Dear recession:

[sahd2one]

I've been a DISer for years, and there have been very few threads that annoyed me like this one. I truly hope the OP is a pot stirrer instead of what he appears to be on this thread.

And just what personal attack are you going to make that will cause yet another person to go on the ignore list?

This is a thread about hope. Don't like what is posted, ignore it and move on. It is that simple. If there are no jobs where you are, then maybe it is time to move to where there are jobs. I will continue my focus on the positive and let the media take care of the rest.

I just heard they are looking for a new coach in Denver now too.

 

[Colleen27]

jobs in November and isn't unemployment in Michigan creeping up to 9%?

Well over 9% and likely to hit 10% by Jan at the latest. But I'm sure all those people would still have jobs if they just watched less CNN.

 

[Colleen27]

While there are many families and companies that are currently struggling, much of the economic slowdown is due to business and individuals sitting on the sidelines (I knew you'd like the sports analogy) waiting to see what the new quarterback (pres-elect) does in the game. Companies are waiting to make investments (in other words, jobs) until they see what taxes increases and regulations are coming. I know lots of people who upon hearing there is a recession decided to cut back their spending. I'm not a big Bush fan, but he had it right when after 9/11, he told Americans to go out and spend money. If we all spend nothing, the economy collapses. The economy can recover if the money sitting on the sidelines goes back into the game. However, if the new quarterback makes plays that keep that money on the sidelines or takes it away, then we aren't going to have a recovery any time soon.

Telling people to spend only works if they have money to spend, though. Bush's advice was irresponsible in 2001 and the same approach would be equally irresponsible today. The average American family has a negative savings rate and lives paycheck to paycheck; encouraging them to spend money they really don't have is no solution to anything (and is a big part of the problem - how many of the foreclosures out there right now could have been avoided by more responsible spending?)

 

[chris1gill]

And just what personal attack are you going to make that will cause yet another person to go on the ignore list?

This is a thread about hope. Don't like what is posted, ignore it and move on. It is that simple. If there are no jobs where you are, then maybe it is time to move to where there are jobs. I will continue my focus on the positive and let the media take care of the rest.

I just heard they are looking for a new coach in Denver now too.

This isn't a thread about hope, it's a thread about rubbing it in. When home sales have fallen 38%, stores are now going belly up in record numbers, Holiday sales were dismal, the worst since 1970, and unemployment is only rising, you should at least acknowledge what is happening. If someone doesn't feel the urge to care about those affected that is one thing, but to deny it exists is certainly quite another.

 

[edwardsfire]

I am very much an optimist. I have givin my opinions about this topic already in this thread.
But, I'll add this: The good ole USA is the garden of Eden on earth as far as im concerned.
If one cant make it here..they cant make it anywhere.
I AM one of those who chooses not to participate in this recession.
Im sorry, i just wont let it happen. I believe we create and are totally responsible for our own lives. Economically and socially. As individuals, we must press on and succeed. That is in our nature as Americans.
Dont get me wrong, i wouldnt want to be a 38-58 y.o. that just lost his/her job from say..one of the Big 3. that would be devistating. But, where there is loss, there is also opportunity.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

I am very much an optimist. I have givin my opinions about this topic already in this thread.
But, I'll add this: The good ole USA is the garden of Eden on earth as far as im concerned.
If one cant make it here..they cant make it anywhere.
I AM one of those who chooses not to participate in this recession.
Im sorry, i just wont let it happen. I believe we create and are totally responsible for our own lives. Economically and socially. As individuals, we must press on and succeed. That is in our nature as Americans.
Dont get me wrong, i wouldnt want to be a 38-58 y.o. that just lost his/her job from say..one of the Big 3. that would be devistating. But, where there is loss, there is also opportunity.

Excuse me, but I am not not catching the sense of this at all. Are you saying you are 20 something? That it's hopeless for for 38-58's? But 20-37 losing their job is OK, cause you can find something?
Just not catching the meaning here, sorry!

