Were in an economic cycle that I would compare to a Hurricane. It's at grade 3 now and picking up a lot of steam---it is going to smash and destroy millions of americans--the terrorists executed a great plan on 9-11--they created economic chaos--and they did so brilliantly--they are bringing the us to it's knees and there is nothing that is going to stop unless............... oh yeah the wealthiest of americans could give 2 fcks. i feel real bad for americans who are 20 years younger than me i dont see them having the same opportunities that we had or our father and grandfathers before us. I honestly see the end of the middle class unless desperate measures are taken. Both of these Presidential candidates sck arse--this country needs a tough CEO with solid plans to restructure everything. We need someone who can come in and CREATE value==we need a creative mind who can leverage the vast power of the US into a money making entity--the us is GM--an old company with old ideas and a ton of debt riding it into the ground--no one is buying what the uS is selling these guys running for president--what exactly have they run in terms of a business--that is what the uS is-- the biggest corporation in the world and weve had the worst CEO running it for 8 years and I dont see either of these two dukes *changing* anything--they dont have the experience. this is going to be the modern day depression---save your $$$ and make it while you can now brother

[Edited by - BRIGGS on 07-04-2008 01:08 AM]

Here are my thoughts and knowledge on it.

In a three month period, the Government estimated 30 billion less gallons on the streets and highways just recently.

A lot of people say we are in a recession but it seems like something far more reaching then that. There has been a major shift somewhere in our economy and I think' it's being forced by the fact that something has got to be done about global warming.

Airlines are taking drastic measures to revamp their systems and reduce their work forces. Starbuck's (of all places) is closing 600 stores and 12,000 jobs. That says a lot! Gas prices of course are going through the roof and it ain't never coming down again. Prices never do. So I think people are eventually going to be forced to find fuel efficient cars and other kinds of transportation.

it's things like this that are way out of the ordinary of a simple bump in the economy, like a recession. A major shift has taken place and it's affecting everything. You guys notice the food prices going through the roof? I picked up a tall bottle of water, not paying attention to the price, I paid 3.29 for that thing! A bag of pretzels cost me over four bucks the other day. That with a box of chicken and two small bags of sunflower seeds cost me almost $13.00 bucks! You gotta really watch what you spend out there.

Now the thing I'm hearing is because corn is so in demand, and being used as fuel also, it is causing food prices to go way up. The major floods that just happened in the midwest, drowning out a lot of corn field's doesn't help the situation either.

Yup! A major shift has occured and it's having a squeeze affect on everything and most everyone in the world.. Fixing global warning is going to be very, very hard, so be ready for it and be ready to make those sacrifices.

I say let it all unfold. Hey' weren't most of you saying we needed change. Well' here it is brother!

This is the thread of dread?

are oil prices not consistant with consumption, and with a slow down here, and in china won't it also consume less?

Are commodity prices way overblown? If manufactering and construction down won't the price of cement, steel, and wood also drop?

And who the hell is going to keep spening money on NBA tickets?

And why are these owners keep spending on crazy contracts?

VMart, this is old news, and why did the contract not go to an american company?

I read there were 2mil forclosures this year. But there are 120 americans own their own home. one third have no mortgages, so 2.5% forclosed. I don't know how many are normal, but its not like nobody forclosed the last few years. of the 2mil, how many were subprime dumb? How many were mulitple property owners who speculated? Or lost beach houses.

the news is brutal and blows things out of proportion.

Im sick of people looking for the govt to bail us out after we create these messes.

I hear there is a recession and I decided not to participate.

V,

What is the nature of your business?

Though business! Lots of ebbs and flows even outside of inflation even during good times. I have friends in the biz and it sucks when they get squeezed by national chains!

ITs tough to pass on elevated costs to the consumer!

Good luck!