tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7929216211968531577.post9178264129714354953..comments2023-05-16T06:32:48.715-04:00Comments on Women of a Certain Age: Are Americans Spoiled Brats?California Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12582691517303132274noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7929216211968531577.post-62727806626085682192010-09-07T12:19:53.498-04:002010-09-07T12:19:53.498-04:00Mama: Polls this morning from Wall St Jrnl (I thin...Mama: Polls this morning from Wall St Jrnl (I think) say 60% of the country think we're "going on the wrong track" and less than 40% approve of Obama's handling of the economy. <br /><br />RN: I am shocked by your situation. Will your sons help you? I couldn't leave my mother twisting in the wind. If you need a walker and have lost most of your pension, you'll have to have help. I am so sorry to hear this and I pray for better days ahead of you.California Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12582691517303132274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7929216211968531577.post-32335908113429469902010-09-07T08:50:23.281-04:002010-09-07T08:50:23.281-04:00At 64-1/2, I lost my city and county of San Franci...At 64-1/2, I lost my city and county of San Francisco forensic RN position of 21 years in massive budget cuts to the Dept of Public Health. In this area, one of the most expensive in the U. S. to live, I raised three sons alone, without child support and was forced to retire on a half time pension, with an annual income that had plummeted $90,000/year. I am not joking, within the next two months, I will probably be living in my van. I am terrified and so depressed. Because I use a walker and worked so many years in forensics, I cannot find nursing employment in other specialties.RNSANEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02841873957894861725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7929216211968531577.post-80032006508823517872010-09-06T17:34:28.300-04:002010-09-06T17:34:28.300-04:00TARP, which was done in the fall of '08 on Bus...TARP, which was done in the fall of '08 on Bush's watch, rescued AIG and the banks. While AIG and many of the banks are paying back the money with interest and, like the auto loans, taxpayers are making a profit from the loans, there should have been more strings attached to the money in terms of a certain percentage of that money that they had to agree to put back into the economy in terms of small business loans, etc. I agree that they got the money way too easily.injaynesworldhttp://injaynesworld.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7929216211968531577.post-2159500909278958622010-09-06T09:10:21.184-04:002010-09-06T09:10:21.184-04:00I agree that President Obama is not connecting wit...I agree that President Obama is not connecting with the American public. There is so much fear out there; a national crusade (as Robinson puts it) may be just what is needed to combat the feelings of helplessness. Unfortunately, it's the right wing nuts that are capitalizing on that.Maude Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03669688074743095866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7929216211968531577.post-21559839290010543802010-09-04T08:07:30.317-04:002010-09-04T08:07:30.317-04:00More thoughtful comments from those of you who'...More thoughtful comments from those of you who've taken time to read this. Thank you.<br /><br />Bliss: My parents went through the Depression and had savings accounts as well as stocks and bonds. My father was a very careful investor, not always great at it, but he managed his money. My mother, who'd been in accounting, managed our books and savings. There was a good deal of money for their retirement which Dad didn't take til he was 69 and they have another great 20 years together before Mom died. Their money paid for her care at home and his care at home. My husband and I haven't been as thrifty and I hope our sons take pity!<br /><br />Baino: Bank/Financial regulation, possible govt takeover of it all, works for me. My dad would roll over in his grave if he heard that, yet he wouldn't like the big corporate ownership either. If you can believe it, we called a major bank five days ago to discuss a mortgage plan for my MIL's house & they still haven't called back. Why? I dunno but they probably don't much care.<br /><br />Megan: The news is no longer news, it's an amalgam of crap with headlines. Yea, I drink too much too.California Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12582691517303132274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7929216211968531577.post-19255758553801819862010-09-04T00:53:51.361-04:002010-09-04T00:53:51.361-04:00My news feed today showed simultaneously a story t...My news feed today showed simultaneously a story that unemployment is rising and a story that the market was "rallying" on a "strong jobs report."<br /><br />And meanwhile, in between the two is the rumor that Lindsay ran over a baby carriage?!?<br /><br />Oh, and a suicide bombing. Can we get through a day without a suicide bombing? Please world? Pretty please with sugar on it?<br /><br />In short, I'm tired of the chaos. Sick and tired. No wonder I drink so much...Meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09387041422819664987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7929216211968531577.post-22912270350044053452010-09-03T19:37:00.220-04:002010-09-03T19:37:00.220-04:00Such a complex issue and I do feel sorry for Obama...Such a complex issue and I do feel sorry for Obama because political memories are short and he won't go down in history as a 'good' president under the current economic cloud. Brace yourself America, theres talk afoot of a double dip so it aint over yet. Much as you hate regulation, it was banking regulation that saved Australia from officially dipping into recession. Without it, we'd be stuffed. Having said that, consumer spending is now way down here, although credit debt is still a problem, looks like we are learning a valuable lesson down here.Bainohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14156193098088048637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7929216211968531577.post-83226510422418831072010-09-03T18:54:59.388-04:002010-09-03T18:54:59.388-04:00It always troubles me when business reporters and ...It always troubles me when business reporters and economists matter-of-factly talk about how we all have to regain our confidence and return to our old spending habits. NO! It will be so much better for everyone if we do learn to live with less. But that requires business and government to understand and agree on (ha!) a new economic model with new kinds of jobs, new goals, new definitions of success. I despair of our ever raising the level of discussion in order to achieve that.Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17223278142557533175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7929216211968531577.post-4625547523338010532010-09-03T16:17:34.022-04:002010-09-03T16:17:34.022-04:00Susan: is this symptomatic of all :developed"...Susan: is this symptomatic of all :developed" nations?<br /><br />DJan, thanks for elevating me above Mr. Robinson...hahaha! <br /><br />Jayne: you are right about the auto industry and I did consider the jobs aspect of that when I was writing the post. You are right they paid it back. As for the banking industry, I am not convinced they should have been "loaned" the money, particularly w/o any reasonable criteria or future restraints. They have been raping and pillaging, with the aid of our govt for too long. When you consider the architects of TARP, Henry Paulson in particular, why would there be future stop gaps for these financial folk? They are the first to scream the loudest about free market trade, Capitalism, etc. They just don't want to live and die by the sword.California Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12582691517303132274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7929216211968531577.post-46971407675602096412010-09-03T11:09:08.352-04:002010-09-03T11:09:08.352-04:00Good post. I hadn't read this. I have to dis...Good post. I hadn't read this. I have to disagree with you about the auto industry bailouts. There were actually loans, which are being paid back with interest, so the taxpayers have actually made money on the deal. Same with the banks. The U.S. has exported almost all its manufacturing. Autos is one of our last industries. By saving the auto companies, we also saved a lot of jobs in related industries that depend on the auto companies. It turned out to be a very good investment.injaynesworldhttp://injaynesworld.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7929216211968531577.post-90101618491696881802010-09-03T10:38:42.899-04:002010-09-03T10:38:42.899-04:00Robinson said it well, and you said it better. I h...Robinson said it well, and you said it better. I hear you! I know it's an impossible task, but I fear the worst if the Republicans gain power, because they seem to think that shrinking government is the way to go. Fine for those with money, not fine for those of us without.DJanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07152183871573797791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7929216211968531577.post-64256938294182357832010-09-03T09:20:35.590-04:002010-09-03T09:20:35.590-04:00right on! Here in Canada we see much the same. Cha...right on! Here in Canada we see much the same. Change is slow and painful and everybody looks for the quick fix. Not going to happen....the bubble has burst and we all have to adjust accordingly. Humbling, isn't it?mermaid galleryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04678555215616371872noreply@blogger.com