November 22, 2008
Posted: 2128 GMT

ATLANTA, Georgia – Lately, I feel like Alice in Wonderland, peering through the looking glass.

I just paid half of what I used to for a tank of gas.

Great deals beckon at the malls, just in time for the holidays. But why am I uneasy? Nothing is as it seems these days. Even good news is a bad sign.

Lower prices mean businesses are in trouble. Big discounts at sales are not making people buy. More and more are losing their jobs. Last week, 542,000 people applied for unemployment benefits, a 16-year-record for new jobless claims. Many others fear they could be next. No wonder they're not spending money.

When people stop buying in America, there's deep trouble, because spending drives 70 percent of the economy.

But business is being hit from another source as well. Banks are still not lending like they used to, freezing up operations.

I heard one small business owner say he was forced to close shop when he couldn't get credit to finance his tree import business from Brazil. When he couldn't pay for his orders, he couldn't get the trees his customers ordered. Now his Brazilian exporting partner is in trouble too.

Experts say it's going to get worse; they just don't know how much worse. It's hard to judge how it's all going to play out. We can only brace ourselves for what we still don't know.

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Filed under: General


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captindimasalang   November 23rd, 2008 1301 GMT

its the right of every citizen of any country to come back to power like putin of russia .however. the bullish attitude of putin oftentimes ,violating the sovereignthy of other country somehow trigerring a bit of cold war scenario between the usa , must be confronted with resolute diplomacy strongly supported by unified actions of the allies of the usa .the world is watching how the newly -elected us president obama can handle a situation in some areas so complicated like the middle east conflicts, the poland missile issue ,the african conflicts .the economic slowdown globally . obama needs the services of some tested republican figures ,not just from his own party .world wars are fought because two leaders differs and contradicting their political views .

Merple Reddin   November 23rd, 2008 2147 GMT

My mom always said, "have a career which provides a service; nobody can eat a painting." Research night class options for viable income careers. Even one class per quarter/semester matters. Keep a monthly log of expenses and examine how to cut corners. Check to see if a second mortage gives both a safety net of payment delays as well as a lower percentage. Enjoy the values of your city/community's beauty. Search the weekend papers for free and inexpensive festivals and days of free museum visits. Be sure to use the local parks for your family's artwork and picnics. Invite people to your house for fun once every 3-5 months. Network child care in the community to allow parents some personal time off.

kk   November 27th, 2008 031 GMT

It's the domino effect in these unsure times! People are going to only spend on the neccessities, however even then people are going to go slow, because do we really know if we are going to have a job tomorrow. No business is really safe these days.

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