Depression? Is it coming?

[nccountrygirl]

Quote:
NC don't let this stuff get you down. You are always a happy soul here.

This is why I hate threads like this. They succeed in nothing but spreading fear.
Several of you came up with intellegent and articulate responses but you are
speaking to deaf ears. The same thread happens every 2 months or so, even
in good economies.

We all should get down on our knees and thank whatever God we worship for what
we have.

Thanks PC. it really doesn't get me down and I do thank God for all he has allowed me to have. All I have to do is watch the news each day and see the turmoil that the third world countries are in and I see how truly blessed I am. Yes this is a doomsday thread and I wish all of you the best.

 

[speckledhen]

MayberrySaint wrote:
Unemployment rates are 5.5%...one of the lowest in the civilized world. Gas prices are $4.00 per gallon...they have been higher in Europe for the last 20 years. The vast majority of foreclosures are due to people borrowing more money than they should have and living high on the hog. Interest rates are extremely low...remember 1981? They were 22%. The vast majority of people who are in financial trouble are driving $40K SUVs...eating out constantly...living in McMansions and spending way beyond their means. It seems like most people think they deserve a vacation every year...cell phones for the whole family...250 channels of cable TV, etc. Yes...prices have gone up...tighten your belts and ride it out. Make a budget and stick to it. Work a second job if necessary. We are no where near a depression...20-30% unemployment...soup lines...mass migrations to California, etc.
An example of the hysteria of gas prices...if you drive 18,000 miles a year and get 30 mpg...a $2 increase in gas prices costs you $3.29 per day. I think I can definitely, skip a lunch out and pack a sandwich or put-off buying a pair of shoes each month to offset the gas increase. Now... if your vehicle doesn't get 30 mpg and you are driving a behemoth, you only have yourself to blame.

The only thing I have issue with out of all you said is that it is irrelevant to me what gas prices are in Europe. I don't care and won't compare us to Europe. We are not Europe. We have different culture, different lifestyle. And I'm not moving back into a city, where I can't be as self sufficient, just to change my lifestyle to another way that is more gas-saver friendly.
And FutureChickenMan, I totally agree that it's dumb to spend all that money on a hybrid car if you have a vehicle that gets decent mileage and is paid for, like my own situation. I'd sell the old gas-hog 4WD truck, but we are do-it-yourselfers and cannot pay someone to build everything or haul stuff home for us. Its old, paid for and needed for us to be self-sufficient. And it doesn't get driven unless a truck is specifially needed. The A/C is out on both and right now, neither are getting fixed. Long ago, we gave up cellphones. No A/C at home. No central heat in winter. Neither of us go to work, so no expenses for work clothes, lunches, gas to get there and back. Neither of us smoke or drink and what's a movie? So, we live frugally. No HDTVs that can't be repaired for us. We can't even fix a leaky porch roof, for heavens sake. We live 12 miles from town and the closest grocery store, but that's one thing I wont compromise on-I will not move back into "civilization" just to make it more convenient. The least safe places in times of crisis are the cities. Life is hard and getting harder, no doubt about it. What happens when there's nothing left to cut out? What happens when every drop of enjoyment is squeezed from life? What will people do to each other then our of sheer anguish and frustration? That worries me a bit.​

 

[morelcabin]

http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=213343

I'm not sure what is going on, but I do think that we might be best to prepare for something...

 

[morelcabin]

Quote:
The only thing I have issue with out of all you said is that it is irrelevant to me what gas prices are in Europe. I don't care and won't compare us to Europe. We are not Europe. We have different culture, different lifestyle. And I'm not moving back into a city, where I can't be as self sufficient, just to change my lifestyle to another way that is more gas-saver friendly.
And FutureChickenMan, I totally agree that it's dumb to spend all that money on a hybrid car if you have a vehicle that gets decent mileage and is paid for, like my own situation. I'd sell the old gas-hog 4WD truck, but we are do-it-yourselfers and cannot pay someone to build everything or haul stuff home for us. Its old, paid for and needed for us to be self-sufficient. And it doesn't get driven unless a truck is specifially needed. The A/C is out on both and right now, neither are getting fixed. Long ago, we gave up cellphones. No A/C at home. No central heat in winter. Neither of us go to work, so no expenses for work clothes, lunches, gas to get there and back. Neither of us smoke or drink and what's a movie? So, we live frugally. No HDTVs that can't be repaired for us. We can't even fix a leaky porch roof, for heavens sake. We live 12 miles from town and the closest grocery store, but that's one thing I wont compromise on-I will not move back into "civilization" just to make it more convenient. The least safe places in times of crisis are the cities. Life is hard and getting harder, no doubt about it. What happens when there's nothing left to cut out? What happens when every drop of enjoyment is squeezed from life? What will people do to each other then our of sheer anguish and frustration? That worries me a bit.

There are always ways to find enjoyment...there are alot of free things we can do that are alot of fun...

