We are not consumers, we are workers.

[Lost-in-FL]

When you hear in the news "consumer spending is down" think of it instead as "worker spending is down".

When you hear from your coworker that "people aren't consuming", correct them, tell them that "workers aren't consuming".

The problem isn't that "people ain't buying s$#@t", the problem is unemployment.

Call it like it is.

[sandnsea]

1. The workers have no money

The problem isn't unemployment really, it's underemployment. The credit crisis finally exposed the fact that wages are not enough to live on.

[Lost-in-FL]

2. Correct.

:fistbump:

[ashling]

8. YES. Shame on Congress to suggest that CEOs can get by on mere wages.

They need their small bonuses (recognition for for a job well done) to supplement the pittance the receive in wages in order to make ends meet. :sarcasm:

[SammyWinstonJack]

19. The same Congress that votes itself pay raises. Shouldn't we the People have a say on that?

'Cause I would say NO!

[McCamy Taylor]

3. Say "workers aren't working!" as in "we have no jobs!"

[Wetzelbill]

4. yes and great first comment too

K and R.

[omega minimo]

5. we are citizens, not consumers.

[OneMoreDemocrat]

6. Yep....

Citizens.

'Workers' is a tad limiting.

[Cerridwen]

7. We, the People

people, person, human, human being, being...Spirit, spirit, Self, self...human

Aren't words fun?

[bird gerhl]

9. We certainly consume more than we produce.

So I don't see anything wrong w/ saying "consumer spending is down" instead of "worker-austerity is up"

[MrMickeysMom]

10. Excellent point, FL...

Consumer Index
Consumer Reports
Consumerism

95% of people earn less than 150 thousand dollars (one of Malloy's callers pointed out) That should put it in perspective.

I can't believe anyone in congress would compromise with jobs and healthcare with stinking tax cuts. Why on earth would that help? Tax cuts don't make a shit's worth of difference if you don't have a fucking job.

I've never been a consumer who could be indexed and report in with a new care as part of my quota.

Consume this!

[Mind_your_head]

11. Nope. You and I are not "workers", we are CITIZENS

Main Entry: cit·i·zen
Pronunciation: \ˈsi-tə-zən also -sən\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English citizein, from Anglo-French citezein, alteration of citeien, from cité city
Date: 14th century
1: an inhabitant of a city or town ; especially : one entitled to the rights and privileges of a freeman
2 a: a member of a state b: a native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to protection from it
3: a civilian as distinguished from a specialized servant of the state

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/citizen
-------

Your OP is just WRONG!

[lumberjack_jeff]

13. Exactly right. I am more than simply an economic cog. n/t

[eridani]

18. Consumers vs citizens

“Customer and consumer are not the only words being used to change the nature of citizenship. The word taxpayer now regularly holds the place which in a true democracy would be occupied by citizen. Taxpayers bear a dual relationship to government, neither half of which has anything at all to do with democracy. Taxpayers pay tribute to the government and they receive services from it. So does every subject of a totalitarian regime. What taxpayers do not do, and what people who call themselves taxpayers have long since stopped even imagining themselves doing, is governing.”

Daniel Kemmis, former mayor of Missoula, Montana

[Catshrink]

12. I'm not spending because I know my income will be cut...

but that's far better than losing my job altogether. I feel very fortunate to have a job and be able to get by when so many are struggling.

[Mind_your_head]

14. Aw, f*ck it......we're all a bunch of wimps who have no principles

[SmileyRose]

15. "I owe my soul to the company store"

Sixteen Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford





Some people say a man is made outta mud
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong

You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
And the straw boss said "Well, a-bless my soul"

You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in the canebrake by an ol' mama lion
Cain't no-a high-toned woman make me walk the line

You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

If you see me comin', better step aside
A lotta men didn't, a lotta men died
One fist of iron, the other of steel
If the right one don't a-get you
Then the left one will

You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

[Historic NY]

16. We work to buy things, .we consume food. Most news is just excrement.

[ConsAreLiars]

17. Exactly right. That framing puts us as parasites when the truth is the opposite.

We work, we create, we make stuff happen, and all they do is suck off 5-10% of every transaction, and use 1% of that theft to control the propaganda.

[CRF450]

20. Dupe, wrong reply

[Hippo_Tron]

21. It's economic semantics, workers don't consume they produce

Likewise consumers don't produce, they consume. And simply blaming it entirely on unemployment misses the entire picture. Some people aren't unemployed but have had to take pay cuts. Others are worried about the possibility of being unemployed. Others are still employed but the value of their assets has substantially fallen. All of these things lead to a decrease in consumption.

[CRF450]

22. Those of you who think less consumerism is a good thing.

Keep in mind that consumerism is helping you keep a job and get through life in todays world. In my line of work, if people quit taking vacations at the beach in those big cottages, I'd lose the only GOOD PAYING job I can ever get currently.

Cunsumerism is a good thing. What we desperately need though is manufacturing jobs, all those jobs that have gone overseas.

[nichomachus]

23. Buy only what you absolutely need

Then, when you absolutely need something, you'll have money to buy it.

There -- that wasn't so hard, was it?

[tavalon]

24. And remember to label the depression by it's proper name

The Bush Depression. If you want to stick with the pundits and continue to call the worst downturn in 100 years, a Recession, call it a Bush Recession. I think credit should be given where credit is due.