What Recession? Fooey! (save, employment, layoff, wage)

[Gottasay]

You ought to get your mom to write a book about how she raised such a fine young man, who at 26 is not digging for coins under his couch, has an ER fund, a great job, a wonderful wife and money left over for a vacation house in Fla (one word of advice, I hope you will also consider giving some of your extra $ to help those in need) -- congratulations for having your head solidly on your shoulders!

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

I'm not bragging I'm just raising the point that most people in their 20's aren't hugely affected by the recession.



Your right and wrong, yeah I don't make 360K a yr, however I never said Reno or Vegas were exotic vacation destinations, so thanks for putting words in my mouth. I guess buying a second home in Fla when your 26 is a bad thing now. You see this is the problem with america, if it's not a mcmansion I shouldn't be buying one ? is that what you are saying?



6 months of er fund is about 50,000, I chose to buy my 401k separate of my work in case I did lose my job and the same for my health insurance so it would be portable. I also have income insurance as well to protect my income.



That's why you have 50k in savings and health ins separate from your employer and the same for your 401K and income insurance. If I worried about being replaced or losing my job I would have no hair left. What ever happens happens I say, money is not wealth but health is. If I lose everything tomorrow all you do is pick up the pieces and start over again. after all this is life and anything can happen so just try to be happy and be a nice person and don't let what you can't control, control your attitude and your life. I learned this in the marines. So maybe the title was a poor choice of words I apologize but I still stand by my statements and I hope I at least educated some here on this forum. I was born to a very poor family and now(thank god) I'm well off.

Stay Positive and thank god for what you have b/c it's not yours.

[desertsun41]

Originally Posted by subsound

I'm sorry you are mad that people have jobs now Desertsun41, but jealousy green is not becoming for anyone...and those who don't agree with you have the same right to free speech as you. I hope you use this time to reevaluate where you career is and move to a more positive direction. Maybe a more positive and less blame filled attitude will help secure a new happier position.

You read me all wrong. I own 2 stores that employ people. More in the past then now. Way more. We are all a team, I dont think of them as employees. This deep depression has my business off 85% from 2004 and most of the other stores in my strip mall have run for the hills as they pizzed on their leases.

You are all blind. No one can fire me but that dont stop me from seeing whats going on. The recession was over 2 years ago. This is all new territory now. I can show you all kinds of respected statistics proving it's a depression but I know nothing will change your mind. But dont listen to me. Ask some of the 6 million plus (thats inaccurate govt numbers) if it is a depression. Go ahead ask them. The freaken unemployment numbers in the home building industry is more then 60% alone.

I applaud your positive thinking but it just dont change the facts

[sheenie2000]

Why in the world would some of you guys rub it in when we just lost ANOTHER half a million jobs this past month?? I don't get it...

I know quite a few people have been recently laid off, these people have kids, families etc. It's not funny...and there is no reason for you to be so snooty about it.

[subsound]

Originally Posted by desertsun41

But dont listen to me. Ask some of the 6 million plus (thats inaccurate govt numbers) if it is a depression. Go ahead ask them. The freaken unemployment numbers in the home building industry is more then 60% alone.

I applaud your positive thinking but it just dont change the facts

It also doesn't change the facts that 145 million Americans have jobs (assuming 2007 census figures in 2007 of 151 million and 6 million reduction from that, Graduates, students, and returnees to the workforce are not counted in either). That's the fact from the other side of the coin.

I live in Portland Oregon at #2 in the unemployment stats for large cities in the country under Detroit at 12.4%. There are still things working...the buses still run, people are still at restaurants (seems the bad ones have gone), there are still hospitals running, cars still jam the interstate. People in my own office are still getting new positions, even my wife has been laid off twice and hired again after each event.

I'm not saying it's not a recession, you would have to be insane to say that, but if you look at many of the naysayers it sounds like the US is headed for economic collapse because almost everyone is unemployed...which only seems like it when you quote one half of the equation. Also if you look at the devastation from the tech collapse, it was longer then 2 years especially if you add 9/11. I remember from 2001 to 2004 companies engaged in layoffs and hiring freezes in many positions in that time, including my own company. Even though I wanted out of my position it was nearly impossible to even get an interview somewhere new, I received one new position in that time. It was 2005 when I really started getting good offers for decent positions, much longer then 2 years if I just take my own experience into account.

[Allan Trafton]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

This is not even close to a depression!!! do you see people lined around the streets at soup kitchens? the Milwaukee brewers for example are drawing more fans this year than last year and they will draw more than 3 million in two years in a row and also the brewers sold 2 million tickets before the season even started.

people who say this is a depression are half empty kind of people and usually aren't happy people.

Shadow statistics put the unemployment rate at over 18%. Shadow stats figures the unemployment rate the same way they did in the 1930's. This makes our unemployment rate equal or worse than the late 30's. In the past 10 months we are losing on average over 500,000 jobs per month and our rate of job lose is worse than it was in the early 1930's. Home forclosures and commercial forclosures are only getting worse. This would be as bad as the depression if it wasn't for the FDIC, unemployment pay, Social Security, food stamps etc... We don't know were this is going to end up. It could get much worse. The only thing stopping it from getting worse now is government spending, once that trick plays itself out, then we may be in a world of hurt. This is the worst economic downturn since the great depression. Milwaukee city, I believe your downplaying the terrible situation we are in. It may be great for you, but for millions these are uncertain times.