Not to mention 59++ even....

Please pardon me if I am being dense here.

 

[chris1gill]

Excuse me, but I am not not catching the sense of this at all. Are you saying you are 20 something? That it's hopeless for for 38-58's? But 20-37 losing their job is OK, cause you can find something?
Just not catching the meainng here, sorry!

Not to mention 59++ even....

Please pardon me if I am being dense here.

That's sort of how I read it. As long as you aren't 38+ you should be just fine and forge your own destiny with fortitude and great strength. If you are over 37, well, you are out on your own. I can remember a time when I felt like that about those older than I was.

 

[sahd2one]

This isn't a thread about hope, it's a thread about rubbing it in. When home sales have fallen 38%, stores are now going belly up in record numbers, Holiday sales were dismal, the worst since 1970, and unemployment is only rising, you should at least acknowledge what is happening. If someone doesn't feel the urge to care about those affected that is one thing, but to deny it exists is certainly quite another.

No one on this thread is DENYING it exists. There are enough threads and news of people "rubbing it in" of how bad things really are.

If you have the urge to deny that there are people telling the recession they are not participating go start another thread about it.

It just seems like some of you will not be happy until everyone is miserable and cannot stand to see someone who is positive, upbeat and happy about their lot in life.

 

[IDoDis]

If my friend's grandma dies but my grandma is still alive, is it okay to say, "Hey, my grandma is still alive" right after the friend says his grandma passed away?"

Also, a new report just came out saying the average home price in America has fallen by $40,000 in the past two years. Makes it kind of hard to refinance for many people.

Also, I didn't know there was a plethora of jobs out there. Well, maybe if you can afford to work at Burger King (not that there's anything wrong with it). Those that are in specialized fields are really feeling the pain. If you spend your life building cars and all of the car plants close, then you start looking for another job, along with the thousands of others who are just as qualified as you. It's not as easy as one would want to believe.

 

[Carly_Roach]

It just seems like some of you will not be happy until everyone is miserable and cannot stand to see someone who is positive, upbeat and happy about their lot in life.

By all means be happy and upbeat with your lot in life. Enjoy it!

But I think it's your insinuation that anyone who doesn't agree with you is either lying, intentionally being negative or there's something wrong with them because they're "choosing to participate" in an economic downturn that chaps people's behinds. No one "chooses" to lose their job along with 50,000 other people. No one "chooses" to take a minimum wage job when they have a plethera of good-paying jobs to choose from. No one "chooses" to have no money.

What you're doing is akin to telling someone who just lost their spouse to a horrible accident that they're intentionally being negative. That they should think of all the other people they can start dating now as well as the new car shopping they can do because the old one was totaled in the accident that took their spouse.

And look at all the other people around them whose spouses DIDN'T die! Why....look at you! You're the shining example to the world! Your spouse is alive and kicking! So that just proves that everything is right in the world and the people who've just lost their spouse should either be happy for you or shut up and go away because they're dragging you down.

So I'll repeat myself: I'm happy that you're doing so well financially in life. You should enjoy it and spend money to help stimulate the economy. Be positive, upbeat and joyful by all means. Revel in your positive experience and enjoy the results of it. Repeat how happy you are in your life and how thankful you are that you're living such a wonderful experience.

But until you stop telling everyone else that they're wrong because they're not living like you are, you'll continue to get opposing arguments from those whose experiences are different from yours.

 

[sahd2one]

But until you stop telling everyone else that they're wrong because they're not living like you are, you'll continue to get opposing arguments from those whose experiences are different from yours.

Never once have I told everyone that they were wrong because they are not living like I am. I have a life that we made and have suffered loss, and closed doors yet always saw another opening.

Yes there are people in this thread who only want to focus on the negative and let everyone know how bad it is. Repeatedly. Well I have just as much right to let people know that there is light when all others can see is darkness. Yes there are people who insinuate that no one dare have a good life when there is so much suffering in the world.

