned that one should network every chance they get.

I am a 34 year old male who just recently got married to my wife who is 30. We lived comfortably until last year. I have a master’s degree in Biotechnology and my wife has a degree in Accounting. We both lost our jobs in the last 18 months and it is difficult financially and emotionally. With a master’s degree and 10 years experience, it is tough to find any job. Most jobs I am told I am overqualified for and companies are hesitant to hire someone for an entry level position because they just feel I will leave later for another job. This is the first time in either of our lives that we have had to rely on assistance or unemployment. I am willing to do anything and am confident I can, but I cannot even get the opportunity. The emotional struggle is the hardest. All either of us want is a chance to work hard.

Two years ago, my step-dads company tried to bring a union in to the company they worked at.

Needless to say, in the end, it failed and the Union was voted out. Shortly after wards, he was fired. Unable to collect unemployment, my Mother not working, he has since been without a job since August. The vehicle that he drives is in need of serious work, and they live to far out, with no public transportation.

A Loan they had took, had the insurance on it that if he became unemployed, the insurance would pick up the payments. I’ll tell yous all now,..WATCH those loans, for he was denied the very benefit he payed for and the loan is three months behind.

We know the reason he was fired, and yet, at every turn, he has been blocked from fighting the charge.

The talk almost daily is of a bailout, for this bank or that, for companies wanting a hand-out,..yet, there is nothing for the common man or woman.

Bush’s tax rebate didn’t work, because it was to little of a relief,..Obamas will not work, because it’ll be to late, and in the meantime, people like another poster, and my father, who can not draw unemployment, has a vehicle ready to be scrapped, can not get help.

And then I saw a post about a husband and wife that heaven forbid, he had to take a job making $10.00 an hour delievering pizza, and their mortgae was $440.00 a month for a 5 bedroom house, and the poor wife had to work, and poor daughter had to babysit to make money so she could buy a dress..

THAT story was a slap across the face to people that have no job, that are struggiling with Mortgages that are double compared to what that family pays.

My hands are tied, we are helping my Mother and Father as much as we can, yet, even I can only do so much, their heat is about to be shut off, their lights and sewer..

It took them a year to declare a recession..how long do you think it will be before they realize that we are sliding into a depression and it will not be 6 months from now?

Will it be when we have more then half of Americans living in the streets?
Will it be when more then half of Americans are unemployeed?
Or will it be when they run out of money to give these companies for a bail-out, yet forget the rest of us?

I have been a Real Estate Broker for thirty five years. Currently I have qualified buyers with excellent long term employment incomes and when they place offers on a home to live in; we receive no responce back on multiple offer attempts. I have never seen anything like this in my career. My wife is a retired Government employee who has lost 30% of her 401K funds and watched the cost of her government health insurance increase over 10% each year. We are glad the kids are completed with college and we have a good savings, because our investments have lost siginificant value.
We are against the bank bail out and not hopeful that the stimulus package for infrastructure will create the jobs needed in the 2009 job market to stabalize the economy in the long run.
I recall stories that my parents would talk about living through the Depression….Good Luck to all.

Its the Housing Market Stupid. 4.5% refinance rate up to 90% of value with a 650 credit score or better. for new home buters as well as existing home owners.

Presently I volunteer as an AmeriCorps member, my husband works at Publix Dist. (private grocery chain). As an AmeriCorps member, my stipend is not to be counted as income if I apply for food stamps, I have 4 kids ranging from 16 to 4 years old. My youngest son is 8 years old and has Chronic Asthma, my oldest son, 16 years old is having symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes. I too have Type 2 Diabetes and now experiencing problems with my Heart. I cannot afford to pay for my kids to go to the Doctor! They will not approve me for food stamps or medicaid! We buy food day to day or week to week, we pay our kids reduced lunch at school, everyday! The light bill is anywhere from $300-$400 a month, with the current increase from our utility company! There are no more snacks, family nights out, parents night out, Christmas was horrible and we can’t even take the dogs to the vet! Oh, yeah, the truck broke and we had to dip into the rent money to fix it, now we are $260 behind in rent; All the while the Cardiologist is telling me not to stress, its bad for my heart! Yeah right!

I cannot understand how giving a married couple an extra $1,000.00 a yr or roughly $20.00 a week is going to get this economy going. I mean what are we to do with that, certainly not buy a car,, not pay off any big debt, and not help this country to get back on its feet. They need to put cold hard cash into the peoples hands to spend, spend, spend and then and only then will you see this turn around. I voted for our new president, but quiet frankly he is going about this all wrong!

Why did you not mention the money going to ACORN in your break down?

Whats all this crying and whining? Obama has been elected and is in office, life is going to be great,just read any of the columns written on this here website for the proof. His solution is simple, the government just keeps printing and spending money until its all over.

My 36 year old son has four young children and a stay at home wife. After working nearly four years at a local auto dealership as a customer service assistant manager, and achieving glowing reports from both customers and co-workers, he was told on Monday that it was his last day. No severance package, no monthly notice. Just basically shown the door. This is a young man who devoted his life to his job, he worked 11 hours a day, five days a week with no overtime. He is not skilled in any other line of work, having completed just a high school degree. What does he do now? What do the children do with out health insurance. He went to Social Services and was told there is at least a month wait for any type of services. Thank you Mister Bush, thank you for bailing out the bankers who are sunning themselves on a tropical island. Thank you for turning this marvelous nation into a nation of unemployed poor people with no place to turn.

I think its a shame that the government doesn’t have time to listen to the everyday person that makes the world go. What would happen if the police didn’t show for work? The grocery clerks. The farmers?? We are the ones that need bailed out. We have had to dip into saving, 401k’s, sell anything that we could to stay afloat, while they spend millions to do what?? Lets see president Obama begged the voters to help raise millions to get the Clinton’s back on their feet. but what about us?Not a thing. What is 500 bucks going to do for anyone? But we bail the banks out they get a bigger bonus, sponsor everyone and everything under the sun. I guess i am a hopeless person, it would be so much better if they gave the taxpayers the money to bail everyone out. That makes the best sense.Well to the people hurting all i can say is hang in there and pray.. But as the saying goes, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

First, I am getting laid off. I have an MBA from a top school, foreign language ability, and much experience. But right now my industry is dead and the ashes are being shipped to Asia. Sayonara. So I am looking into new industries and/or careers but very difficult to get a job in this economy at my level without vast experience in that position and industry. Not a great time for career switchers. I feel for the laid off wife of the Army vet. Best of luck to you both!

One other comment I wanted to address. Somebody called the new Treasury Secrectary a tax cheat. Funny, but if that is what you call a tax cheat, then John and Cindy McCain were tax cheats too.

No more money for Wall Street, not a dime for those crooks. Let the govt create a new, separate credit/lending body that will keep US biz and homeowners growing while the old-world criminal system collapses. They cost too much and screw the taxpayers when they are not screwing the workers when they are not screwing the consumers. The working class cannot continue to prop up these parasites and the Fed Reserve forever. If I had an employee or vendor who caused as much trouble and cost me as much as they did, bye-bye!

Obama needs to do away wth the***CREDIT SCORES***!! What has my credit got to do with my Driving Record ?? Also, Due to the state of the Nation…alot of Credit Scores have been Destroyed ! How can any Politican stand by and let the Banks & Loan Companys Steal from the U.S people with these unjust Credit Scores in the “Brink of Depressionary times that we live in ??
It’s agood thing, what they’re doing with the Mortgage situation. But, much more needs to be done. Do not just help the people, that could afford, to keep their payments up..Help those who could’nt too !! They’re hurting much more. We, also need to Lower the High Interest Auto Loans, that were written before 2009. C’mon you’ve Bailed out the Big Rich Companys/CEO s -with their Jets….now low income people need help to get back on their feet. And, anybody accepting Bonuses or Companys taking employees Pensions should be Ran out of Business !! A Business as such, should not be allowed, to exist in America !!

I don’t get it? Where is the help for the individuals that are losing their homes? I’m glad we’re getting jobs created but what about now? Why can’t the mortgage companies put what they owe to the back of their note and let them “start over” again. They stand there with there hand out, but aren’t willing to help any of us! Why is our Government not stepping in to help these people now?

I am a state employee in Florida. I see so many illegal alien ’s that have fake social security numbers to get employment and are employed . The employers are enabling these illegals that we need to concentrate on our employers hiring these people to pay chaep labor and take jobs away from americans.I work in the social services are of the state and feel that we need to change the immigration laws so that employers are carefully monitored they are contributing to the problem here in our state

they talk about giving the working force another bonus check because they work . how about us that worked at one time. for health reason we are no longer able to work . i was 46yr and had a major stroke it but me from doing almost any job a man can do to a wheelchair. i have bills to pay just like the rest . i get ssi put i rather be working 674 dont go very far when u have rent , ele & gas , water to pay . rent is 300 month , gas right now is budget plan 343 month 30 goes for water and personal needs . i can see the people that just sit on their butts that can work getting help from department of human services not getting it . but also there are people that get it from the state and go out and look for jobs every day . they could use it . i think they need to put guidelines in for people like me and people who are looking for jobs that cant find them . to get that extra money also .

