"I just got done phone banking and everyone is voting democratic!"

[TwixVoy]

I loved all the posts leading up to today which stated "everyone I called is voting democratic". It must be nice to live in such a small world and tell ones self everything is going to turn out great despite the fact any rational person can see the exact opposite is going to happen.

People need to stop living in fantasy land and look outside your damn window. I know here I see more homeless people than I have seen in the last 20+ years..... and I don't even live in one of the areas with super high unemployment. I see tons of vacant office space. I see local businesses that I remember visiting 20 years ago closing up shop. (literally) I know personally how hard it has been for me to find a new job.

So you know what? When someone on the MSM says "The recovery is here!" "The middle class is saving more!" or whatever BS catch phrase of the month is being used it doesn't mean a damn thing to me. I can look around and see what is going on.

DUers should be able to do the same thing. It absolutely makes me sick to see posts that try to deny what is going on with the poor and middle class in this country.... and then posts that are surprised when events such as we have seen tonight happen.

I am convinced this country is in for some serious economic trouble within the next 1-2 years. I feel like I am one of the only people who can see this. Shut off the TV and go walk around your city/town some time. Look at what's going on. It is so incredibly obvious. Sometimes I think it's the fact I don't watch TV. I saw a news article that says the average person watches six hours of TV a DAY. As someone who watches maybe 2 hours a YEAR that astounds me. Is it just that people are living in some kind of bubble world?

When I first came to DU it was with a post that it was clear to me something was seriously wrong with the consumer. (I worked with the consumer every day at the time, and I actually PAID ATTENTION to trends and their behavior) I posted that the company had made many changes that they were slowly phasing in that suggested they knew a major negative economic change was coming.

Countless people attacked me and told me I didn't know what I was talking about. I received private messages attacking me. I was told that economists who knew far more than I did were on TV saying everything was great. Books like "DOW 30,000" were telling us great times were ahead.

A few months later the economy fell off a cliff.

It wasn't magic people. I simply pay attention to people in my community and watch what the general trend seems to be with them. I don't just go through my day in a bubble ignoring what is going around me. When we got messages from corporate headquarters telling us "Make sure you remove unnecessary fluorescent light bulbs from your stores to lower energy costs" Memos that say "The following positions are not to be filled until further notice" etc it sets off red flags that the powers that be know something they aren't telling us at the bottom.

It simply amazes me how so many seem to live in a bubble state completely oblivious to what is going on with so many of their fellow Americans. So many people can't seem to put together obvious trends that are going on around them in their community. Then days like today happen and everyone acts like they never saw it coming.

And honestly, it scares the hell out of me.

[Tejas]

1. Thank you, and a word on your "economist" remark.

"Countless people attacked me and told me I didn't know what I was talking about. I received private messages attacking me. I was told that economist who knew far more than I did were on TV saying everything was great. Books like "DOW 30,000" were telling us great times were ahead."



Someone much smarter than me asked way back when, "ever seen a rich economist?".


Very cool post TwixVoy, thank you again!

[KittyWampus]

2. Wait, you are dissing people who actually DID SOMETHING to try and win an election?

That is screwed up.

[TwixVoy]

3. Lol what a weak attack

Yes, that was the point of my post. I am attacking people who did something to win an election. :eyes:

What a joke of a reply. Yes, everything is drama. Everything is an attack. Just like TV "news". Nothing can be a simple observation.

[BeyondGeography]

4. My reaction as well

:thumbsdown: on the OP.

[dgibby]

5. I've always found your posts to be

thoughtful, well researched, and right on the money. I passed them on to my friends and family, most of whom heeded your warnings and were, therefore, not surprised when the economy went south. Unfortunately, my BIL didn't listen and lost almost 1/2 a mil in the stock market. Needless to say, my sister was NOT amused!

Anyway, when you talk, I listen. Thank you!

[timeforpeace]

6. Wise words well written. It's true that working with consumers gives you a feel for how things

really are.

[eridani]

7. My personal marker for how the economy is doing

Panhandlers on the few freeway entrances with stoplights and left turns, allowing a driver to actually roll down the window and give him/her something. They are almost NEVER absent from the Hwy 509/S. 148th street entrance--rain or shine. I didn't used to see any after dark--on my way to my local party meeting, I saw TWO--one at the good spot, and one on the left side of the kittycorner straight ahead light--a much poorer location.

Scary. In 1998-1999, I never saw any, and I could hardly ever buy the homeless newsletter on the streets at all.