Sad....Terribly sad.

 

[eliza61]

Never once have I told everyone that they were wrong because they are not living like I am. I have a life that we made and have suffered loss, and closed doors yet always saw another opening.

Yes there are people in this thread who only want to focus on the negative and let everyone know how bad it is. Repeatedly. Well I have just as much right to let people know that there is light when all others can see is darkness. Yes there are people who insinuate that no one dare have a good life when there is so much suffering in the world.

Sad....Terribly sad.

No, what you have repeatedly said is that the recession is some thing we made up or chose to participate in or is a figment of our imagination brought on by the media. There is a big difference is saying every thing will be great if you go out and spend money and saying that this is a bad time and things will get better.

You are consistently saying the former and have yet to say the latter.
What we are saying is Yes, we do have hope for the future but the current recession is REAL and going to disneyworld or spending money that we don't have is not going to make it "ALL MAGICALLY GO AWAY"

 

[sahd2one]

No, what you have repeatedly said is that the recession is some thing we made up or chose to participate in or is a figment of our imagination brought on by the media. There is a big difference is saying every thing will be great if you go out and spend money and saying that this is a bad time and things will get better.

You are consistently saying the former and have yet to say the latter.
What we are saying is Yes, we do have hope for the future but the current recession is REAL and going to disneyworld or spending money that we don't have is not going to make it "ALL MAGICALLY GO AWAY"

I never said any such thing. I have said that I am refusing to participate in this recession. I have said that I see signs that things are not as DIRE as many in the media and in this thread would have you believe.

Nice try to put words in my mouth and twist what has actually been written. Times are bad for some people, I just choose to focus on the 89-90% of those where times are not bad. Four million homes may be in foreclosure, and yet 150 million are doing just fine.

 

[Pinnie]

going to disneyworld or spending money that we don't have is not going to make it "ALL MAGICALLY GO AWAY"

Aw, darn. Here I was thinking that if I just go to WDW all my problems would be solved. My DS1 has a degree in Mechanical Engineering and lasted at his engineering job for 4 months before the company went belly up. My DS2 has a degree in Molecular Biology and Enviromental Science. His job with a major pharmacutical company lasted 3 months before they closed. Both of them have relocated and work for a major drug store chain in just above minimum wage jobs. And before anyone says they haven't looked for jobs, NOT TRUE. One has gone as far as Wyoming (he is in MI) and was told for every position there are 200 applicants.

I want to know what state the OP lives because I can't believe that the home he lives in is worth the same it was years ago. Keep those rose colored glasses on OP, it's all smoke and mirrors until it hits you in the rear.

pinnie

 

[minnie61650]

....I want to know what state the OP lives because I can't believe that the home he lives in is worth the same it was years ago. Keep those rose colored glasses on OP, it's all smoke and mirrors until it hits you in the rear.

pinnie

I would like to know what state he lives in also.

I asked him back on the 1st page of this thread in post #8 and he never answered me nor has he answered any of the dozen or so of the other posters who have asked him where he lives.

My guess is the homes in the OP's state have also gone down in value.
But since he is not planning on selling it in the near future he just chooses to ignore that fact like so many other facts he chooses to ignore.

As if ignoring something will just make it go away.

 

[Pinnie]

I would like to know what state he lives in also.

I asked him back on the 1st page of this thread in post #8 and he never answered me nor has he answered any of the dozen or so of the other posters who have asked him where he lives.

My guess is the homes in the OP's state have also gone down in value.
But since he is not planning on selling it in the near future he just chooses to ignore that fact like so many other facts he chooses to ignore.

As if ignoring something will just make it go away.

Unless he still lives with his mom and dad, which would be my guess. Then he wouldn't hve to worry about the recession, would he?

pinnie

 

[kydisneyfans]

We bought our home in 2003 for 142K with an interest only mortgage. We smartly refinanced in 2005 with an appraisal of 152K. We want to lock in the low rate as we went with a 7 year ARM and our appraisal came in at 169K less than 24 hours ago, with the same firm that did the appraisal in 2005.

We never had a housing bubble to burst here, and my home is valued 17K higher than 3 years ago.

The average sale price in my county increased 11% year to year from 07 to 08, although about 100 less units sold.

As stated over and over and over and over again, because it is bad in your backyard doesn't mean it is bad in mine.

I am hiring for 2 positions now and the candidate pool is VERY thin. In fact, one ad placed in a local paper has not generated 1 response. Unemployment actually dropped in Nov to the low 4% range in the Lexington area. The only unemployed person I know is waiting on the sidelines as the jobs offered pay less than the unemployment he is receiving, why go back to work when you can get more staying home?

 

[eliza61]

Aw, darn. Here I was thinking that if I just go to WDW all my problems would be solved. My DS1 has a degree in Mechanical Engineering and lasted at his engineering job for 4 months before the company went belly up. My DS2 has a degree in Molecular Biology and Enviromental Science. His job with a major pharmacutical company lasted 3 months before they closed. Both of them have relocated and work for a major drug store chain in just above minimum wage jobs. And before anyone says they haven't looked for jobs, NOT TRUE. One has gone as far as Wyoming (he is in MI) and was told for every position there are 200 applicants.

I want to know what state the OP lives because I can't believe that the home he lives in is worth the same it was years ago. Keep those rose colored glasses on OP, it's all smoke and mirrors until it hits you in the rear.

pinnie

I would like to know what state he lives in also.

I asked him back on the 1st page of this thread in post #8 and he never answered me nor has he answered any of the dozen or so of the other posters who have asked him where he lives.

My guess is the homes in the OP's state have also gone down in value.
But since he is not planning on selling it in the near future he just chooses to ignore that fact like so many other facts he chooses to ignore.

As if ignoring something will just make it go away.

Let it go guys, let it go.

All those big bad unemployment numbers, consumer confidence reports and housing values... they are all part of a big conspiracy on the medias part to dupe us. That 700 billion dollars the feds needed to bail out the bank, why it was monopoly money doncha' know and GM & chrysler employees don't worry about your jobs or your pensions. There are millions of good paying jobs out there, all you have to do is turn your TV's off, moved to that magical place (we haven't found out where exactly it is though so I can't help you there) where the only people unemployed are the one's that want to be.
Don't forget to spend, spend, spend but of course don't charge it because that would be totally irresponsible of you.
and hey, don't worry about losing 20% of your value in your 401K folks, social security will provide you with a real nice standard of living or what's wrong with working until your 82?

 

[edwardsfire]

That's sort of how I read it. As long as you aren't 38+ you should be just fine and forge your own destiny with fortitude and great strength. If you are over 37, well, you are out on your own. I can remember a time when I felt like that about those older than I was.

I am 38 years old.
I have been a Firefighter for 15 years. Prior to that i served in the USAF.
My point about being 38-58 is that, according to the Depatment of Labor, those are the most common ages to be unemployed during a reccession.
And, my point was that if you were say, 45 and just got layed off then that would be a difficult time.
But NO matter how old you are, the individual is responsible for their lives.
Not the Govt., not anyone else.
We are ALL on our own so to speak. I mean, if we are waiting for someone or some entity to help us, then we are in for a long wait.
But to be precise, my comments about the whole (38-58) was just a statistical average of our workforce.
But again, in the end...Its up to we the people to imrove our lives, only us, no one else can do it. Thats all my comments we about. Taking control of ones lives. And not letting ones self become a "victim" or statstic.

 

[edwardsfire]

Excuse me, but I am not not catching the sense of this at all. Are you saying you are 20 something? That it's hopeless for for 38-58's? But 20-37 losing their job is OK, cause you can find something?
Just not catching the meaning here, sorry!

Not to mention 59++ even....

Please pardon me if I am being dense here.

See above post.