Are we REALLY in a recession?

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Originally Posted by tedanderson

In spite of what we have been seeing on the news lately, is the economy is really as bad as they say it is? Or is it bad simply because we choose to believe what we are told?

They say that unemployment is up, however the rush hour traffic is just as heavy now as it has ever been. (sometimes I think that it has been increasingly heavier) But either way, when the highways are still congested and we are still standing shoulder-to-shoulder on the Metro, it is obvious that most people still have their jobs.

Then I think about what I see in the retail industry. I can't think of a time in the last 6 to 7 years when I have ever been able to get a decent parking spot at the mall. Some of the malls around here are so crowded that you might not be able to find a space period. It's still difficult to find a parking space at the Costco in Crystal City.. so if things are really that bad, people are obviously still shopping.

Even the restaurants still have a 45 minute waiting period if you go on an average weekend. As bad as times might be, people are still eating out. I just don't get it.

Very interesting OP. I think something is up as well. At my gig, they stopped giving us bonuses around 2007. They try to say that the company is not making the money they used to make. What I think a lot of companies are doing is taking advantage of the "Scare" It is tru a lot of people have lost their jobs, but companies are not lowering their prices for services. They are keeping the prices and services the same and cutting the pay to their employment. People are still working and spending though, but the service is not the same. Many people are under trained. Employment is shifting. For example people who lost work in construction and newspaper jobs have to now work some where else.

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Originally Posted by terrence81

Yeah I second that. THe DC area is in a bubble but go outside this area and people are feeling the effects of the recession.

Yea its like a domino effect. Not exactly sure when it started. Companies save money by sending jobs overseas. People are not buying homes, so homes are not being built, people are losing their homes and banks are losing money, people are losing their home because they either got a pay cut or just got plain laid off. The internet and computers has also removed a lot of jobs from the table, Newspapers, Magazines, Movies, Music, etc etc, why pay 50c-75c for your local rag when you can read the news on the net, why pay for a cd for 12.99 when you can probably download it on the net for free or a cheaper cost. Gas had hit 5 a gallon is some places last year. It is weird how everything has changed the last 6 years.

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Originally Posted by mtneeratheart

It also drives me INSANE when people run through the stations to catch the Metro. I've been known to walk right in front of them to at least break their stride. Their time is no more valuable than mine is when going to/from work. If it's during rush hour chances are they will have to wait for the next train anyway, at least on the Orange Line. I've been tempted to stick out my foot before as well.

What if they were to trip and fall on the rails, would you feel good about that?