inquiring minds want to know....

[fnfredux]

How much in our ecomomy is fact and how much is fiction?
Witness the decrease in the value of stocks/corp. bonds/mutual funds.
Witness the decrease in home values.
Where IS this money???
Maybe it was never there to BEGIN with???
Maybe it was all just (as they say in broker jargon) BLUE SKY???
Blue sky, and entire national economy run on BLUE SKY :o
So don't feel bad guys, you can't really lose something that wasn't ever there, or can you :(
Did you pay too much for what you bought?
Did you feel "rich" enough so it seemed okay?
Did you use credit to "tide" you over because you KNEW that any shortfall was ...well, just a momentary thing?
Did you pay into an IRA or pension fund?
Did you think your pension/IRA was safe?
Do you live in a house that now seems too large?
If the answers are yes to the above, even though some of those things were the "right" thing to do, well you found out the GVT is NOT going to protect you.
The old, "work hard, get ahead" adage is DEFUNCT.
I'm beginning to think that truth be told, we as a nation and as individuals are just stone cold BROKE, and for many it was NOT our doing.
Don't forget the Government can take EVERYTHING you own and do it LEGALLY by devaluing the dollar, raising taxes, and eminent domain.
They can put you in jail or literally enslave you by garnishing your wages if you don't pay federal taxes.
They can sieze your home if you don't pay real estate taxes.
They can sieze your property for a "higher and better" use.
The way I see it, the GVT has all the cards.
We just ante up to fill the pot in a rigged game, they GVT, always win, we, taxpayers and middle class always lose.
Best way to beat them I think, is just don't SPEND a cent unless it is food, a roof over your head, heat or fuel to get to work. Not only will you be ahead, you'll halt the runaway inflation they LOVE.
Don't wait til you CAN'T buy a darnned thing.
Don't buy, starting now.

[CarolAnn]

I closed my 401K three or four years ago when I noticed that it lost more often than it gained. Everyone told me to leave it alone, that times would get better and in the long run, I'd have more. I took a huge hit on taxes, but I took it out anyway. Then I spent it, paid off bills and even had a little fun with it, buying some luxuries like a new winter coat, brand new tires for the car, and a portable dishwasher. WOW! That was fun!

Ironic, how the folks that were telling me to leave it alone are now crying big salty tears over their lost retirement money.

It just seemed like a scam to me: millions of working Americans were pumping some dollars into the stock market EVERY payday - and yet where was that money going when it lost money during "good" times? Somebody was getting it, but it wasn't ME!

I will continue to spend money as long as I get it: I will buy things I need and a few things I want. I will not buy on credit, but only what I can reasonably pay for. I will not be swayed to buy every new electronic toy or fashion that some bozo from New York is trying to tell me I need to have a fulfilled life, be young, be sexy or be cool. Once in a while I will give a gift to someone who was taken in by the hype, if I can afford it; a coat for their kids, or some food for their table.

But really - Americans should know better. We're pestered with advertizing lies and scams almost from birth and one of childhood's first lessons SHOULD be that the toy those kids in the commercial were screaming for is just a piece of useless junk. That same lesson should serve us all the way to the grave. (And for the record, I don't want an expensive funeral, either!!)

[Dobelo17]

Hi Guys,

I am beginning to think alot of this hard times is all
BS. I am hearing at work all the time that the Post
Office is going broke. Oh we need to all give up some
of our hours wah wah wah. The real story is they are trying to privatize the Post Office and get then unions
out. Yeah I know their are alot of workers that take
advantage of having a union and are some lazy but heads but my new boss is taking my job away from me and she is doing it to get a big bonus. Oh I forgot they
all got their bonuses this year so much for being broke.
I filed a greivance with the Union and now they are
shipping me off to a smaller office to be the temporary
PostMaster. I wonder how long I will be gone and if I
will have a job when I get back. My husband is a idiot
he thinks it is great Look at all the money you will be getting working 40 hours a week. THat is good but what if I am only there for a month and then they send
me back to my old office and get told they don't need me there any more? I have never dealt with people that lie so well. My boss told the Union Steward that
she could no longer justify my being there for 2 hours in
the afternoon becasue the job I do only take 15 mmins to do. We dispatch 2 different trucks in the afternoon and it takes 15-20 mins to load each one. I have done this job for 17 yrs and it takes longer then 15 mins. All
the worry I am doing just so that b### # can get a
bonus. I was told that is how she got the job she told
or District manager that she can run that office without
a PTF clerk we used to have 3 nowwe don't need any?
SHe is in her 60's I hope she gives herself a stoke then
she can sit in the corner with a drool bucket and see if all her money helps her then. My husband says that is
not very nice but I don't think someone taking my job for a bonus falls under the sweet and special catagory
myself. SO some of this bad ecomomy is probably
true but if you here that the Post Office is in troble it is a load of crap. :-/ >:(

Just my grumpy two cents worth.

BEcky

[Wyobuckaroo]

Howdy

Have to say "Blue Sky" is a good description of what has been going on for a long time now. At least the initials for this are on the money......... (BS)....... Bwahahahaaha

Seriously..... How many companies have you worked for or heard say on tv that they "lost" money when they only did 110% of there previous years business, instead of the 115% they targeted............ ??

In human resources terms that is part of creating an atmosphere that people will do more with less in. Can't remember the buzz word term for it right now.

All in all it is just an advertising ploy, like "limited supply, buy now before there gone" kind of stuff.

I have thought 401Ks were a joke from day one. I suspected they would be too vulnerable to manipulation of one kind or another. My accountant told me don't get involved in that. Keep putting your retirement money where you already have some clout.

Had a HR person at a place I worked bug me about every pay day to join the 401K. She would get all indignant when I said no thanks every time. Turns out everywhere she ever worked she had a broker follow her around setting up the 401K programs for these places. Gee, do you think there was something in that for her ????????
I wonder ???????????

Like was said, you can't loose money on something until you sell it. So as far as tangible things go, hang on. Most of us have lived through one or more of this kind of downturn, so I plan to wait it out.

Enough for now, think I'm getting a head ache.
Wyo

[pcrowder]

Wow, Becky...bummer. wish I could say something to help. How about just a big <<<hug>>> instead.
Pat

[Dobelo17]

Hey Pat :)

Thanks for the hug! It is bummer but what can you do.
I hope things will pick up but I don't think that is going to help. SHe has a bug up her butt about this and I see
the writing on the wall. Time to get serious about the
green house and my little cabin. ANybody ever hear
of a green house with a opening top? I am trying to
find one I can build so the deer will stay out of my
garden. Take care

BEcky