The financial shit-hole we're in is so not over yet --

[Hell Hath No Fury]

As some of you know, one of the many things I do is holiday decorating work for downtown SF businesses. Lots of building lobbies, banks, financial businesses. etc. Holiday orders tend to be a very good indicator of where things are finanically in the business world and, I am sad to say, orders so far are as pathetic as last year. :(

As of today I have 11 orders for Xmas wreaths, with a few more to trickle in the next week or so. In years past, that order would be well over one hundred.

The building managers are still ordering -- they have no choice, they need to keep up appearances for their tenants. Orders are still w-a-y down for individual businesses. Back in the heyday I had a crew of 5 working with me for at least a month in advance of Thanksgiving -- once again, this year it is just me. Orders for poinsettias and trees are also in the basement.

I would add that this is taking place in San Francisco -- a locale that has remained fairly unscathed in the overall downturn.

The year I get 40 wreath orders is the year I will know we are truly getting to be back on track.

[TheWatcher]

1. And of course your Post will be dismissed by the Recovery Cult as Isolated, Localized Hyperbole

And you will be branded as a terrorist who hates Obama, Hates America, Worships Republicans in your closet on your lunch hour, and they will be reporting you to Homeland Security to have your phone tapped on suspicion of subversive activity to single-handedly destroy the "Recovery" by deliberately trying to sabotage confidence with this negative post.

Your Cavity Search Will be Epic, even in Hell.

Haven't you seen the Propaganda on the Weekly Reader of The Internet, Yahoo's Front Page, that already proclaims this as The biggest Black Friday Ever?

Why aren't you out doing your part and Loading your Car to the gills with cheap Chinese Bobbles and Trinkets for The Good Of The Country?

Sure, you're not a War Criminal, so you may not be able to do the most important and shining work to make your country proud, but you can win your own personal Medal of Freedom by Strapping on your Propaganda Feedbag and getting out there and doing your part at The Mall.

Come On Winston, Five Fingers, Not Four.

OBEY. SHUT UP. SUBMIT. SHOP.

Be A "Good American."

:sarcasm:

I'm sorry your business is down too, my friend.

But our voices are being lost in a deafening Echo Chamber of "Everything Is Just Fine."

Welcome To The United States Of Pompeii.

Where the Biggest Growth Industry is Denial.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

3. As someone who has watched --

none of the fed programs work to keep three friends from losing their homes and filing for bankruptcy, and the small business I work for fail to qualify for federal programs and lurch that much closer to failure, it is gonna take a whole lotta more for me to believe we back on track then Black Friday.

As for holiday spending, like the last two years, there ain't gonna be any in my household because I have only 11 wreaths to decorate. :(

[TheWatcher]

6. My heart Goes Out To You, HHNF.

:hug:

Sadly, it is going to be the same for many of us.

Please Hang In There.

We Will NOT Go Quietly Into That Good Night.

[KG]

4. 'Recovery Cult'!

succinctly sums up those in denial about whats really happening :P

[femrap]

2. Sorry your biz is down....

and San Fran, too.

I still say we're in a Depression....just wait until next year after the Cat Food Commission gets done with us.

Good luck.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

5. I think we are there, too.

If we did not have unemployment insurance I guarantee you our country would look more like it did in the 30s. :(

And I say, "Fuck the Catfood Commission". People in both parties have been salivating for years to get their greedy little mitts on our most important social safety net programs. And by god, they just might do it this time. :cry: A pox on any Democrat who helps us down that path. :mad: