Depressing Economy

[Ed.R]

Guys,
I also don't believe selling my boats is going to solve anything. If I could sell one RTR scale a week, we might be talking, but my two riggers are just not going to mount any kind of attack against the onslaught of bills that seem to overflow the mailbox on a daily basis. I think I'll hang onto them. This way, when the water softens up a bit, I can go to the pond with what fuel I have left and throw my longest finger up in the air to the economy, because I at least still have my toys.

As for the "STIMULUS package"..... I watched to vote take place on C-SPAN the other day. The vote passed in the House by almost the EXACT margin the Democrats hold majority. Nearly every democrat voted for it (all by three, I think) and every Republican voted against it. Without going to deep into the politics, this tells me the package STINKS. I listened to spokesmen from both sides comment on the subject, and the package that was dropped in favor of the one that passed the House vote is far and away better. What can you say? The liberals are in control. It was their plan, so it's going through. I'm not counting on anything falling my way. From what I understand, "WE THE PEOPLE" aren't going to get any cash now, but rather they are going to distribute it ON OUR BEHALF to where they think it will to the most good, which means it's going to go to every bleeding heart micro special interest faction you can think of and the economy can just fly away for all they care. It's really kind of scary. The people who have lead us, from the lower decks, into the shallowest waters we've been in since WWII, are now in full command of the ship, with nobody able to challenge them. They've got the sails at full, the wheel is tied and they're standing on the bow like Leonardo DiCaprio, waving to the huddled masses, telling them there on no rocks to worry about.

It really doesn't matter what they do with the money. It's kind of like the "give me a fish, teach me to fish" thing: They can give us all a fish by handing us a check or they can teach us to fish by supportoing our employers. The problem now is they don't intend on doing either. They're going to throw the fish overboard and tell us that the sharks will be much happier and might not eat too many more of us.

I hope Oprah is proud of herself.

Thanks. Brad.

Titan Racing Components

BlackJack Hydros

I blame Oprah for this whole stinking mess. And I thank God I don’t wake up from this bad dream and find her in my bed. Now that would be a cataclysmic event!!!!!!!

Man , I really didn't need that image planted in my head .............

Ed

 

[Don Ferrette]

Guys,
I also don't believe selling my boats is going to solve anything. If I could sell one RTR scale a week, we might be talking, but my two riggers are just not going to mount any kind of attack against the onslaught of bills that seem to overflow the mailbox on a daily basis. I think I'll hang onto them. This way, when the water softens up a bit, I can go to the pond with what fuel I have left and throw my longest finger up in the air to the economy, because I at least still have my toys.

As for the "STIMULUS package"..... I watched to vote take place on C-SPAN the other day. The vote passed in the House by almost the EXACT margin the Democrats hold majority. Nearly every democrat voted for it (all by three, I think) and every Republican voted against it. Without going to deep into the politics, this tells me the package STINKS. I listened to spokesmen from both sides comment on the subject, and the package that was dropped in favor of the one that passed the House vote is far and away better. What can you say? The liberals are in control. It was their plan, so it's going through. I'm not counting on anything falling my way. From what I understand, "WE THE PEOPLE" aren't going to get any cash now, but rather they are going to distribute it ON OUR BEHALF to where they think it will to the most good, which means it's going to go to every bleeding heart micro special interest faction you can think of and the economy can just fly away for all they care. It's really kind of scary. The people who have lead us, from the lower decks, into the shallowest waters we've been in since WWII, are now in full command of the ship, with nobody able to challenge them. They've got the sails at full, the wheel is tied and they're standing on the bow like Leonardo DiCaprio, waving to the huddled masses, telling them there on no rocks to worry about.

It really doesn't matter what they do with the money. It's kind of like the "give me a fish, teach me to fish" thing: They can give us all a fish by handing us a check or they can teach us to fish by supporting our employers. The problem now is they don't intend on doing either. They're going to throw the fish overboard and tell us that the sharks will be much happier and might not eat too many more of us.

I hope Oprah is proud of herself.

Thanks. Brad.

Titan Racing Components

BlackJack Hydros

I blame Oprah for this whole stinking mess. And I thank God I don’t wake up from this bad dream and find her in my bed. Now that would be a cataclysmic event!!!!!!!