Living in California, it is a double whammy. Our elected State officials cannot pass a budget. If these people worked for a corporation they would all be fired!

As for the Federal plan, these bailouts are ridiculous. Give failing companies tax payer dollars and hope they “get it right this time”? Where is the logic in that?

Where is the stimulus package for the small and medium sized businesses that employ +50% of of the private sector workers and generate 60-80% of new jobs in this country?

What is being done to ensure we as tax payers receive a net benefit from these corporate bailouts?

The way I see it, GM gets to stay in business while my investments go to hell and my tax liability goes up. So exactly what is in it for me???

ONLY $16 Billion for ALL of Science, research and technology yet A MASSIVE $20 BILLION just to computerize ALL medical records. I see several problems here. Foremost, I could computerize ALL medical records for ONLY $2 BILLION! As for “Here today Gone tomorrow” government jobs? Invest in mom & pop small businesses that create long term living wage jobs. 4 Million jobs in 4 years? Kick out illegals fine employers and you can create 10 million jobs in 30 days. I, a below average citizen, can find better solutions so what is up with our government that created these problems and does not have a clue as to how to solve them??? NOW I / we can predict our future with ease.

I am 22, my girlfriend is 23. We moved out and got an apartment in November, and were living very comfortably until I got laid off early this month. Now, in between looking for a new job, I sit home and obsess about the bills. I worked in the “automotive industry”. I am supposed to be called back in April, but we’ll see. Thank God her job seems to be stable. I don’t know how far $362/ week (gross) is going to get us.

Thankfully I am still employed (at the moment). My company has gone through layoffs and has contingency plans to do more. My department lost had two open positions and now two other contractors have also been let go. The work didn’t go away just the people to do it. I am now working 60-80 hours a week just to try and keep up. The stress is starting to affect my work. Will I have job next month, if I do can I complete the tasks under these conditions? I am currently looking at other opportunities. I have seen it before, companies that panic and start firing people end up loosing more people than they intended. When you calculate the cost of restructuring + the unforeseen cost of recruiting for those who left voluntarily, how much money does a company actually save?

Retired 10/01/07 at age 63. Moved my 401K and lump sum retirement account to an individual IRA usuing a finacial advisor. Lost over 40 % of my IRA in the market downturn. What looked like a decent retirement is now a belt tightening what have I done experience. Trips, vacations, and other retirement pleasures seem a distant dream now. It’s more like what do I juggle to make ends meet and do I have enough for a long life. They’re a lot out there in worse shape than me and I really feel for them. Not sure I can ever trust our elected representatives/government/wall street/bankers again. Lobbyist and lobbying should be completely outlawed.

What are you doing to get by?
I am considering cutting my cable and phone land line out of my monthly bills. I am driving less, eating out less often and watching my cash flow.

What are you giving up?
Nothing big yet, I have stopped buying drinks when I go out to dinner and lunch. I now just order water. That saves a few pennies. I am also not spending any more that I have to spend.

What is your biggest struggle?
I am afraid of paying off my car as I would not have as much cash on hand. The only other debt I have is my home and $800 in credit card debt (300 was just put on yesterday as a birthday gift and the other 500 is interest free until 06/10). I am afraid, even though I am in higher education, that I may loose my job.

What have you learned?
I leared that I was RIGHT! Homes were and still are way over priced. And the people who bought their homes with balloon mortages and ARMs got screwed just like I thought they would. And those who just wanted to flip the house got stuck. Everyone wanted to keep up with the Jones’. And you see where that landed you. I am deeply sorry for the folks who are geniunely affected for no fault of their own.

To the folks who wrote the loans, talked the people into the loans, wrote the loans and bundled them, and those who backed the loans without knowing the full risks of what you were buying. I hope you all are made to pay dearly for your careless actions. You personally are responsible for this crisis!

To my economic professor who begged us to believe in less goverment oversite, because in his view if you made a bad product you would not be able to sell the product. He wanted us to rally behind the theory of full market control and markets would self-regulate and it would let indusrty flurish; Sir, you were wrong!

I think Obama’s package is a farse all they need to do is lower taxies and the Econamy will come arouns on its own espsaly busnas taxes and taxes on divedends rasing taxes is only going to make things worse mark my words

Sleep, or lack thereof. Can’t sleep anymore without waking up worrying how I am going to pay for anything anymore. Guess all those years of living with in my means and that 780 credit score where all for naught!!! Hum sounds like I need a credit card and start spending like citigroup I had a credit card offer me 50,000 dollars worth of credit anybody want a big screen TV?

In the process of losing my business due to lack of clients. I’ve had to
take on another full time job so I am
working 80 hours a week. I still am making half of what I use to make so
my house is in foreclosure. And no I am not one that bought a house I could not afford. I have been in my house for almost 12 years so It will hurt If
I have to let it go. I have two children I am responsible for And have
not been one to wait for big brother to bailout. Food is a luxury for us these days. So I get pissed of when I see ceos buying jets with the bailout money.

These giveaways make me sick. We saw what trickle down economics can do. I propose percolate up economics. Instead of bailing out banks, auto companies, tech companies and every other fat cat who already put us in this mess why not give each American a bailout. Let’s see if my math works out… The estimates range near $4 Trillion that’s Trillion with a T. There’s only 306 Million of U.S. Why not give each of U.S. $750,000. That way we could pay off our mortgages, car loans, credit card bills, college loans, and maybe have some left over to buy a new tv, stove, stereo or whatever. That way the banks would be paid off, the stores would be filled with happy buyers, the stock market would boom and we’d be out of this mess in 3.2 seconds without any fat cats getting fatter. And forgive my mathematical ignorance, but we’d save the taxpayers several billions in the process. I can’t be the only one who’s thought of this, but I’ll take the credit. Maybe Mr. Obama can give me a job at Treasury. I’ve got no skeletons in my closet and I’m unemployed too. That would be one less on the list. I’d attach my resume but somehow I don’t think that’d help.

How Is The Economy Affecting You?

The economy has only really affected me by way of higher grocery bills and the fact that I am still sitting in a home under a lease purchase and cannot get finance. I have been under contract since April of 2008 since the price of the home has dropped about $40K since I signed and is suppose to drop about $20K it seems the owner is not to inclined to sell at the lower price , I am not paying more than its worth nor will I continue to pay $1200 a month for rent. So I will move in May, my landlord will have problems getting the same rent for the house and be stuck with it. I never put myself in a position that I over spend and its not that I cannot afford the $1200 a month I see no sense in paying that kind of money for rent. I am too frustrated to go through trying to buy a home due to the banks lack of loaning money despite the bailouts. The stimulas package does not affect me as I never see a dime of it in the form of the IRS rebates due to an ex-husband who did not pay his tax’s and I am paying them so the stimulus checks all go to that. I never buy what I don’t need, I don’t go out and I don’t take vacations. So all those who over spent and purchased homes they could not afford I say you need to suffer the consequences of your actions. And to CitiCorp who just raised the interest rates (4%) on my Home Depot Card after 5 years and never a late payment I say good bye to you. I will pay cash! In the end though it does not pay to be a responsible spender because we all are going to have to pay for this mess

We’re doing OK so long as my husband doesn’t lose his job. We have no credit card or car payments and just pay on our mortgage. We have cut way back on spending and are trying to save as much as we can given the uncertainty of job security. I haven’t been able to find a job for over a year and have given up.

We were planning to retire in 5 or 6 years, but now I think that dream has gone bust having lost over 40% of our savings. Our home has lost over 50% of it’s value prior to the market downturn. I feel like we’re in a free-fall and don’t know where we are going to land or what we can do to soften the blow once we hit bottom.

I have a suggestion, though. So many people are getting hit with massive interest on credit card debt plus the cost of health care. Instead of sending out a puny $500 per person, why not allow people to deduct their credit card interest like we used to be able to do years ago and then also go with something similar to what McCain wanted to do and give tax credit for out of pocket expenses for health care.

Everyone likes to get an unexpected windfall, but with people like us, we’ll just pay off a bill or save it in case we need it later. Tax write offs like this will help more people.

This has been a tough year for us personally. I had been working at a company for a year, and in December I was given a choice of taking reduced pay, quitting or getting terminated.

I chose to take less pay. Well it ended up being almost $1000.00 less a month than I was making before. I started to job hunt and luckily was able to find something pretty quickly. I have years of experience as a programmer and work in a area that has IT workers in demand. They are looking for experience and degreed.