[las vegas drunk]

Originally Posted by Allan Trafton

Shadow statistics put the unemployment rate at over 18%. Shadow stats figures the unemployment rate the same way they did in the 1930's. This makes our unemployment rate equal or worse than the late 30's. In the past 10 months we are losing on average over 500,000 jobs per month and our rate of job lose is worse than it was in the early 1930's. Home forclosures and commercial forclosures are only getting worse. This would be as bad as the depression if it wasn't for the FDIC, unemployment pay, Social Security, food stamps etc... We don't know were this is going to end up. It could get much worse. The only thing stopping it from getting worse now is government spending, once that trick plays itself out, then we may be in a world of hurt. This is the worst economic downturn since the great depression. Milwaukee city, I believe your downplaying the terrible situation we are in. It may be great for you, but for millions these are uncertain times.

Not even close, I am currently watching a show on the history channel called "
Crime Wave: 18 Months of Mayhem"

This show is mainly centering on 1933. I will tell you that the Great Depression was much worse than things are now. They were saying that one third of the USA population was out of work. Soup lines were everywhere, and every state was in trouble. I do not see this going on currently.

[LauraC]

I'm retired and I don't know anyone personally that is suffering, either. I've always rented by choice (didn't want the upkeep of a house). I'm divorced, no dependents. I never smoked and don't drink, not because I have something against those things and not because it costs money. It just doesn't interest me. I've never had flashy anything because I'm uh, boring, not because I couldn't. I drive a mid-sized boring sedan, I never wore jewelry except for watches with big numbers that I could see (making them cheap but not on purpose, cheap). My hobbies aren't expensive ones that cost me money every time I do them. In fact, they cost no money other than gasoline, when I do them. I didn't choose them because they're cheap to do. They just are after the initial equipment purchase. I don't travel except for road trips not because I don't like to see new places but because I hate flying. You know, I'm doing fine by default. I pay my bills in full every month. Many people might consider my lifestyle one they wouldn't want for themselves but it's the one I've always had and works for me without any sacrifice on my part due to the current economic situation.

My friends in other states, retired and not retired, seem to be doing okay, too. Nobody is living large but like me they never did anytime in their lives, either, so they aren't hurting now or having to cut back. They're just doing okay, same as ever. I think if the non-retired ones lost a job, they'd be okay, because they wouldn't have racked up a lot of debt and probably have decent savings to tide them over.

I'm just bringing this up so the original poster knows there are other types of people also not personally impacted by the recession (so far).

[Allan Trafton]

Originally Posted by las vegas drunk

Not even close, I am currently watching a show on the history channel called "
Crime Wave: 18 Months of Mayhem"

This show is mainly centering on 1933. I will tell you that the Great Depression was much worse than things are now. They were saying that one third of the USA population was out of work. Soup lines were everywhere, and every state was in trouble. I do not see this going on currently.

There is no question that the economy was much worse in 1933. But the unemployment rate went down in the late 30's to around 17 or 18% around what shadow stats puts ours at now. Also, the depression started in 1929 and continued to get worse for about 4 years. We are only a year or so into this recession and we don't know were we are going to end up.
The point I was making is the safety nets we have in place to help people in need or the elderly. This didn't exist in the early 1930's. Wait 3 or 4 years and see where we are.

[desertsun41]

Originally Posted by Allan Trafton

Shadow statistics put the unemployment rate at over 18%. Shadow stats figures the unemployment rate the same way they did in the 1930's. This makes our unemployment rate equal or worse than the late 30's. In the past 10 months we are losing on average over 500,000 jobs per month and our rate of job lose is worse than it was in the early 1930's. Home forclosures and commercial forclosures are only getting worse. This would be as bad as the depression if it wasn't for the FDIC, unemployment pay, Social Security, food stamps etc... We don't know were this is going to end up. It could get much worse. The only thing stopping it from getting worse now is government spending, once that trick plays itself out, then we may be in a world of hurt. This is the worst economic downturn since the great depression. Milwaukee city, I believe your downplaying the terrible situation we are in. It may be great for you, but for millions these are uncertain times.

At least there are some among us who see and actually admit the truth. I dont understand why so many deny the nose right on their face. Denial? But why? It is what it is and it is a depression. Everyone agrees things are getting worse and worse by the day. At what point will some finally admit that big curse word that starts with a D?

[desertsun41]

Everyone agrees here that your govt never has and never will tell the truth. They are as big a liars as cops. That being sad, your govt only just admitted we were in a recession last year when in fact the recession was already 2 years old by any respected definition.

Now every measurable statistic says depression. Every single one. But no one wants to admit it except those more intelligent people who do not like, do not trust and listen to nothing this govt says.