how recession-proof is maine's economy?

[Submariner]

Maine-
Unlike states who depend on ship manufacture, airplane manufacture, high-tech, banking / commerce and insurance, or ag; Maine is none of those. Each of those economies is pulled up or down by national and international forces.

In Maine:
The shell-fish industry is controlled by nature.
The wood pulp industry [paper and press board] are always needed.
Apples are controlled again by nature.
Granted we are losing the tiny little Air station at Brunswick, but we still have two shipyards [Bath and Kittery].
And a lot of service industries.

We will be fine.

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by skytrekker

K Luv-

I never said the Fed was 'part of the Government' -but to say they are not influenced by the White House, or Wall Street is naive. Mr. Bernanke as was Greenspan was/has been merely a puppet of the White house and the Wall Street shills/bankers under Clinton and Bush- though Greenspan and now Bernanke are more slavish to the GOP.

After all Greenspan's hero was writer Ayn Rand- the fanatical anti socialist- who basically said that personal greed was an admirable trait. The Federal Reserve has been a non governmental entity since it was formed in 1913- but has increasingly played a political part on a chessboard in the manipulation of asset bubbles, whole sale destruction of the dollar, destroying those who save and eschew debt- while rewarding the rich, the wall street garbage and making debt the center piece of an economic 'idealogy'.

That is what I am saying, except that I disagree that they are influenced by the White House.

[Boomerang]

Here's a sampling of Maine economic news, courtesy of Maine Housing <strike>Bubble</strike> Crash Blog


State Industrial Directory Reports Maine Manufacturing Jobs Down 2.6%; Plants Down 1% - Forbes.com (broken link)

Maine faces tide of foreclosures Rate of subprime mortgage loans in default highest in New England; federal action needed


From me, results of searches on "economy" and "economic news". No comment, just presenting :-)

Maine Economy at a Glance

Maine's 'economic momentum' tops New England (http://bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=144779&zoneid=500 - broken link)

Governor: Brace for more bad economic news - Boston.com (http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2008/01/19/governor_brace_for_more_bad_economic_news/ - broken link)

Colgan's 2008 Maine Economic Forecast | Muskie School of Public Service (http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/news/display.jsp?id=43C56A58DB255CC7E0406F827D876FDA - broken link)

Press Releases and MECEP in the News

[Lelani G.]

I've spent at least half of my life in Maine as that is where my Father's family was from.

I would say that, Maine is not recession proof as no economy is but the natives (Mainiacs as you call us) are brought up understanding that sometimes we can't always have the best. So, when recession hits,The residents become flexible.

If you want quiet, Maine is the place to be. There are only 4 cities, Portland being the largest and Lewiston\Auburn considered twin cities, Augusta the capitol and Bangor, the most northern. Most of the population is Portland south and once you get inland or above Augusta, the population thins out.

The people from Maine, work hard and play hard. Many things to do but mostly they are outdoor activities. Won't find a movie house in every town, libraries not necessarily open 5days a week. Except of course, the main libraries in the cities. The town libraries are usually open for the students.

You have fishing, boating, skiing, sailing, hiking, racing, a lot of fairs in the summer, of course Maine is a great place to relax. I lived in Waldoboro for 8years, I enjoyed it very much. Actually wish I had never moved away.

It can get very cold or hot inland, about 10 miles from the shore. The best temps are on the Southern half of the coastline. Tempid in the winter and cooler in the summer. But, still have to be prepared for whatever happens because Maine is subject to 3 different weather systems, and it depends on which one gets there first as to what the weather will be.

To me there is no place like Maine, but choose wisely because Maine can make a person feel very isolated, if they need a lot of people around. If not, then Maine is the most peaceful place, grounding and sometimes very hard to live with.

Lelani G.

[skytrekker]

Originally Posted by K-Luv

That is what I am saying, except that I disagree that they are influenced by the White House.

Don't think they are influenced by the WH? Think again- Greespan was- as a republican- as is Bernanke also a republican.