I just got my college degree in 2007 after years of attending school. I am currently working on my MA in Management and that will just help in the future.

My hubby got a small raise this year, and I remind him that so many others got nothing when he complains.

He is going into the NAVY Reserves again to bring in extra money.

I did go into a little bit of debt with the pay difference so it is still tight. It will get better for us.

My brother was laid off by Tweeter up in Boston, and he still hasn’t found a job yet. He is a audio/video installer. Right now he is working PT at Sears to supplement his income. He has to have medical insurance beause of some specific medications that he takes. They also just bought a condo recenlty.

To the software programmer in IN that is in a garage writing software? What do you program in?

I am 61 years old and haven’t worked since March 2008. I was on unemployment, however, it has now been depleted. No more extensions are available. I have a 14 year old grandson in high school. I just don’t understand why the banks, insurance companies, investment companies, etc. can get such enormous amounts of bailout money. They also gets huge year end bonuses as well as large jets to fly around the country in. This is totally ridiculous. What about the average Amercican citizen? When will we get a bailout? I now have to try to apply for State Aid because now I have NO INCOME!!!! This is insane. I feel like the government should give the people, each and every individual a stimulus package to cover their own bills, food, shelter, etc. I am just appalled. Even trying to stay focus on my own hopes and dreams seems very difficult at times.

President Obama has inherited a mess. I support him 100% and I know it will take time to get the country back where it needs to be and to gain the confidence of the people.

My husband have been without a Job for 5mo no one is hiring because they are laying off we are losing our home and I work two jobs and its still is not enough and they wonder why we have so much crime its going to get worst before it get better they will have more killing and crime unless we do something I am thinking about leaving Louisiana and never coming back.

My wife and I started following financial guru Dave Ramsey’s plan that is outlined in the “My Total Money Makeover” book, starting a few years ago. It supports the basic ideas of thrift – eliminate debt, live inside your means, put aside savings, and buy only with cash (no credit).

Consequently, we have only our mortgage and regular monthly expenses (no other debt). I’d recommend the book to others, since it did help us put the focus on the real issues in our finances and make appropriate changes to get us back on track. To get there, we turned off the cable TV, stopped eating out, drove old cars (I bought mine for about $3k on ebay), and basically cut expenses across the board.

Best of luck to those going through hardships. It’s tough, but you’ll come through.

My husband is an Iraq war vet who just recently got out of the ARMY, he has been unable to find employment after all he has done for this country. We were riding on my income until i was laid off in Dec. We now have no income and thousands of dollars in debt on our heads. I spent 7 years in college racked up a ton of bills to get a new career and now i have no career and past due bills. Its starting to look like the only way we will be able to make it is to send my husband back to the ARMY and back to war! Hes an American Hero being rejected by his own country and buisnesses he fought so hard to protect!

Living on a fixed income it is a time of fear. With prices on everything going higher, yet it takes more of our income to pay to have these services. It means that we have to decide if we our going to eat or fill that prescription. Either way it will lead to death, cause if you don’t eat you will die. Having a condition that your drugs are the reason you are still alive, it means death to stop taking them
But of coarse, this is some loww life that doesn’t want to work to improve his life. So, what he never knows how those life subtaining drugs will do for hime today. Is a time for a perament seat on the throne or hanging over the trash can??

My wife and I are thankfully still employed, however; we have seen many of our friends become unemployed over the last few months. Instead of sitting in a corner scared to death that a pink slip may come we decided to take action and make something happen for ourselvers instead of waiting for something to happen to us. For years we have wanted to start our own business at the local flea market and decided this was a good time to jump in and get it started. We are sacrificing every weekend to make this work and it is starting to pay off. We are having the time of our lives and meeting many of great people.

Despite the severe issues we are now facing we need to remember that this is America and you have the opportunity to make something for yourselves if you choose. Hard work and initiative will always work better than a bailout. If we start sitting around in our misery weaiting for the the government to take care of us, we will truly be in trouble. Get out there America and give yourself the opportunity to make something happen. Government is NOT the answer; hard work and determination is.

I am a 55 year old unemployed manager since July 2008 and my wife and I are struggling to make ends meet. All this talk about bailing out the institutions that caused this mess makes me sick. They spend money on fancy jets, trips, bonuses etc and none of the bail out money reaches the general public.

The bail out money should be distributed to the citizens were we can pay our bills, mortgage etc. which would put money back into these institutions. The interest rate they charge now is obscene. To pay 28% is like dealing with loan sharks. If the goverment would put $40,000 into each household then these people would be able to pay their bills and have money to buy goods that would simulate the economy.

This continued notion that throwing money at these institutions would help the economy does not work, giving each married couple $1,000 is like throwing a glass of water on a house fire, it will not work. Give the money to the people and they will jump start this economy. Unemployment helps but is not even close to being enough. The job market in a word is “poor”. By giving the money to the people I mean all unemployed families and people in foreclosure.

We have bailed out the banks and investment firms, but the interest rates have not dropped that far. The Banks are getting their monies at 0% interest, if the interest rates for the public drop to 4% or less, people might buy houses and cars again. I think dropping interest rates would help more than trying to give out monies they can’t afford.

I am soon to be 65 and have carefully planned a balanced investment allocation strategy for a number of years. How is the economy affecting me? Every single asset class with the exception of cash is significantly down, as is the case with many investors. I am on the cusp of now deciding whether to cut all future losses and to place everything in cash. I am becoming more and more concerned that there is nowhere to hide from this looming continued meltdown. At one time I had planned for my social security to be augmented with withdrawals from my 401K and other investments but guess what! Not only have I lost some 40% of these assets, but I have every reason to believe that the combination of the massive Federal deficit spending along with the diminishing contributions due to high unemployment, that these elements will result in near term cuts in Social Security payments as well.

The net result is that we as a nation are in far more serious shape than the CBS noontime business report will have you believe. And the sad truth is that I see nowhere to hide. It is global. It is serious and getting worse by the day, and we seem to have a shortage of common sense. When the new Treasury Secretary, who is over the IRS, can be confirmed by a bunch of political hacks posing as Senators, even though he committed both tax evasion and perjusry (signing off on the IMF documents and asserting that he paid all taxes due) then something is really wtong.

A lifetime of responsible living is going up in smoke within a few short months for many of us.

The recession has affected my family in a very bad way. Im not unemployed drawing unemployment. Trying to make ends meet, not to mention having a newborn baby that needs diapers and formula. The government needs to take this so called bailout money and send it out to the american people so we can spend it which in return would make store have business and things would get better. Also lower gas prices to less than i dollar and gallon and people will start driving more going on vacations. Its common sense but the president and congress just cant see it. Forget these banks there not helping anyone.

My advice to anyone who desperatly needs a job is to go join the military. You are guaranteed a paycheck on the first and 15th. I know it sucks but you do what you gotta do to survive. And its not like they can fire you. And until there is regulation and supervision over these bailout funds things will not get better. At least that my opinion.

Well I was reading all of your posts and I love to look at things from other people’s point of view. My husband and I are in our late twenties and have been married for six and a half years. We have a son in Kindergarten and my husband and I both work. We did live outside our means in college and now we are trying to pay off all the debt we accrued. We both have college degrees and good jobs. My husband proudly serves as an officer in the US ARMY and is deploying to afghanistan in a few months. I also work full time and we are making it, but we would be alot better off if we had not run up so much credit card debt when we were struggling students. We are trying to pay off debt and save a little. We have decided that while he is in afghanistan our son and I will move in with my folks so that we can get all of our credit card debt paid and save at least six months worht of expenses. We have learned that it is not so important to keep up with the Jones’. You cannot put a price on peace of mind. We hope to be credit card debt free when he returns home from afghanistan and we will never go down that road again. We are not so much affected by the weak economy as much as our own poor decisions made when we were younger. We have learned our lesson and we will be more than just fine one day…hopefully soon.

The recession has affected just about every area of my life. For starters income,food,electricity,insurance,medical,clothing,gas you name it.I guess that the so called wealth has finally trickled down and look what a mess it is.It is very hard to make end meet these days.I have to watch every dime and make sure that nothing is wasted. However,I am very optimistic about the future and eventually things will turn around.It is going to take a while to fix this mess that the previous administration left behind and the President Obama needs our support to get this country back on track.

The economic recession has drastically affected me and my husband. I quit my job last year to return to graduate school full-time so that I could have a sound background when I went to change my career focus from the legal world to marketing. I graduated in December with a Master of Arts in marketing.