Man , I really didn't need that image planted in my head .............

Ed

OMG that mental image curls one's spine!

 

[Ron Olson]

Ever see her without make-up? SCARIER!

 

[TomMoorehouse]

she has 6 toes!

 

[Ron Olson]

Tom, stop it, you're scaring the children! :wacko:

 

[carlnoki]

AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[bsmtboy2]

My prayers go out to all of my boating friends who have fell on hard times. We all need to revert back to the lessons our grandparents taught us: live under your means,grow your own food or only kill what you can eat, always save for a rainy day, and get on your knees and pray!!!! We americans have become so soft in the last 40 years that we forgot how to survive tough times. I feel the pinch as well, it has been spaghetti in my house twice a week, only use seperate cars when working, pack lunches for all,and no dining out or trips to the movies. I sold my big boat when gas was 4.00 a gal. last year. My wife hates the changes but it is going to get worse before things turn up. Stock up on Ramen noodles and pb&j.

 

[pda75]

Hi guys

France (Europe) faces the same issues. The sad news is that most people believe that the US is responsible for the crisis.

Let's be clear : I am not a lawyer looking for a case. I don't want to lunch a forum war : europe vs US responsiblity. I am not a financial expert either and my only comment is the following : Madoff is one person and does not represent all americans and by the way, we have our own thief in France, but like in many area, they are less expert than americans ... :lol: (5 billions fraud only...)

I have pointed out this belief because I am afraid that countries will concentrate on them selves, that it will be more complicated to travel or even exchange best practices between us.

cheers

Pierre

 

[John Crouch]

After reading a lot of the posts made here and analizing to the best of my ability what has been said, I agree that the goverment has truly let us down. But at the same time, we have let our own selves down as well. I think that everyone is guilty of living beyond our means, myself included. I have gotten to the point now that if I can't pay cash for it, I am not getting it. I really wish that I took more like my Dad because he has been that way all his life. I dont think that he ever had a credit card until about 15 years ago and that was only becuase he took my mom on a cruise and had to have one to pay the tab at the end of the cruise and paid it off as soon as he got home!!! I have 2 step childern, who I treat just as if they were my own, My boy is in his second year at Univeristy of DE and I feel sorry for what he is gonna have to deal with when he finishes up and has to start paying off his student loans. Now my step daughter, is a different story, wants it all, and has a fit when she doesnt get it. We both finally set her down with us when we sit at the table and pay bills so she can see what is going on with our income. Finally it is getting thru her head, but it is a very slow process. Of course I did loose it the other week when she got this great idea that we were gonna go out and by here a car. At that point I explained to her that my parents never gave me one and I was willing to do the same for her that they did for me. Put the down payment and she was responcible for the rest. When she found that she would have to get a job and spend her own money, it no longer sounded like such a good idea.

I guess what I am saying is that we must take control of our own destiny and not rely on the government officials to fix this for us. I really don't think that they can nor do they want too, its just not in there best interest. I am by no means a expert on either politics or the economy, so if I have pissed anyone off by what I have stated here, I am sorry.................

John Crouch

 

[impba3548]

After reading a lot of the posts made here and analizing to the best of my ability what has been said, I agree that the goverment has truly let us down. But at the same time, we have let our own selves down as well. I think that everyone is guilty of living beyond our means, myself included. I have gotten to the point now that if I can't pay cash for it, I am not getting it. I really wish that I took more like my Dad because he has been that way all his life. I dont think that he ever had a credit card until about 15 years ago and that was only becuase he took my mom on a cruise and had to have one to pay the tab at the end of the cruise and paid it off as soon as he got home!!! I have 2 step childern, who I treat just as if they were my own, My boy is in his second year at Univeristy of DE and I feel sorry for what he is gonna have to deal with when he finishes up and has to start paying off his student loans. Now my step daughter, is a different story, wants it all, and has a fit when she doesnt get it. We both finally set her down with us when we sit at the table and pay bills so she can see what is going on with our income. Finally it is getting thru her head, but it is a very slow process. Of course I did loose it the other week when she got this great idea that we were gonna go out and by here a car. At that point I explained to her that my parents never gave me one and I was willing to do the same for her that they did for me. Put the down payment and she was responcible for the rest. When she found that she would have to get a job and spend her own money, it no longer sounded like such a good idea.
I guess what I am saying is that we must take control of our own destiny and not rely on the government officials to fix this for us. I really don't think that they can nor do they want too, its just not in there best interest. I am by no means a expert on either politics or the economy, so if I have pissed anyone off by what I have stated here, I am sorry.................

