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dirtineye
Trad climber
the south
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Sep 18, 2008 - 02:14pm PT
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Try this one too:
Worker productivity in USA up 76% in last 8 years.
Wages up (if at all) 1-2%--- which does not even keep up with inflation.
This is NOT the way things used to be, before the republican ideal of Greed is good, let the rich have it all, they deserve it, attitude became the standard way of dealing 3with compensation.
Anyone else mad that the CEO of AIG (for three months) got SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS for his efforts?
At least the guys at fanny and freddy got told "NO WAY" on their 20 mil payoffs.
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tolman_paul
Trad climber
Anchorage, AK
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Sep 18, 2008 - 02:16pm PT
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About a 100% better off.
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just passing thru
climber
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Sep 18, 2008 - 02:26pm PT
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Everyone I know is doing quite well...
Phil Gramm was 100% correct in calling us a 'nation of whiners'
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Sep 18, 2008 - 02:28pm PT
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I'm better off, by not letting the political nightmare kill my joy. Financially, I'm about the same, I don't give a damn. Although I'm definitely paying more for stuff, I'm enjoying it more, and worrying less.
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Anastasia
climber
Not there
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Sep 18, 2008 - 02:33pm PT
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What planet are you on?
"Many" business owner "I" know is afraid of losing their business. Many of the Carpenters I know are out of work and...
L.A. Unified has given pink slips to most of their teachers since they might have to lay us off. Even doctors are worried since many insurance companies might not be able to pay up.
The only people I know doing well are my engineer friends who are working with military contracts.
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Wonder
climber
WA
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Sep 18, 2008 - 02:34pm PT
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I must admit I'm better off but I'm way more in debt.
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Anastasia
climber
Not there
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Sep 18, 2008 - 02:38pm PT
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Locker...
Do you really depend on your business to pay the bills??? If I remember correctly, you do have other types of economic sources.
(No folks, Locker is not in the drug business.)
AF
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Sep 18, 2008 - 02:40pm PT
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I think a lot of business owners and the public in general have been encouraged to keep their heads in the sand on this deal. There have been plenty of people that have been warning us about this but too few of them haven't been effectively marginalized.
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Sep 18, 2008 - 02:42pm PT
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I am happier than I was 8 years ago because I am living my dream. Financially I am not better off.
I do not see the cost of living, environment, care for our childrens education, safety from terrorism any better off, and in most cases we're in a much much worse situation.
I am concerned about our ecosystem, the oceans, the critters and the sustainability of life on our big blue planet.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
New York, NY
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Sep 18, 2008 - 02:49pm PT
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I had to raise rates in order to cover the cost of living. MOST dog walkers/services haven't. A few of my customers resisted the change. One ditched me, though I can't say for sure that was the reason. I know she did seem to get very picayune after the rate increase, but maybe it's a coincidence. And, though I'm not interested in new clients presently, the ones who do contact me are resistant to the rates; they can get someone else for less.
Every time I purchase some item that it's been a while, I get sticker shock. Food items have been going up, up, up.
Rent Stabilization landlords got a hefty allowance for increase. I am NOT looking forward to having my rent go up nearly a hundred dollars a month on 11/1. At all.
And I look at the financial meltdown occurring and I wonder.... Though it doesn't "seem" to be affecting me today... how will that change in the upcoming months? The changes that will occur at financial industry level are sure to affect every day people as the trickling down develops.
Fear that our country is attempting to expand the "war" to an even greater scale - definitely was not on my radar 8 years ago!
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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Sep 18, 2008 - 02:50pm PT
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yeah, for sure things w/ me are light years better
on all fronts than 8 years prior...
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Flashlight
climber
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Sep 18, 2008 - 03:14pm PT
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Yes. By a long shot! I make about 40% more than I did then. I owe far less on my house than it is worth, even at today's depressed prices. No car payment. No credit card debt(although I am well aware THAT could change overnight. :)
I could go on, but I think you get the picture.
That is just the financial aspects, I think that is what you were asking for?
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dave goodwin
climber
carson city, nv
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Sep 18, 2008 - 03:16pm PT
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just passing thru- are you just trolling with comments like "Phil Gramm was 100% correct in calling us a nation of whiners"? Seems to me you are just trying to stir things up. I am glad that all of your friends are doing quite well, but there is alot of us that are not doing well. Do you own a business? I do and I will tell you it is really tough right now. I own a business that is 20 years old, and my sales are down almost 60%!! Tell me not to complain, and I will tell you to go piss up a rope!If things continue to go down I will loose my business and my house. Maybe in a few years you would like to explain to my 7 month old boy, that mommy and daddy are just a couple of whiners and that we really enjoy renting our home and working for someone else. That all daddy's dreams of owning his own business was not really important! And that his future was not important to us either!
hopefully things continue well for you because the other side of the fence is alot different then your side.
take care
dave
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tolman_paul
Trad climber
Anchorage, AK
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Sep 18, 2008 - 03:48pm PT
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The economy is cyclical. My father was a business owner. In the early 90's his company went from one that could have been sold for many million dollars to almost having to shutdown. He went almost a year without a salary. I don't think he layed off a single employee during the downturn.
Such is life, there are times of plenty, times of hardship. But there are also opportunities out there for those willing to look for them and take a risk. The question is are things bad enough to make it worth you taking a risk?
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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Sep 18, 2008 - 03:53pm PT
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"The economy is cyclical."
Sure it is, but this particular cycle was given a push by the rush to deregulate. This downturn was predicted by those who warned against the loosening of the rules. Should we just throw up our hands and say " oh well, the economy is cyclical" or should we look for the reasons?
I think the question would be better put, Is America better off as a whole today? Certainly some people are better off, but many many aren't. To ignore that is heartless and puts you at risk of becoming one of those who are not better off as that group grows.
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landcruiserbob
Trad climber
Vail, Colorado
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Sep 18, 2008 - 04:04pm PT
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-Every year since 86 has been better & better for me. Down for two monts in 2001 but rebounded strong. rg
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dave goodwin
climber
carson city, nv
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Sep 18, 2008 - 04:06pm PT
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Am I willing to take a risk?
why yes, I own a business. I have taken all the risk I can.
Yes economy is cyclical, but we have not seen this drastic of a down turn since the great depression. I would say that this is not a cyclical down turn.
take care
dave
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Batrock
Trad climber
Burbank
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Sep 18, 2008 - 04:11pm PT
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I'm not any worse off than 8 years ago. I'm two kids richer than I was 8 years ago so I guess i am better off.
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Captain...or Skully
Big Wall climber
up Yonder (the edge of Treason)
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Sep 18, 2008 - 04:35pm PT
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I have a secret world headquarters that I didn't have 8 years ago....But that's through my own hard work, not some fatcat politico......I have no free time, though, and that sucks(major)...
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