I’ve now been job searching for approximately six months and cannot even find an entry level position. I’ve even expanded my job search beyond Kansas City to the St. Louis area since my parents live there and have offered to work as an intern for minimum wage at a few places and still have found nothing. Everyone wants experience. Advertising agencies especially value experience over education and prefer you to have experience at an agency. Here’s my question – If I can’t find a job at an agency, how will I ever obtain experience to get a job? It’s a catch 22. I just feel a bit betrayed by the country that so strongly encourages education and than devalues it when you lack experience. If I would have known what I now know, it could have been more beneficial for me to start working right out of high school. I’d have seven years of experience!

It doesn’t help that my husband’s company just gave everyone a 10% pay decrease. We will probably have to put our house on the market soon and we all know how long it could take to sell a house in this market…

Good afternoon,
A great idea, just an idea instead of having the government trying to salvage the economy, I believe that is the government would back total consolidation refinance, for example. A person owes 20k car, house value 180k, (with high interest) a few credit cards and a few other bills say total around 205k. At 5% interest over 30 years the payments would be about $1,100.00 a month a savings; depending on income of any where from $750-$959 a month (spending money)
But the pay back should be 3% back to the lender, 1% to a personal credit line and 1% to a retirement account,
I am sure the economy will bounce back in less than a year and also stabilize housing prices and give confidence to the bank industry.

Having 1% in a retirement will be a great incentive to get people to start buying homes

The 1% for a personal credit line can be multiplied by 2, 3 or 4 depending on income (i.e) you save $1,800.00 a year for your credit line. Two times this amount is $3,600.00 this will be your maximum credit line, depending on your income to debt. If your income is higher this will be adjusted for a higher multiplier this will control inflation.

The greatest part of this resolution is that it will cost the US government a much less than any stimulus bill or tax credits they can offer.

John
Raleigh NC

Thirty -five years ago, I bought a starter house in a respectable community. I paid off my house, bought what I could afford and saved a small amount each month. I have only the basics to pay for. No one helped me and I’m not sharing.
Then I watched the gangs and criminal element move in to houses that were subsidised. Then I watched the flood of buyers come in and buy houses that I could no longer afford for either zero or one percent interest.
The old addage says, “If it;s too good to be true, them it probably is.”
Now these people are crying about not being able to afford their houses and cars.
It’s great! I go for my geriatric walks and watch the foreclosure signs spring up like mushrooms after a spring rain.

Seeing the (few) folks who say ‘what recession’ and ‘things have never been better’, I think of sand castles. They last for a while; you build a ‘moat’ to buffer the ocean; the weaker ones fail first; but eventually the stronger ones suddenly fail too, because in their isolation there is nothing else around to support them. All is eroded away.

This writer is losing a job in February, after having lost a car in August and a house in September. I’m had four ‘extended’ family members who lost their home in May, living with me since then. I have not, as many of the righteous-sounding commenters on this page decry, had an extravagant lifestyle. We eat out 2-3 times a year (fast food, maybe twice a month). A movie is a once-a-year treat. We have two cars averaging 13 years old one of which our ‘extended family’ uses; they have none. I haven’t owned stocks since ‘87. No 401-k. No savings. I have a B.S. and a Master’s and good work experience. But that does not seem to be enough in this economy. I don’t know what we will do. Looking for work. An awful lot of competition out there.

To everyone who marvels at everyone else having hardships when they have not seen it: “Ask not for whom the bell tolls…”

I am 26 and involved and work in an Engineering/Architecture firm in Peoria, IL. I had trouble finding work out of college because of the location in Illinois I was from. Employers in Chicago would not take me seriously being that I lived a few hours south, yet all the jobs are there. I worked some aweful jobs that paid nothing, managing to get nowhere on my extensive college debt. I found work at my current job over a year out. We have done well working on other projects outside of housing and commercial work. Caterpillar has been making significant cuts and it being the biggest employer in the area, I am sure our future work will strongly be curtailed. I worry because I still have thousands I owe on my student loan, car and a new mortgage. I also have diabetes that takes a significant chunk of my salary without paying for the insurance myself. If I lose my job, I am afraid I dont know what I will do. On unemployment I wont be able to afford cobra let alone the perscription costs on top of it. I can move in with my parents but I cant place that burden of all the money I need on them. I cant go back to school, I need insurance and medications just to live daily life. Those issues place a stranglehold my ability to afford a car, I wont have a car to even drive to work. I am so thankful that the intelligence of this country thought an auto run society was best. People need to wake up and realize what is sustainable and what the heck isn’t. After losing all these things there will likely be no way back to what I have built and I will owe debt to things that achieve absolutley nothing for me. It gets me angry beyond belief and fills me with hopelessness and that I let my family down on a full life they wanted me to have if I can even have one.

I’m 26 and living in ground zero of the economic disaster that is sweeping the nation. Luckily I have a great job and just purchased my first house. However, I have no real liabilities or anyone depending on me. I feel for the loads of people with mouths to feed and kids to (try) to help put through college. My generation can learn a whole wealth of knowledge from the mistakes and miss-steps that the Baby Boomers have made over the past couple of decades. The silver lining in all of this is it also offers a whole new generation an opportunity for affordable home ownership unlike anytime in the past 3 decades. Things will turn around, just try and weather the storm. The country as a whole will come out for the better on the other side.

Now there are estimates that the bank bailout will cost $4 trillion. This will bankrupt the country and, if you think the current mess is bad just wait. Why not give some thought to just replacing the banks rather than bailing them out; they did not do the country any favor and what good are they to anyone else beside the greedy Wall Street types (like the tax cheat Treasury Secretary) – I’ve got an idea; be like him and just do not pay taxes.

You would think the democrates would be trying to put this bailout money in better places. Like into failing business for the little guy that they care so much about. These banks are goign to be fine. If they were in that desperate of times maybe they would be a little more careful and a little less greedy.

Yep I can relate to you all, just in August I worked for a company that paid me appox. $45,000 a year and then wham!! I was cut and out, I had just recently had a child in Jan.08 and got married in July 08. And have been looking for something that can support my family since and every job I find does not pay enough to pay bills and daycare so I stay home with my son and my wife works. I have applied to about 50 jobs and had only 2 call me back for more info or schedule an interview. I am tired of feeling like a failure to my family and friends; My wife and I have basicly alienated ourselves from the outside world!!!
Something needs to change.. And why is every job posting I find ask for a BA or BS or Masters and pay so little…I just don’t understand it.

I think Citi is showing us just how much these bailout funds are needed. Trying to buy a 50 million dollar private jet. Let them crash and burn. If joe blow the towtruck driver makes a mistake and is about to lose his business he is s.o.l. No free money for him. And i konw he would be trying to buy useless toys for comfort.

I don’t watch the news as much anymore. I find it depressing and altering reality. And the reaility is, after years of struggling with my business, my business is now doing well. My competitors who were spending like no tomorrow are not doing well now. So customers are coming to my company. And I find this to be the same story with friends and other people I met who didn’t get to party with everyone else in the last 10 years. It’s no party now but it’s also not the end of the world.

I know people are suffering, I’m not in denial. But the sooner everyone picks themselves up and starts moving on to the next chapter in their life, the better we’ll all be.

Living on a fixed income (Disability benefits) this economy is killing me. I have been keenly aware of the inflation of the past two years and knew we were in a recession by February 2008. (I even wrote several Letters to the Editor challenging the likes of George Will, Phil Gramm and Amity Shlaes – the last who is still saying Middle Class suffering is a myth)I shake my head when the pundits warn of deflation because of dropping oil and gas prices. The savings have not been passed on to the consumer and CPI does not reflect reality. I’ve simply cut back on everything; fewer name products; more multi store shopping to take advantage of stores, despite physical limitations; yet my range is cut down because of transportation costs. My primary concerns are: rent, prescriptions (monthly health care costs are at least 7%-7.5% of total income) and utilities. Everyone else gets what I can afford. What really steams me is how the banks and credit card issuers continue to be part of the problem. They are gearing up for massive losses in credit card portfolios, but if they would work with consumers they wouldn’t have to. Fees pushed a credit card $1.61 over my limit and I was hit with a $39 charge. The financial industry needs to play the public relations game and ease up on the consumers: when fees push an account over the limit, don’t hit the person with punitive charges; don’t jack up interest automatically; give consumers with good payment records (not perfect, but good) a break. We all need to make sacrifices. Right now, the financial industry helped increase the magnitude of the crisis. they’ve received billions in taxpayer money and refuse to lend to the Middle/Working Classes (where a customer has had perfect payment record and could use refinancing to help shore up his/her base, but doesn’t have a 760 score, they can still lend because it only helps the banks) THEY have to pitch in and sacrifice as well — and I don’t mean not paying the executive suite bonuses.

“1. When did the inhabitants (citizens) of this country become such crybabies? It’s really easy to blame someone elso for your problems i.e. the govt….YOU voted for the ELECTED officials in office (if you didn’t vote I don’t even want to hear it) Why did you vote for the official you did? Did you research your choice? Did you contemplate what your choice would do? Did you just lazily trust the media to make the decision for you? Have you ever thought to run for office to make a change?”