John Crouch

Amen John!

I came up during hard times and it wasnt the best but it taught me to live within my means, and if I couldnt make it and save money, I worked two jobs or had a gig of some kind going to turn a buck or two to pay for the extra's and keep credit to a bare minimum.... This philosophy has worked well for me.. I just pray for a speedy recovery for todays economy....

just an opinion from an older guy

mike sr

 

[AWaddle322]

The sad part of it all is that know one has figured out that withthe bailouts and stimulous packages have no chance of working. The people that make this country's economy work ( the people that do not need bank loans ) will be unwilling to take chances with what money they have especially with an amministration that believes that a stimoulous package could work ( there is not but one place the stimoulous package can come from but taxes). People that we once aggresive about making money now relize in these times that the risk are not worth the chances and will look for less aggresive ways to make a living and expsoe there self to less exposer.

The banking industries woes started all of this and has the ability to criple this nations econmy as we know it. Lets all pray this does not happen.

Allen W

 

[Don Ferrette]

The banking industries woes started all of this and has the ability to cripple this nations economy as we know it. Lets all pray this does not happen.

Allen makes a very good point in that the banking industry cares not for anyone but themselves. They were given huge sums of bailout money and will not extend lending, something they were supposed to do. On top of that you have this, right off the AP wire, being kept quiet by the liberal left wing media-

"Banks collecting billions of dollars in federal bailout money sought government permission to bring thousands of foreign workers to the U.S. for high-paying jobs, according to an Associated Press review of visa applications.

The dozen banks receiving the biggest rescue packages, totaling more than $150 billion, requested visas for more than 21,800 foreign workers over the past six years for positions that included senior vice presidents, corporate lawyers, junior investment analysts and human resources specialists. The average annual salary for those jobs was $90,721, nearly twice the median income for all American households.

The figures are significant because they show that the bailed-out banks, being kept afloat with U.S. taxpayer money, actively sought to hire foreign workers instead of American workers. As the economic collapse worsened last year — with huge numbers of bank employees laid off — the numbers of visas sought by the dozen banks in AP's analysis increased by nearly one-third, from 3,258 in fiscal 2007 to 4,163 in fiscal 2008."

Isn't that just great.......... :angry:

 

[LarryConrad]

Awe, You're all just a bunch of worry warts, the polar ice caps are going to melt in a few more months and wash this whole mess away. Hang on kiddies we're going for a ride!

 

[TERMINATOR]

Awe, You're all just a bunch of worry warts, the polar ice caps are going to melt in a few more months and wash this whole mess away. Hang on kiddies we're going for a ride!

yep and the water will thaw out soon and ya'all that had to sell your stuff ..comon down and ill let you run one of mine. hell i cannot paly with them all at once..seriously fellas all this down and bummer talk is crazy we need to breathe in some of that beautiful weather we had yesterday and enjoy life..we are here for a very short time and im rockin and rollin everyday..might be broke at the end of the week , but the "man" will never take away my birthday..well till god calls my number. "HE IS THE ONLY ONE I AM AFRAID OF"..later guys cheer up we are all in this together, and only the strong survive.

tk

 

[68Bud]

yep and the water will thaw out soon and ya'all that had to sell your stuff ..comon down and ill let you run one of mine. hell i cannot paly with them all at once..seriously fellas all this down and bummer talk is crazy we need to breathe in some of that beautiful weather we had yesterday and enjoy life..we are here for a very short time and im rockin and rollin everyday..might be broke at the end of the week , but the "man" will never take away my birthday..well till god calls my number. "HE IS THE ONLY ONE I AM AFRAID OF"..later guys cheer up we are all in this together, and only the strong survive.

tk

I purposely had not looked at this thread because I am currently not working due to a lay off. But I am glad I peeked in today...Right on, Terminator, you hit the nail on the head, thanks, I needed that.

