I watched a most touching story this evening on Dateline NBC showing how the poorest people in America are the ones who suffer most during this recession. While I have a problem with people who keep having kids they can't afford in this age of birth control, and people who cry "My kids are starving" while they smoke brand-name cigarettes, I was very impressed with Lisa Roberts, the lady operating a food pantry for these needy folks in Ohio.
Lisa makes me ashamed of myself.
To see a slideshow from the program, click HERE and click on the arrows to go from one picture to another.
Showing posts with label recession. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recession. Show all posts
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
If the Claycomo Ford plant closes...
A person can't help noticing, driving through most any of the greater Kansas City area, all the empty buildings that used to be occupied by businesses. It's such a common sight that I probably wouldn't think much about it, except that sometimes Cliff keeps up a running commentary about the empty buildings ("Look, another one."). My son-in-law used to work in one such structure.
The closed businesses are just one more sign of our economic woes. I'd rather not think about this, because I don't see things getting any better. In fact, things may be getting a lot worse shortly.
The Claycomo Ford plant employs almost four thousand people who are paid better than your average blue-collar worker. There's a lot of talk about it closing down, and of course the state of Missouri has decided to offer some tax incentives in an effort to keep this big employer around. Where does all this money come from, anyhow?
I have a feeling that even if Ford is enticed to keep the Claycomo facility open a bit longer, it will eventually close. So far the automobile maker is remaining silent about what it will do next.
When it does close, there will be less money spent in this area on recreation and dining out. There will be fewer homes built, less home furnishings bought, and more foreclosures.
There will be more empty buildings where businesses used to be; one of them will be next door to where Cliff works, because it houses a business that manufactures seats for the Fords being assembled in Claycomo.
The dominoes keep falling; the house of cards is blowing away on the winds of recession, while elected officials scratch one anothers' backs and live off the fat of the land, all the while making speeches that are supposed to convince us change is ahead.
You bet it is, but it won't be a pretty one.
The closed businesses are just one more sign of our economic woes. I'd rather not think about this, because I don't see things getting any better. In fact, things may be getting a lot worse shortly.
The Claycomo Ford plant employs almost four thousand people who are paid better than your average blue-collar worker. There's a lot of talk about it closing down, and of course the state of Missouri has decided to offer some tax incentives in an effort to keep this big employer around. Where does all this money come from, anyhow?
I have a feeling that even if Ford is enticed to keep the Claycomo facility open a bit longer, it will eventually close. So far the automobile maker is remaining silent about what it will do next.
When it does close, there will be less money spent in this area on recreation and dining out. There will be fewer homes built, less home furnishings bought, and more foreclosures.
There will be more empty buildings where businesses used to be; one of them will be next door to where Cliff works, because it houses a business that manufactures seats for the Fords being assembled in Claycomo.
The dominoes keep falling; the house of cards is blowing away on the winds of recession, while elected officials scratch one anothers' backs and live off the fat of the land, all the while making speeches that are supposed to convince us change is ahead.
You bet it is, but it won't be a pretty one.
Monday, March 30, 2009
So, if the worst happened....
If times get so bad you have to start giving up a few things, have you talked about what you'd give up?
Cliff and I discuss it often.
We'd take a lot of items off our real estate property insurance and let the chips fall where they may.
We'd get rid of DishTV as soon as possible and put up an antenna.
I'd go back to dial-up Internet. Yes, I'd hate it. But I'd do it. I won't totally give up Internet, though, unless we're homeless and starving. I'm selfish like that.
We'd stop eating out. We only do that once or twice a week, but every little bit helps.
These are only the tip of the iceberg. But we're preparing.
Cliff and I discuss it often.
We'd take a lot of items off our real estate property insurance and let the chips fall where they may.
We'd get rid of DishTV as soon as possible and put up an antenna.
I'd go back to dial-up Internet. Yes, I'd hate it. But I'd do it. I won't totally give up Internet, though, unless we're homeless and starving. I'm selfish like that.
We'd stop eating out. We only do that once or twice a week, but every little bit helps.
These are only the tip of the iceberg. But we're preparing.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
worst-case scenerio
So yeah, times are hard.
Haven't you talked about what you'll do if worse comes to worse?
We have.
If the company where Cliff is employed goes under, he's old enough to get social security.
Mine and his social security, added together, come to less than $2,000 per month.
There's a little bit in his 401K. Not much.
Our only major payment is the house payment, but taxes and insurance could bury us.