Please. In the elections for most offices in this country, the only choices with any chance of being elected are either Democrats or Republicans. And these days, it seems that there’s very little real difference in the fiscal policies of either. I’d rather the government just lay down some baseline business regulation and leave it at that. They need to stay out of the markets with their interventions/”rescues”/bailouts. Unfortunately, none of them are taking that approach because they want higher approval ratings. Additionally, I’m sure many people have *thought* about running for office, but they probably can’t afford to do it when they’re worried about buying groceries or paying their electric bills.

The economy is affecting me minimally. I work in healthcare. General medicine is consistent, as disease does not understand economics. Cosmetic medicine is down on major procedures, but has actually increased on lower cost procedures. Other practices are closing, removing the weaker competitors and increasing our potential patients. A class action suit against the insurance companies (the real enemy and price driver in the Healthcare mess) will result in insurers paying more for some procedures than in the past, which will help patients and practices.

Some practices have come to us, offering themselves as acquisitions.

I’m also a partner in a 1 store retail operation, (high end products, low sales volume, high margins). It actually recorded 50%+ sales and 20%+ net income increases over the previous year.

People, we are simply seeing areas of the economy (construction, housing, certain manufacturers, certain retail segments) that were bloated, overstaffed, and living only off of the teat of the common American’s largesse.

So we ask, how did the American’s largesse evolve. It started with a combination of the CLINTON ADMINISTRATION’s repeal of the Glass/Steagall Act. This repeal allowed banks, insurance companies, and secutities firms to merge and own each other. Combine this with A) the Community Investment Act that requires banks to write risky loans or face penalites (written by Democtrats) and B) Overly exuberantly low interest rates that were required to spur the economy from the Tech Bubble that was caused by and started to collapse in the CLINTON ADMINISTRATION (look at tech in Q2 1998 – Bush’s start date), and you have the perfect financial storm.

I’m was a middle manager that was laid off in 2002 as the supply company I worked for got sucked into oblivion by the K-mart bankruptcy. I bootstrapped myself to company ownership in 3 years WITHOUT any bailout’s, expanded/extended unemployment benefits, mortgage relief or assistance. I lost it all folks, and got it back AND more. I have empathy for those that lose their jobs but hit the ground running, and realize as I did that my career may not be what I had planned or desired or dreamed. People that say “I’m going to do what I have to do to make it in America, and am not going to B&M about how the goverenment owes me a well paying job in the career that want”. I have ZERO empathy of the people just complaining in apathy.

Get off your butt and do something with your life! You may have to move!!! You may have to get retrained!! You may have to work 2 jobs for an extended time like I did to make ends meet!! You may not get paid as much!! That is the reality that I learned. As soon as everyone gets through the denial, and grasps that truth, America will recover, and recover well!!

My wife and I are doing okay all things considered. When my wife was assigned her medical residency a year and half ago we had no choice but to move up to the Philadelphia area from Maryland. I worked in D.C. and we decided I should hold on to my reliable government job and live with family seperately from my wife for 4-5 days a week until I could find something equivalent. Problem was that never happened. Hundreds of applications and interviews and recruiters never got me close to half the pay I make in D.C. Between my paycheck and the pitance my wife makes in residency, we do okay. We can pay the bills and go out to dinner once a week to try to stay connected, but living apart 4-5 days a week for a year and half certainly hasn’t helped our marraige.

I have been fortunate enough not to be feeling the “meltdown” to the extent that others have. I work in the food business, so I have been spared so far. I personally know a few people that are out of work for almost 4-5 months. It is sad to see them go through 6-7 years of college, get their masters, and can’t find a job anywhere. And, ontop of that, have banks harassing them to pay back there loans when they have to focus on feeding their families.

The fix is, and was regulation. When you tell someone they have to play nice but there is no one to enforce it, like right now, everything falls apart. I understand they are using our tax dollars to atleast attempt to save whats left of the economy but there needs to be over sight (government and public) of what the money is doing, where it is going, what it is being used for.

I pray every night and thank god that I still have a job, and that I still have a place to live.

I’m retired. My yearly medical and medication costs go up every year by about 15%… yup every year with no increase in my income.

My savings continues to go DOWN because I put my hope in the IRA ideology… that seems to be failing me?

All my (4) friends who work are suffering down-sizing and corporate reorganizations. I hope they don’t get the pink slip.

I’m happy to see the government “try” something to help the financial downturn rather than do nothing.

The people yelling “Socialism” seem to be out of touch with what is happening in the world today?

I’ve been weathering out this trend since the very beginning. I’m disabled with a geriatric service dog to care for. She’s cared for me for 11 yrs and now it’s my turn to care for her. Back to the topic…. red meat was first on the chopping block 2 yrs ago. You adapt. Then came shopping at Texas Thrift. You know the economy is doing poorly when you CAN’T afford the thrift store. Over the counter meds were followed by eenie-meanie with my scripts each month. The final curtain was inacted this am – doing away with the cable phone and TV. I’ll keep high speed internet for CHEAP tv and phone service. Where are my scissors.. maybe there are a few more corners to cut some where around here???

actually, its making me angrier and angrier as I listen to proposals to reward failure, reward irresponsible spending, reward greedy decisions – all at the expense of the 90% or so of americans who played by the rules, lived within their means.

We need to let people and businesses reap the rewards or consequences of their actions.

I think the real solution to our economy is simple: let everyone who paid taxes in 2007 (or 2006) to file for a 50% refund on taxes paid in either year when they file 2008 tax return. This would be fair and equitable to all, and get the same basic amount back into the economy as the proposed stimulus

First wanted to say that I pray each night for each person who left comments on this site. I do not know you all personally but feel a great amount of compassion for each of you, no matter your concerns/trials. I believe collectively, if all of us pray , and remember who’s in control, things will get better!
To the question posed, the economy has affected me a little but not as dramatically as others on the site.

I have been in a job I hate for about 2-3 years with a Company I like even LESS. I’ve stayed on becuase I was going to school. I recently graduated but the economy is in pretty bad shape so I’ve delayed my exit. I know I’m blessed to be in a job, BUT my dreams of being a “big dog” in a company I like in a job I love are currently on hold.

Not at all. I work for a proprietary trading firm. Business has never been better, the money’s great, and job offers keep pouring in from recruiters.

I have just read all the current responses, and it is interesting reading indeed.
My family is doing all the same; hope to be debt free by the end of the second quarter 2009.
I think it is the third question that requires my most detailed response, what have we learned?
The first lesson is crime does pay. 8 trillion dollars was stolen from the U.S. Economy in 2008 alone. And what is our (Big Brother) Government’s response, give the crooks more money.
Our Government should have never let these companies get so large that they could not be allowed to fail. I thought the Government was supposed to prevent monopolies, not bail them out?
Second lesson is as our Government continues to spend money they do not have, we the people and several generations after us, are being sold into servitude. Yes, it seems the only solution our government leadership can think of is more Socialism to fix the failed Socialism. What the leadership fails to realize is they can not correct this market by printing more and more money. This hyper inflation will make the real bust bigger than ever.
What our Government should be doing is arresting the criminals that caused this collapse. Surely there were crimes of fraud, insider trading, and Ponzi schemes. I believe if we had the confidence in justice, we would also have a return of confidence in the markets. But who wants to buy over priced goods made in China, India, and Mexico knowing they are only going to enrich some corporate elitists who will not infuse that money back down into the economy?
Our Government today has ignored the rule of law set by the U.S. Constitution. They are no longer a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. They have lived by the false assumption the U.S. Constitution is a living document. This is like saying the Bible, Koran, and Torah are living documents that can be interpreted under the standards and education of today. This is illogical and has lead to our new greatest depression.
My third lesson is to educate as many people as possible that we can and will remove this failed U.S. Government peaceably by voting them out, I will talk and write when ever I can that it is time for a new revolution, to bring back our Government to work within the U.S. Constitutional law.
I say that this country was founded on Freedom and Liberty for All. And we will have what the founding fathers envisioned in my lifetime.
A Government of the people, by the people (not lawyers) for the people (all of them races, creeds, sexuality, lifestyle).

I got caught up in the early part of this mess….

Three years ago I had a really good job I had it for 8 years and VP of IT. Saved money and decided to buy a house. My payments were very manageable on my income at the time. Got laid off from my job and took a part of my savings to start a business. Then gas prices went up…. Two major local companies closed shop and moved over seas, and my business dried up… I saw for months the end was coming so began looking for another job, but had no luck finding anything that paid near what I had been making. took a job that paid half what I had been getting…tried to renegotiate my mortgage to no avail… lived on food that we got at food banks sold everything in the house but could not sell it… got laid off again…. went through the last of my savings paying house payments… took me several months to find another job… found a job just as my house went into forclosure…. bank still would not work with me and wanted me to pay totally up to date… could not do it…
moved my wife and 2 kids in with family…. went across the country for the new job … still at 1/2 my former pay….
got laid off again…
moved back to where my family was (who I had not seen in 11 months). now living with mother and father in law… working in an unheated garage 80+ hrs per week programming software… living in a 2 bedroom house with 6 people in it…
Still can not find a way out of this mess and can only find temp part time and occasional work. my credit is shot, my hope is nearly gone… my marriage is rough, my self worth in the toilet….

Not even sure what to do next so I just live to work and work to live..

For a part of my life I lived in a country where the government gave citizens meal portions. We had no government support whatsoever and jobs were extremely scares.
Right now both my husband and I still have our jobs, but if both of us were to lose it, we would be fine. We have always lived withing our means.

I hate to say this, but Americans are too dependent on credit and governmnet. Our lives are so much easier that we have no faith in any government. We have no expectations of receiving social security or any other assistance when we retire. We are saving and saving. If we do get assistance that will just make it better, but it won’t be a necessity for us.

Please people learn to be self reliant. Nobody cares about you, if you don’t care about yourselves.

What depression? I have never been so busy in my life. We have customers literally lined up out the door.

My paychecks are solid with outstanding benefits. I turn down overtime so I don’t burn out.

What do I do?

I am a Registered Nurse in a State prison. It’s a sad social statement but it’s boom time in this business.

I enjoyed read this board. It is unusual to find a civil discussion of ideas on the internet…unfortunately. I live in Pennsylvania and work for a large manufacturing company. Business is very bad. We have cut many blue collar and white collar employees to date and there will be more to come. We can’t see the bottom of this trough. We have cut expenses and are paying down our debt. Regarding the macro economy, a recession is a lack of demand. When citizens and businesses are not spending either the government must spend or recovery will take longer to come. In keynes theory, Govt should cut costs and raise taxes if necessary to pay back the deficit spending when the economy has recovered. I see no good alternative to doing both of thes things.

I live in Boston and have succeeded in having been awarded Best of Boston by Boston Magazine. I am now facing bankruptcy as my credit card interest rates have skyrocketed, not from bad credit or late payments, but from others having defaulted on their loans. I train and mentor students. I employ them as well. I am age- ready for retirement by would be thrilled to simply be able to continue having my business for the next 20 years.
Why aren’t the bank bailout funds being passed on to small businesses?

I have taken time to review my “life” package as a whole. I am studying my present situation, looking for additional courses that will increase my skills to be more marketable, attending career fairs, researching the market in areas of future jobs, trying to reduce my expenses; refinancing my home that decreased in value, and looking at expenses and checking off the necessities for the future. No matter what I do, I am viewing the economy realistically. Today we all experienced the increase in Social Security witholdings and I know it won’t stop there. I am a resident of California and the state is in a financial mess, this will soon have a roll down effect on my situation as well. When will it stop? I wish, as a taxpayer, I had more influence on the decisions in Washington. Too bad the elected officials are too busy playing politics with my future.

I have a college degree and eight years of solid work experience with the U.S. government. My husband was offered a job in Boise, ID two years ago. I quit my job and assumed that my experience and education would help get me a job here. I was wrong wrong wrong. I have spent two years looking for a decent-paying job. I was laid off twice because the organizations weren’t making enough money to pay me. I make less than $7 an hour now (when I once made $49,000 a year)and work two days a week (because that’s all the hours they can give me). Am I sick of it? You bet I am. We can’t afford to buy a home or have a baby and I will soon be 35. Sadly, I know dozens of families who are worse off than myself. Most of the homes in my neighborhood are for rent, sale, short sale or foreclosed. It’s like a ghost town. At least we have cheap rent and our cars are paid off but we live pay check to pay check. And I keep looking for a full-time job…

Well as a single parent of a 9 year old daughter things have allways been tight. I do still have a job with Wellsfargo. I have beem with them 2 years now and with the merger of Wachovia I feel “ok” about my current job. But things are still tight. Went to the grocery store just today to but “fresh fruit and veggies” at walmart and the prices are so high. One of the things that I try to do with my daughter is but in bulk and plan ahead, meaning I bought her summer clothes for this summer last year on clearance. I have done this since she was a baby, This way she is able to have nice things for a lot less. I also bought a freezer when meat is on sale I stock-up. I have cut out “extra’s’ we now go to the library for entertaimnet and rent dvd’s thur the redbox…those are just a few ways I make it.

Hi I live in miami and i think this all econnomic thing is just way over blown. I just bought a new car and i had no problem getting a loan, my credit card has a low apr … I havn’t change anything in my daily life since last year. My neighbors seam to be doing ok as well. I think it’s just a lot of hot air and i makes for good rating. We love to watch “catastrophic ” news…
Any here the sun shine and the ocean is gorgeous and it will be so tomorrow as well
alan , Miami

If we were collectively spending beyond our means, then the sales taxes (and corporate taxes for that matter) collected were artificially high. If revenue was artificially high and state government was spending every available tax dollar, then spending was artificially high. If consumers start to spend within or below their means then the tax revenues will not retun to the past levels. Permenant cuts in services are the only way to deal with the new reality. We don’t have to like it, we have to understand and accept it.

The moronic Governor of my state wants to erect toll boths on all highways entering the state…..that’s it pass the problem onto others, don’t do anything to address the real issues.

This site has the dumbest audience out of all of the news sites. It’s a fact.

I work for a research lab at a university. My job is going well, but I think funding will definitely be a issue in the next 6 months or so. I have been saving as much money as I can lately so I have a cushion to fall back on if funding falls or I can’t be paid anymore. If I’m lucky, I’ll be starting a PhD program this fall, but after the economy started hurting this past fall the selection will be much more intense. Lots of people want to find a safe haven in academic institutions during times of crisis, but there is definitely not enough funding or room for everyone, sadly. Food has definitely gone up in cost over the last year, and I am also trying to move my household (I live with 3 friends) over to cheaper and cheaper food – we try to keep our food costs under $100 per person and are trying to cut that even lower if possible. I hope everyone weathers the storm together, but to be honest, I wonder what life in America will really be like in five years.

i live in connrcticut.we are self employed. run a sewing machine repair and sales business. 5 times the greedy bank threatenend to for close, because we were 2 months behind on a subprime mortgage that we were duped into, and i mean duped! this all started 15 months ago. we tried to negotiate with these people, to no avail. Finally i said i hope your bank suffers the same hardship we are. sure enough in november of 08. they were struggling they were bailed out but it over yet! i feel very sorry for the workers there cause they lost jobs! however i do not feel sorry for the greedy ceos or whatever the hellthey are running this bank. they were humbled finally after months of arguing yelling and screaming they decided it was time to help. are mortgage was remodified to a fixed rate. it isn’t the best, we still have to struggle but at least we have more of a chance of hanging on to our house.this business is either feast or famine. we are bound and determined to hang on for dear life.we have gotten part time jobs, gone on heat assistance, and are now applying for food stamps. we are not ashamed! this people is an emergency! you do not take advantage but when needed you go for it!

Are we trying to return our economy to its former glory or are we headed to some new operating point?

My sense is the latter but the govt is trying to spend our way to the former. My sense is that it won’t work. Rather than the economy operating at a sustainable pace we went well above it. Now it won’t be good enough to go to a sustainable pace because we have to pay the piper for our past indulgences. It is not going to be one step down in our lifestyle, but two, and it’s going to hurt, and the government won’t be able to sweep it under the rug, but we will pay for their noble effort.

This is in an average sense. As always some people will make out like bandits. I doubt I’ll be one of them.

The only differences we experienced with the tanking economy was increased food prices and increased gas prices. That was an additional hardship. My husband hasn’t received a cost of living raise or merit raise in at least 7 years. He did receive a few pennies extra this year, but not amounting to more than $10.00 a week. We eat spaghetti almost every evening. But we enjoy it. Our rent, health care, continue to increase every year. My husband is 57 and is a welder and lifts heavy things for a living. Why people are against unions I will never know. If my husband was a union worker, he would have received substantial raises yearly.

We make less than some on social services as we receive no food stamps, HEAP, decreased phone bill, Electricity assistance, etc. etc. etc. rent section 8 assistance, we don’t receive any assistance. Since when does it pay to work as Obama states. We live in a trailer without cable. Our neighbors fare better able to afford cable, even though they receive only tax payer assistance and don’t work and are younger than us, and seem capable.
Signed A new york state taxpayer.

Gold/silver as a hedge against inflation is always a sucker’s bet. How long did it take Gold to break the all-time high set in what..the 80s? 20+ years? So that “protect”ion would have meant a negative return for 20+ years, with a brief return to positive before drifting back.