We drive trucks...we won't even think of driving a car. My husband spends at least 1/2 his working hours travelling Northern Ontario highways and he needs 4x4. My jeep isn't much better but I will never be stranded and that is what I count on. 4-5 feet of snow just doesn't make a car very useful:>) I don't work, so I only use my jeep for necessities. Like you, speckled hen, we are do it yourselfers, we heat by wood so have to go get it...there are alot of reasons people drive gas guzzlers:>) We don't have air conditioning, and we do cancel the TV services for the summers. I would rather not have a TV at all...but no one else here agrees:>)

 

[Davaroo]

I want to make some clever comment or share some of the statistics I have that most of you may have never seen.

But I wont. It would only be unwelcome and serve to get everyones dander up.

Ill only say that you all are being so well behaved in this post. It hasnt been locked yet, so good for all of you!

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Quote:
I agree with much of what you've written. Right now, Plug-in Hybrids are pretty much available to only those who can afford the higher cost. Those who would benefit most from a P-I Hybrid can't afford to buy them! There hasn't been much motivation until now to make these options readily available to the American consumer and there has been some wrangling over the technology and over the making certain batteries available to the companies that could put them to use (I'm thinking of the controversy regarding Cobasys which holds a patent on the NiMH battery, and which is currently held in majority by Chevron). And yes, the Li-Ion batteries hold some promise for better mileage, but there are kinks to be worked out there as well. The Lithium Ion Phosphate batteries are also getting some good press, with the ability to recharge to 70% capacity in just 10 minutes, and with a lesser possibility of exploding like the Li-Ion (which sounds good to me!). Unfortunately, Li-Ion Phosphate technology is a Chinese product. Seems to me that we could put some of our Silicon Valley folks to work to find something that'll work well for us. Our trade deficit and national debt to China is already high enough as it is! As you may know, Toyota is supposed to come out with a P-I Hybrid in the 2010 model, but with only a 7 mile range, I'm not sure it's going to be worth the extra cost.

Yes, much work is left to be done!

 

[Promiselandfarm]

Americans have charged until they have over charged into the point of no return. We are a "gotta have it now" society. I don't think that if we have really hard times like in the depression it will be as "pleasant" of an experience. Crime today is not like it was then. People will shoot you now if you look at them wrong or cut them off on the highway. I do not mean the depression was a pleasant experience either. America and other countries can not be compared. Their countries are like a state think about geographics here. We are a huge nation not Europe. France, Italy, Spain they have wonderful trains to zip you to were you need to go for a small amount of money. I live in a very rural part of Tennessee if I want to go to town it is a 30 minute drive to the big city and a 15 minute drive to the very rural small city which does not sell computer items or clothes(unless you count Dollar General). There is no train or subway to take me there, I have to drive as do many rural Americans. I do not think we should even compare ourselves to a third world country, we have advanced past that stage.
I do not have cable and never have, I hope I never do. I do not have time to watch tv. We do rent movies now and again. Our farm is paid for from hard work. We did only have paid for trucks but with the gas pricing we were paying more than a new car payment. So we got a highlander because some people have to have those SUV because they have a huge family! I could not get my children in a 5 seater car.
As far as who get elected, this is the first year I do not even want to vote! I do not like either side. I did love someone's post about the politicians not caring because they have the health care, retirement and security! I can said AMEN! So true. Most people only care about things when it starts to affect them. There are exceptions of those who truely care for their fellow man.
I do think our countries poor/middle class/rich %s are changing there are more poor and less middle and more rich.
As I stated before I live in a rural part of Tennessee I see people who are hard working. They do not have all the add things in life and are struggling just to stay afloat! People who are just average joes are loosing their jobs left and right because of cut backs. They are doing odd jobs just to fill the tank and feed their families. Not extra cell phones, cable and such but basic needs. The poor are being hit extra hard with the gas pricing the way it is. Because the gas prices do effect the rest because most things are hauled in.
You guys have chickens have you noticed that feed prices have gone up? Fertilizer prices have gone up. Corn prices have gone way up. Corn is in everything...even dog food(started looking after that scare of feed being bad).

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Quote:
Interesting! And, it's not getting any better. The report mentions the corn production in Illinois. My cousin in Illinois works in this industry. The weather has been so out of whack that millions of corn acres and 4 times that of bean acres are still unplanted as of this point in time.

So, if you all haven't done so, get your gardens going. I don't personally think there's any reason to panic at this point, but growing a garden is rewarding and it certainly won't hurt! If nothing more, you'll enjoy lots of tasty food from your own yard and won't have to drive to town to get it!

 

[yotetrapper]

<<I propose we stay away from the topic of guns and arms, simply because it is a heated issue, bound to get the thread closed. >>

Have to ride this one out without me if that is a stipulation of the thread.

 

[amysue2012]

Raise your chickens, grow your gardens, can your veggies...be smart about it. Don't spend more than the cash in your pocket.