Change. It has already happened.

[turney31]

Sobering food for thought! Thank you.

 

[chicknerd]

What I want to know is how is the country going to continue to consume, which drives the economy, when the majority of the population no longer has jobs which pay living wages???

You are so correct about manufacturing. In every recession prior it was manufacturing that got the country out of recession. With so little manufacturing left there is not enough manufacturing to lift the country out of recession. That is why we are stuck.

It is so simple - bring manufacturing back to the USA, give the population living wages and we will consume. Look at Germany. They maintain that a certain amount of manufacturing must be in country. Their country is stable.

It frustrates me to no end that the powers that be (on both sides of the aisle) refuse to see this, and if they do, they refuse to act on it.

 

[Camelot Farms]

True confession....

Hubby bought me a surprise gift for my birthday which as usual scared me because unless I have specifically asked for it, I probably dont want it cause I have already bought it for myself.
I opened up the package to find a Pandigital Novel. My 1st thought was 'Hurry and put on your happy face cause you know the one on there now is one of shock and dismay'

I then ooh-ed and ahhh-ed, all the while thinking how much money he spent on something that I will NOT use. I am an avid BOOK lover. I love the smell, I love the way that I can flip back and forth between pages. I love my bookshelf full of amazin reads.

But since he was so excited about giving it to me, I gave it the benefit of the doubt and set it up and started playing with it.

In the words of Rhandi Jayne Dollinger.... Woooah Pony! I havent put the thing down in 2 weeks.
I have read 3 books on it and occasionally even forget that it is a digital reader and reach up to turn the page.
I get my email on it, I pay my bills with it, I have downloaded all of my play lists to it, its waaaaymazing.

So, yes. Even those of us who are pretty sure that we like things just the way that they are can be dragged into technoworld and Mahroni's information is spot on.

And as for fearmongering, I found it more a case of food for thought and discussion.

 

[RabbitMage]

I have a feeling I might be a little younger than previous commenters. I look over that first list, and none of that really upsets me or worries me. I can't think of any of my peers that worry heavily over any of those, either.

The Post Office: I worry about this, but mostly because my dad's a letter carrier. He seems to think despite financial trouble, rumors of the post office's demise are greatly exaggerated. I don't think many of us in the 18-30 range are worried about it, though. Mail is still important, it'll get there somehow. If the post office fails, that's one of those times The Glorious Hand of the Free Market will step in, right? Maybe it'll cost $20 to mail a birthday card, but that's what e-mail and Facebook is for.

The Check: I have a checkbook. It's the the same one I got when I was 18 (almost 8 years ago). I've used maybe a dozen checks in that time. I think debit is faster and easier for most of us. Personally I'm making an effort to keep cash on me, because I have trouble keeping track of money no matter what medium. Actually being able to count what I have in my wallet helps. But I can pay with my debit card almost anywhere, and if I can't, there's always an ATM nearby.

The newspaper: The same content is available online, and not just through the paper's website. You have access to your choice of news network websites, blogs, anything you want. It's possible some places might start charging for services, but typically people will begin using another site. There may come a day when nothing on the net is free, but I know a lot of people who are dedicated to fighting that tooth and nail. My parents have a bi-weekly subscription to the paper, and I usually end up at least thumbing through the Sunday edition, in addition to my online reading.

The book: I am one of those people who likes the tactile experience of books. I like how they look, I like holding them, and I especially love Old Book Smell. I know a few people who use a Nook or Kindle to do most of their reading, but you know what? They still buy books.

Land lines: Our DSL works through our landline in a process I don't even pretend to understand. However, I haven't used a landline to place a phone call in who knows how long. I wouldn't cry if I didn't have one, though I understand it's a necessity for others.

Music: MP3s are so much easier. I think if we were using records, where the album art was still a major part of the experience, I'd be more upset. I do still buy CDs to support artists I really love, or if one of my favorites puts out a special edition. Otherwise it's all digital. If I'm listening to music I'm either on the computer or in the car, or occasionally out in the barn. The computers stores all my music, the CD player even in my old truck reads MP3 files, and I have an old set of computer speakers and a cheap MP3 player out in the barn. It's a lot easier than hauling CDs back and forth.

Also, there is good, innovative music out there. You just have to look for it since it rarely hits the airwaves.

TV: I like having mine on as background noise, but I have started watching a few things online. It's nice to sit down when I have some free time and watch three shows in the time it would have taken to see one, or catch up on a whole season of something on a lazy day.

Things: You always have the option to have things. Even if people stop selling them. You can get books for cheap at thrift stores and yard sales. You can burn you own CDs. You can print your own pictures. If you want 'things', you can still have them.

Privacy: I think this is a more real concern, but not as it's outlined in this oft-forwarded e-mail.

 

[PineappleMama]

On the "poof"... been there. SBC's system is all weird... paid our bill and the phone department got the memo, but the DSL department didn't, so 17 days after payment posted the disconnected our DSL. Not just flipped the switch cut off, but killed it. We lost all our email accounts, all emails saved, all pics saved, EVERYTHING. So I'm already paranoid about all that.

But on the same note I do pay my bills online so getting copies in the mail seems wasteful. Back when I took that bill to the grocery and paid my bill in cash it was different, and I'm always concerned that something will happen and I'll need to do that again so I hate to cut off all bills coming... but again, the waste.

Just on that one issue I'm torn.

Book wise... I can't handle looking at a screen for two long, many folks can't, so converting to electronic would vastly alter my reading habits. Normally I read a LOT, usually from the clearance rack but still, that WILL change if E-books are my only option. I hope paper doesn't go the way of the dodo but I can see how it's likely.