Short term protection: cash
Medium term protection: certifications, networking, spectacular resume and interviewing skills
Long term protection: education education education

’nuff said.

My head is on the chopping block and I am schedlued to be let go in June. I continue to look for ways I can add value to my company in the hopes something I do will give pause to letting me go. In the meantime I am accumulating valuable experience and loading up my resume’.

Not all are so lucky as I am to be given decent notiice before being let go; but there is more to it. You have to work every day as though you are competing for a job. I see so many people who feel entitled to cigarette breaks, that use all of there sick days like vacation days, and socialize the day away. It’s no wonder a company can cut staffing and still get by.

Thsi recession is a wake up call that has been a long time coming. We are not the best just be cause we live in America. America is the best because we are in a country that allows you to fall on your face when youfail, but if you get up, dust yourself off and bust your butt you will reap the benifits of your efforts.

There are no victims here; just future successes getting a wake up call.

Well my wife and I cut our expenses as much as possible back in 2006 and paid off all of doubt except for our mortgage. Because of this when our son was born in 2008 she was able to quit her job and be a stay at home mom. Since we have always lived on less than we make the gas increases in 2007, 2008 and the over all cost of living increases have not been as big of a hit on us than it could have been. We even saved up enough money to pay for a new (used) car with cash. Now we’re trying to invest any extra money that we have “buy low, sell high”. We have been responsible with our money, and went into job fields (tax and auditing) which are almost recession-proof. It’s not about how much money you make (although more money always helps) it’s how you manage it. If everyone was more responsible and didn’t have to buy new toys all the time, or have mortgages they really can’t afford, our country wouldn’t be in this mess! This is the same for all people and businesses. What if the mortgage companies wouldn’t have given out so many high risk loans? No one ever said all Americans must live in a house. There’s nothing wrong with living in an apartment. Now our government is going more socialist to “bailout” all of the irresponsible businesses and people. **I realize some people who have lost their jobs may not be at fault, I’m just talking about the one’s who have caused most of this!** Let the companies fail, our free market system has ways to fix itself, it’ll just take time.

Your article about how the couple in Bristol, RI is faring during the recession is, in my opinion, an example of poor journalism whose only is sensationalism. You don’t explore all the issues that may have led to this couple’s circumstances. For example, did they save money when the economy and building was booming? If not why? They say they can’t visit their grandchild because they can’t afford gas – how about using the bus. I love in Bristol, RI and there’s pretty good bus service. And if they can’t afford that then how about walking? I walk 50 to 60 minutes a day for exercise and I’m only 2 years younger.

Really! I’ve always been a curious sort so, I have a few questions.
1. When did the inhabitants (citizens) of this country become such crybabies? It’s really easy to blame someone elso for your problems i.e. the govt….YOU voted for the ELECTED officials in office (if you didn’t vote I don’t even want to hear it) Why did you vote for the official you did? Did you research your choice? Did you contemplate what your choice would do? Did you just lazily trust the media to make the decision for you? Have you ever thought to run for office to make a change?

2. Are you really that bad off here? If it is truely that bad here go somewhere else. Take a minute and think it through though…where exactly will you go? If you can’t make it in America do you really think you will be able to “make it” anywhere else? This country gives you all the tools you need to succeed. Get off your ass and use them. If you don’t know where to find them, educate yourself.

3. Have you ever wondered why “The Greatest Generation” is called exactly that? They didn’t whine. They didn’t watch the news and get depressed (outwardly.) They did with less. They sacrificed. They worked…with a whole lot less tools than we have today…They came up with solutions. They helped each other get through the tough times. What do you want your generation to be called in the future?

4. Who ever told you it was going to be easy? America has never been called the “land of easy opportunity.”
Part of our heritage is going out and conquering the unknown no matter how difficult or unsurmountable the unknown seems to be.

5. Do you have an idea of how to make things better? Research it. Our country was founded on principles of hard work and education (research is both…and, if you’ve lost your job you just might have enough time to do just that.)

6. Are you focusing on “Me” or “We”? All the great movements start with thinking about it affects “Me” and quickly transforms into thoughts of “WE.” The founding fathers weren’t solely responsible for the Revolution, MLK wasn’t solely responsible for the Civil Rights Movement. G.W. Bush and the republicans aren’t the reason we’re where we are either. We can all take some of the blame. Conversely, Obama won’t be the reason things get better. The beauty of capitalism is that it adapts to a changing enviornment because of needs. Figure out the mistakes that led you (us) here and adapt to the future.

How the economy is affecting me/you and what to do about it.

My employer has reduced the work week to only 4 days. However, I had seen this coming for months now and have prepared by doing two things.

#1. Save enough money to cover your expenses for at least a few months in case of a lay off. Cash is King in the “short” term. This will help you when you have to receive unemployment benefits and the additional money you saved will help you weather the storm while you find another job.

#2. After you have saved enough money for the short term in case of being laid off, take that additional money and buy Silver and Gold for the medium term when inflation is going to hit all of us. This way you can protect yourself in the medium term.

It’s all about planning people.

Just wanted to expand a little more on my “pump” not “prime” the economy theory and to correct my email address used.;)

The “behind-the-scenes” goal of pumping the economy with steady bursts of stimulus vs a single big stimulus is to create long term Demand that builds on itself.

By giving the people a steady supply of money over a long period of time, we create demand because as people spend the money on things they want/need, companies will need to increase supply to meet demand. The result is more jobs. As people become hired, they earn more money and thus create additional demand which then needs more supply. Eventually, the economy is running again at a higher rate (steady waves).

As stated previously, when you are in a deep recession as we are, it takes multiple bursts of calculated and planned stimulus to keep it moving till it can survive on its own. This is the difference between a recession (takes only single stimulus) and a “reset/deep recession” which takes calculated multiple stimulus over a longer period of time. But make it planned. If it is planned, people are less afraid of “will there be money in my pocket tomorrow?”

Just more thoughts.;) HTH.

i see that the new pres is going to let california set new fuel standards for vehicles. don’t those idiots out there understand that they are broke and paying extra for oil companies and auto makers to have to comply with some ridiculous government standard is only adding to their problems?

They’re not giving a $500 check to the people in the middle class.

Bailing out wealthy CEOs is not bailing out the economy, nor even the institutions. It is finishing off the 99% for the benefit of the 1% who still live in multiple mansions, like the head of Lehman Bros. I, patriotically, spent last year’s “stimulus” on something I wanted but did not need. Since then, however, I have been unable to fill my gas tank, seen those prices manipulated down (before the election) and now back up. I’m on a low fixed income. I will never be able to retire completely. I cannot move to a smaller home because I cannot afford to lose half the value of my current one in the process. I have always conserved. There is very little more I can do except live on rice and beans and never leave the house and hope heat prices don’t rise more. Stimulating the economy does not mean bailouts, unless those are given to Americans needing a hand up. Cheaper to send $20000 to each of us (I’d buy a new car immediately, even if it were mandated to be American-made) than pay off hedge fund managers and CEOs. Instant jump start. Not to mention a little HOPE. Second prong of attack: Eliminate ALL taxes and regulations for small businesses for five years! THAT would spark entrepreneurship. Sadly, Govt has become the Monkey on our Backs, it is the problem, not part of the solution, because of its incredible greed. Money in our pockets and freedom to innovate, now THERE’s an American-made SOLUTION!

I’m part of a sector that seems to constantly be overlooked; I’m retired, there will be NO tax credit for me. If I did receive the $500 tax credit, I’d stash it to offset the yearly $1500 deductible with my medical plan!

We just got word this morning Home Depot is shutting down all there Expo Design Centers and Yard Birds this represents 33 Stores and 5000 Employees will be laidoff the recession just hit home.

The economy needs to be “pumped” not “primed/Stimulated.”

Suppose the economy is a body of water in which when running normal creates medium waves. A calm body of water represents depression. Large waves represents a booming economy.

The current philosophy is if we drop a big enough rock (Stimulus package) into the water, we will create a big enough wave to get it going again. This works when we are in a recession where just a large wave improves an already moving, but slowed economy. ie. The “big splash” theory.

When we are in a “reset or deep recession”, a single big stone will create a big wave, but then the wave dies out and we are no better off. However, if we use smaller rock and repeatedly drop them steadily over a longer period of time, we get the waves moving in a steady motion till it takes off.

My suggestion is that we need to plan to do a smaller stimulus such as $200 to $250 billion 4 times this year (every quarter). In other words, we spend the same amount we would for the big stimulus package, we just systematically spread it across a longer period of time. By steadily, over a period of a year “boosting” the economy, we generate steady motion which “jump starts” the economy instead of the “Big splash” theory as current planned.