What would we do?
Probably sell our property and go to some old-folks, low income housing. Or maybe there would be enough cash from selling our place to buy a property in some small town. We'd keep the motorcycle. Blue might have to go. Sadie stays with us.
We have to be prepared for any occurrence. We'll survive.
I come from a long line of survivors.
Haven't you talked about what you'll do if worse comes to worse?
We have.
If the company where Cliff is employed goes under, he's old enough to get social security.
Mine and his social security, added together, come to less than $2,000 per month.
There's a little bit in his 401K. Not much.
Our only major payment is the house payment, but taxes and insurance could bury us.
What would we do?
Probably sell our property and go to some old-folks, low income housing. Or maybe there would be enough cash from selling our place to buy a property in some small town. We'd keep the motorcycle. Blue might have to go. Sadie stays with us.
We have to be prepared for any occurrence. We'll survive.
I come from a long line of survivors.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
The doldrums
I don't normally post the same thing on this blog as I do on my AOL journal, but I got such a response to this post that I'm breaking my rule this one time:
I've noticed, as I travel around the Internet reading blogs and journals, that there are a lot of folks down-in-the-dumps lately, and I've been trying to pin down the causes.
I know this is always a ho-hum time of year: The excitement of Christmas is over; it's a long time until spring. Weather tends to keep us all housebound. So perhaps we can lay much of the blame on Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Then there are the extra expenses of the season. Many people overspent at Christmas (not me and Cliff, thank God) and are trying to make up for that now.
Heating costs are skyrocketing. If yours haven't, try heating your home with propane.
In Missouri, we have personal taxes due January 1. These have to be paid in order to license our vehicles later on. If we're late in paying, interest is added on each month.
Here in my county, real estate taxes have been re-evaluated; ours rose by about 66% this year. This has always been rolled in with our house payment, so it's spread out over the year; however, our amount in escrow was $380 shy of the amount that came out of the bank as a result of the change; I have to make that up by March 10.
Young married folks, and senior citizens on a fixed income, are struggling to make ends meet, with gasoline and grocery prices increasing steadily. I read an article online that states food costs have risen 4%; I don't know where they got that estimate, but my grocery costs have risen at least 10% in the past year or so.
Cliff and I, thankfully, took steps this past year to pay off most debts. We figured that would give us plenty of funds for traveling on the motorcycle. Now I find much of that money going for necessities.
I'm thankful that, so far, we're making ends meet. But I can't help wondering about, and praying for, all those who are caught in this squeeze.
I don't care what the politicians call it; I say we're in a recession. It's obviously going to get worse before it gets better. I'm wondering if those of us born after the 1930's are going to get a taste of what a genuine Depression is like.
I think that's why so many bloggers are in a state of the doldrums right now.
God help us.
I've noticed, as I travel around the Internet reading blogs and journals, that there are a lot of folks down-in-the-dumps lately, and I've been trying to pin down the causes.
I know this is always a ho-hum time of year: The excitement of Christmas is over; it's a long time until spring. Weather tends to keep us all housebound. So perhaps we can lay much of the blame on Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Then there are the extra expenses of the season. Many people overspent at Christmas (not me and Cliff, thank God) and are trying to make up for that now.
Heating costs are skyrocketing. If yours haven't, try heating your home with propane.
In Missouri, we have personal taxes due January 1. These have to be paid in order to license our vehicles later on. If we're late in paying, interest is added on each month.
Here in my county, real estate taxes have been re-evaluated; ours rose by about 66% this year. This has always been rolled in with our house payment, so it's spread out over the year; however, our amount in escrow was $380 shy of the amount that came out of the bank as a result of the change; I have to make that up by March 10.
Young married folks, and senior citizens on a fixed income, are struggling to make ends meet, with gasoline and grocery prices increasing steadily. I read an article online that states food costs have risen 4%; I don't know where they got that estimate, but my grocery costs have risen at least 10% in the past year or so.
Cliff and I, thankfully, took steps this past year to pay off most debts. We figured that would give us plenty of funds for traveling on the motorcycle. Now I find much of that money going for necessities.
I'm thankful that, so far, we're making ends meet. But I can't help wondering about, and praying for, all those who are caught in this squeeze.
I don't care what the politicians call it; I say we're in a recession. It's obviously going to get worse before it gets better. I'm wondering if those of us born after the 1930's are going to get a taste of what a genuine Depression is like.
I think that's why so many bloggers are in a state of the doldrums right now.
God help us.
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