I live in Michigan....and yes, we are in a recession. sm

• POLL: Are we headed for a recession/depression? - me
  • Oh yes... it is ...sm - curious girl
  • This country is definitely in trouble.... - anonymissy
    • recession - Eileen
      • I agree - jlynn
  • not sure - anon
  • Whatever it is, it's because the US has repeatedly sold - itself to the lowest bidder. - Lowly MT
  • IMO definitely depression - Kaydie
    • While I totally agree re. depression...nm - I agree...and more....
  • recession/depression - MT
    • I live in Michigan....and yes, we are in a recession. sm - MT and worn out
      • MI's been in it's own one-state recession for years - muskegonite
    • Totally agree! - mttg
  • Recession/depression - Amy
    • gas - me
      • I guess one more reason - ginny
        • Except that with what things will cost, on an MT's wages, - sm - Lowly MT

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THE CURRENT GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS EXPLAINED
 
Adam is the proprietor of a fast food restaurant in New York. Sales are low and, in order to increase them, he comes up with a plan to allow his customers to eat now and pay later. He keeps track of the meals consumed on a ledger.  

Word gets around and as a result increasing numbers of customers flock to restaurant. The suppliers are delighted and are very willing to sell more and more raw materials for the meals he prepares. Adam shows them his ledger of receivables and they extend him credit.

A young and dynamic customer service consultant at the local bank recognizes these customer debts as valuable future assets and gives Adam a credit line and then increases Adams' borrowing limit.

Taking advantage of his customers' freedom from immediate payment constraints, Adam jacks up the prices of his Burgers and Shakes. Customers dont mind as they are not required to pay on the spot. Sales volume increases massively; Banks and suppliers lend more; Adam opens more outlets. He sees no reason for undue concern since he has the debts of the customers as collateral.

At the bank's corporate headquarters, expert bankers recognize Adams' customer loans as assets and transform these customer assets into BONDS. These negotiable instruments are given exotic names such as FISHNCHIPSBOND, DOUBLEBACONBOND, BEEFBURRITOBOND AND CHOCOLATESHAKEBOND. These securities are then listed on the Stock Exchange and traded on markets worldwide. No one really understands what the names mean and how the securities are guaranteed but, nevertheless, as their prices continuously climb, the securities become top-selling items.

One day, although the prices are still climbing, a credit risk manager of the bank decides that the time has come to demand payment of one of the debts incurred by Adam. Adam in turn asks his clients to pay up. One by one they refuse; the clients cannot pay back the debts. Adam refuses to serve them any more. The clients stop coming.

Adam is really screwed now. He cannot fulfill his loan obligations and therefore claims bankruptcy. All Bonds drop in price by between 80 to 95%.

The suppliers of Adam, having granted generous payment due dates and having invested in the securities are faced with similar problems. The meat supplier defaults on payment to the sheep and cattle supplier and claims bankruptcy. The Cheese supplier is taken over by a competitor; Adam lays off the cook and staff.. Bankruptcies soar, unemployment mushrooms.

The bank that lent the money in the first place is set to collapse. It is saved by the Government following dramatic round-the-clock consultations by leaders from the governing political parties with Adam commuting back and forth in his Executive jet and Mercedes 500SEL, brokering the deal.

The funds required to save the economic collapse are obtained by a tax levied on the citizens, most of whom do not eat Burgers or Shakes.
 
UNDERSTOOD?

so, why would there be a raise in benefits if there is no inflation?

I have 6 in my home, 2 teens, 2 younger (7&8), 2 adults.  I spend minimum of $150 a week on food, probably closer to $200.  I do plan my meals out for the week prior to going.  I really need to get back to my couponing days!  I will do it religiously for months and then fade out when I don't have time to do it.  When I do couponing, I spend about the same, but get a lot more food for my buck. 

This also includes cat food, cat liter and dog food (little dog), cleaning supplies.

there's no preparing for this.  for us, 39 degrees is a heat wave. 

just get all the supplies you could need and stay in.  the dog and three cats have cabin fever.  i have to go out and shovel -- just shoot me!!!  kid has a temp of 103.  this is so harsh.  beyond words... stay warm.

I have a dilemma.  I am an animal lover and have something I cannot come to a conclusion about.  At a restaurant where I eat lunch every Friday with a friend of mine, I have noticed a young male kitty hanging around outside looking for food.  This past week he ran up to my friend and rubbed her legs and quietly meowed.  I purposely did not try to pet him because I knew I would get attached and ignored him.  Well, ever since then I find myself thinking about him and wanting to rescue him.  Meanwhile, I already have 4 inside cats (2 rescues, 2 Maine Coons) and hubby really does not want another cat in the house because a few years ago I promised we would  never have more than 4 (had up to 5 at one point previously).  I actually have a huge screened deck he could stay on indefinitely because I do not believe in letting cats run loose for their own safety.  I could provide plenty of food, a warm place to sleep, and veterinary care.  At some point I would even probably work him into our household, but I just cannot do it at the moment.  Just not sure I would be doing right by that kitty because I am sure he would be upset and confused for a good while as to where he was and what was going on, but is that better than being hungry and cold?  I know there are lots of animal lovers out there.  What does everyone think?? 

after I found HUGE holes in the walkway between my house and barn.  I thought they were just little mice stealing grain, but then I spotted one and it was a HONKIN RAT!  My poor olderly cat was out there with me at the time and saw it, and he hissed at it and ran away! 

I asked for advice on what to do at a local agricultural board, because I have other animals and didn't want to use poison and conventional traps weren't working.  They advised putting a large pale of water out with some seeds floating in it, figuring the rats would go for the seeds and end up drowning.  That was a no-go because the water just froze up solid.  I wound up reluctantly going with Decon because I just can't have my house destroyed.  I haven't had seen any more rats or evidence of them stealing grain, so I'm guessing they have died.  The guy at the grain store promised me the rats would not die in the building and stink the joint up, rather they would crawl off and die outside.  I don't know if I believe that, as it is still winter here and decomposition would be holding off until it warms up.  We'll see, but at least the destruction has been halted.

Good luck and I too say have no mercy, because you just don't need them destroying hour house or causing a spark chewing wires and burnin' the place down.  It is war!   

  (How un-PC is this emoticon?!)

I know plenty of 80+ y/o people where I live (and I'm 25 years behind them...kinda sorta)....who are MORE active than many I know much younger.  I see them going to the airports to jaunt around Paris/Spain, or just several times a year flying cross country to spend holidays with families, etc, etc.  So if you see 80+ as *old* or *very old* - think again.  It's an individual basis kind of thing, in my mind - OH AND BY THE WAY, none of the people I speak of have had plastic surgery of any kind and look FABULOUS!.........GOD BLESS 'EM!!!!  Good genes - genetics -