 

[SayMikey]

The banking industries woes started all of this and has the ability to cripple this nations economy as we know it. Lets all pray this does not happen.

Allen makes a very good point in that the banking industry cares not for anyone but themselves. They were given huge sums of bailout money and will not extend lending, something they were supposed to do. On top of that you have this, right off the AP wire, being kept quiet by the liberal left wing media-

"Banks collecting billions of dollars in federal bailout money sought government permission to bring thousands of foreign workers to the U.S. for high-paying jobs, according to an Associated Press review of visa applications.

The dozen banks receiving the biggest rescue packages, totaling more than $150 billion, requested visas for more than 21,800 foreign workers over the past six years for positions that included senior vice presidents, corporate lawyers, junior investment analysts and human resources specialists. The average annual salary for those jobs was $90,721, nearly twice the median income for all American households.

The figures are significant because they show that the bailed-out banks, being kept afloat with U.S. taxpayer money, actively sought to hire foreign workers instead of American workers. As the economic collapse worsened last year — with huge numbers of bank employees laid off — the numbers of visas sought by the dozen banks in AP's analysis increased by nearly one-third, from 3,258 in fiscal 2007 to 4,163 in fiscal 2008."

Isn't that just great.......... :angry:

The banks got into this mess because the government wanted to make sure lower income could afford housing. So the bad loans began and has had the crippling effect we now see. Add in the fact that car dealers sold millions of cars to people that could not afford to buy much less take care of. Then add in fuel costs,myself included got to a point i was sick every time i filled the tank. Fuel cost more jacking up the cost for everyone to do business and here we are,not many spending money for anything extra. Price gouging has begun at our local grocery store who was bought out by an IGA chain<THANKS Its going to take some time to work thru all this mess all we can do is hold on and remember who was making money on us in this hard time. I heard Exxon Mobile had a 45 billion dollar profit last quarter wonder if they could use some bail out $$$$$$$$

 

[CySlyde]

I heard Exxon Mobile had a 45 billion dollar profit last quarter wonder if they could use some bail out $$$$$$$$

they will, but only because they are going to give thier CEO's COO's and the like all 40bil bonuses :lol:

 

[MarkScott]

Well, just found out this week that I will most likely be out of a job by the end of the year. As it seems with all other CEO's, they look for their bottom line. Wonder how hard it will be to take my boats to India for the required 6 weeks "knowledge transfer". If I don't go, then there is no severance pay. Hard to throw away 6 months pay...

 

[AFIRacing]

This all began when our buddy Clinton told all the lenders you will approve all of those loans for any and all minoritys or we will cut funding, then told all the minoritys if you don't get into a home loan start screaming disrimination and they did. 8 years later we have the next Clinton in office who promised us the world to get in there and now you see what we have the beginning of the end, hopefully that bastard will come down with the swine flu ,,, tomorrow would still be too late, I have been self employed for 210 years and have felt alot of economic ups and downs, this is not gonna be good times coming ,,bank your money,become more self sufficent, solar energy,cooking at home, grow your own vegtables and get a few chickens cows,and buy a freezer. This idiot is on a mission to sink us so we will have to depend on guess who to exist....3rd world countrys The Bildenburg Group (125 of the most richest powerfull people in the world)has carefully planned our demise strategicly over the past 3-4 years alluring everyone to beleive life is good get all the credit you want, buy houses with 1200.00- 2200.00 mortgage payments invest in the stockmarkets that are ballooned by the brokers,,,,,,how long did you expect this fallacy to last ????? forever shame on you if you had let this smoke crawl up your ass . Nobody is gonna get any of that bailout money unless you are an ceo or other executive of these lowlife companys that that have managed to suck the government nipple. Give the money back to us, what makes you beleive these bailout bloodsuckers are going to fix ther mismanagment problems. fire all the dead weight and put educated americans in charge if it isn't too late

Steve Hearl

 

[AFIRacing]

Alright ,

I did not read the whole thread before posting, as i have now what I said has been covered and still stands as the thurth Thanks Steve