I’m also a fan of bottom up vs. top down which means giving these steady boosts to the people instead of businesses. Let the people either save or spend the money. Either of these actions helps companies especially banks.

I don’t claim to have this all worked out. The goal is to share the idea and let it build from there. But for conversation, here is an example, let’s give every US Citizen adult $1k to $2k four times this year. This puts $4k to $8k back into people’s pockets to spend as they wish.

I believe a side effect of doing planned steady boosts to the economy over a long period of time also helps resolves people’s fears. If you know you will have more money coming to you, you are more likely to spend some of what you have verses holding on to it.

Just a thought.

the economy is in the shape it is because our government will not allow the natural selection of the fittest.
let the troubled companies fail, or work out their own survival. It won’t cause any more unemployment, in fact it would create more jobs. Small businesses would fill the need almost immediately and hire the experienced displacements just as fast.
let them fail or restructure, stop wasting tax money. at the end of the day there won’t be any taxes coming in if everyone is laid off.

Saving our economy involves a 2 prong attack. We must restore the confidence of the people. Confidence is a result of trust and trust is based on honesty. Therefore, we must weed out the dishonest management from All corporations, particularly from banks, investment houses, and insurance cos. How would we feel, if a hundred of us working people each depositing our hard earned money into our IRAs, only to see the CEO of that investment firm drive off with a new Mercedes the next day. Where do you think their money came from? I often wonder what the MBA programs have been teaching all these years. The second prong must be in job creation. However, this is easier said than done. The reason is that we are not trained to do work that is not in our own field. However, we must be ready to re-educate ourselves and be as adaptable as water. We must find out what kind of jobs are available. If nurses are in demand, study to become one; even if it means hitting the books again. Be motivated. We are Americans. We saved the world in WWII. We can certainly save ourselves. Finally, it is never too late to teach your kids: Save for a rainy day (when’s the last time your heard this?!)

TO the Immigrant,why have you NOT starting to become an USA citizen? Been here 10 yrs and will be having another child in Aug.09? what are you waiting for? I don’t feel sorry for you since you don’t care for the US only the monies it brings you.So sad that you havn’t had a vacation. I havn’t had a pay raise in three yrs or a vacation in five.

The current situation of the economy is scaring us as its different what i hoped of America was. I’m immigrant(Don’t guess that i have sent all my money to my country) moved here 10 years back. I have been the only working person in my family of 2 plus kid and expecting 4th member into our family in August’09. My wife has tried to get into job in last 3/4 years, nothing worked out. I think she has tried in every field. I spend all my paycheck just on mortgage and just the utilities and just the basic things. Even i almost spent all my money only in America in last 10 years. Th only vacation i take is going to my home country to see my family(Parents and siblings) which costs atleast 6-8K just for the tickets which i normally go once in 2 years. As economy got worse and prices of all the commodoties got increased by 30-50% in last 4 years.

I support the stimulus plan to individual tax payers. But who knows how many individual tax payers utilizing the money to re-invest or spend it in America. We don’t want checks in our accounts, We ask government to invest those stimulus money to create the jobs and confidence in the economy. We want Mr. President to care of our domestic issues rather than working on the foreign policy(like Bush has spent almost his term) atleast till we get our economy rolling on wheels.

Congress should also give 100% credit for the home owners who are making the home-renovated with energy efficient/for making Geen intitaives.

The money given to corporations as a bailout should have some strings attached that benefit the individuals. For example, force the banks and mortgage companies to adjust interest rates and payments downward to allow people to keep their homes and their credit. Limit the amount of interest that credit companies can charge to 10% or below.

Well i sell for a manufacturing firm that supplies blank barcoding labels(commodity) to manufacturers & distributors across the United States and we didnt notice a drop off unitl about the end of Dec 08 & we will not meet our growth we had Jan of 08 here in 09 , we will miss by about $500,00 it seems like companies are running out their inventories to the ground & then odrering at the last minute . I have seen about a 10-15 % drop in orders right now my wife stays home with our kids and has not worked in 10 years & i am combating groceries & house hold expenses CC DEBT we have two kids 8 & 4 their eating more & then just so many items thruout the house you need such as paper towels & toilet papaer , pull ups etc cant seem to get this x-pensse down versus making sure the bills are paid we are having some diificulty finding where too cut the pork& we dont go anywhere occasionaly we go out to eat but not every week. We will be fine i just have to keep adding new customer s in certain industries such as food & personal care but that takes 2-3 months .

The lost meaning of “Public Servant”
I personally think that a lot of the economic issues that now threaten the US stem from the loss of the definition of a public servant. Our elected officals have gotten so wrapped up in special interest groups, political reteric, and political survival they have forgotten the reason they are in office. Our economy is now on the verge of total collapse because our public servants were not acting in the nation’s best interests.
The only fix to the economic crisis we now face is a hard look at what Americans have gotten used to. The habitual desire to spend every dollar for what we want in stead of what we need must change.
The idea that anything is obtainable now and you can pay for it later has left the future generation tetering on the brink. The recent bank bailouts and any future large institution bailout will not benefit the overall psychie of the American consumer. It will only support the notion that if you mess up the government is there to correct the problem.
I wish the normal consumer would get the treatment enjoyed by large corporations as often as they have recieved it. I may be unpopular with most but I am not a fan of bailing out companies that have marginalized there buisnesses and are now facing collapse. Should the retirements of there employees be secured, yes, but the survival of the company should be left to the mercy of the open market. If these companies are not left to be destroyed then any hope of entrepenturial spirit is crushed. New business can arise from the collapse of another. With any luck that new buisness will learn from the mistakes of the old business and make different bad choices.

Heres my quick fix for the economy,
everyone who makes less than 100,000.
a year will recieve 20,000.stim.check,
which will boost the economy,now you don`t have to bail out the car dealership or banks because the people
will be using that money to pay their mortgages, car loans,credit cards,etc.
which will build up the economy.we the PEOPLE will do it right..how could you take trillions that will put us in a bankrup,keep that up and some other country will be flying their flags here…all american me

It is a shame that politics are actualy controlling this country.Let people understand the real significance of attaining the american dream, WE ALL NEED TO HAVE A ROOF OVER OUR HEADS. Mr. President you can help us now , why giving banks billion of dollars and getting their worries about who and how they are going to get pay (profits)do something to make those real este brokers and related respond for what they have done.

In this struggling economy I have learned that if you are not a legal citizen and have a child in the US you can be covered by medicaid. I have llearned that I have to work to let someone else have the right to not work and have free hospitalization and medical treatment while I struggle to make a copay. I have learned that one income can’t possibly afford the bare neccessities for one person nevertheless a family. I have learned that FICA and the IRS take more than they give. I have learned that by raising the minimum wage doesn’t necessarily mean my pay will increase if my employer believes I am already making more than I am worth. I have learned that you can’t save for the future when you have to eat, buy gas, and have electricity today. I have learned what it is to be on the bottom of a totem pole where the people on top are still complaining about not making enough, yet, they are making more than me.

I am 60 years young disabled and no job! I have a home, paid in full. Not too many bills ($1,000 per month) and do not owe anyone any money.
I have a 6-month C.D. ($100,000) and regular savings account -$10,000. Also I have or had $45,000 in Biotech stock.
In the event of another “Great Depression” and my bank goes under, what will happen to my F.D.I.C. C.D.? Who will give me my $100,000 back if the Fed also fails? What should I do to protect myself? Put my money in the mattress? What else can I do to diversify my assets?
Thank you in advance for any advice you can give me and many more in my possions
Till Then… BJ, San Diego

We have been in real estate and mortgage lending and are retirement age and recieve social security. We never had 401K’s or savings but were hoping to someday retire with a little equity on 2 small rentals and eventually pay off our principal residence. Instead it has all backfired, almost like it was planned. In our city(Las Vegas) so many people in our line of business are unemployed,yet not even counted in the statistics because we cannot get unemployment benefits nor can the younger ones keep up their health plans. Most everyone I know is upside down and has created much more debt just trying to stay afloat but that option is just about over. Everyone, who stubbornly tried to hold on to real estate and had started small businesses can no longer keep their houses. Some of the small businesses are restaurants and office space. Until the stimulous plan can mandate that people can stay in their homes by stopping foreclosures or letting judges modify them through bankruptcy reorganization, I cannot see a positve outlook in any of these businesses getting back on track. It doesn’t work when the CEO of Merrill Lynch spends 1.2 million for redecorating but when these millions of home owners are helped and can again get out there and purchase furniture, do improvements and visit a restaurant without worrying about paying bills next week, will our economy get the positive psychological boost it needs to forge ahead. And just think of all the people who will be put back to work who aren’t even showing up in the unemployment lines. Getting the housing stabilized will help Americans get back to work in just about every type of work or business and will eliminate the need for any more bailouts that do nothing.