• People are starving

    "Well, considering everything in this world wet up in the past year- I spent it on food, and gas. What i don't understand, is how the cost of living is rising, but we all still get paid the same. 60% of houses bought in sacramento, ca last year went into foreclosure. People are losing everything. no one has any money. I can't find a job. And i have the most generic occupation. Half of everyone I know got laid off, because there is no funding. What are people going to do?"

    Danielle, 22, Administrative Assistant
    Sacramento, Ca

    2nd Jul 2008 in Groceries, Vehicle & Gas | Discuss (6) |

Comments

  • People are going to do what they have done in every recession. Take a look at their lives, realize they aren't living within their means, realize that housing markets aren't bulletproof (it was obvious to most), and realize how to better manage their personal finances. This isn't even close to the worst recession or worst times economically; hopefully it'll teach a lot of people a lesson about fiscal responsibility.

    Be thankful for what you have and be thankful we still have the cheapest gas in the world and are just now catching up with food costs some have been paying in Europe for years. Buckle down and survive, because it's been worse before and the cycles of the economy will be up and down several more times in your life.

    Posted by: Nothing New Jul 2nd, 15:29

  • i do not understand why, as americans we seem to feel the need to lecture and sometimes bash each other over our financial hardships. is it possible, just slightly possible, that if this many people are writing THE SAME THINGS about not getting by and not being able to find a job, that there IS something indeed very wrong with the state of the union right now? after posting my own little not-so-amazing story that immediately someone needed to get on my case about not living within my means? how do they know what my means are? my point here is stop trying to preach, youre rhetoric is not helping any of us. we are doing the best that we can, and sorry some of cannot afford to even live within our means. even though you think we should. but we cant. but youre going to tell us all we should. oh, but see, wait, we still cant. your turn.

    Posted by: alicia ferrari Jul 2nd, 16:08

  • Just saw it scrolling across the news, so I paused it for a sec. The unemployment rate is currently at 5.5%, the jobless rate is currently at 4.5%. The labor force rose 577,000 in May 2008 and the part time force rose 764,000 over the past 12 months. Over the past 12 months, average earnings rose 3.5%, whereas the consumer price index was up 4.2% (May 2008 numbers), hardly a desperate situation yet considering where we've seen these figures in my lifetime.

    Long story short, whoever posted above isn't too far from the truth, times have been worse, much worse in this country, and people have always find a way to pull through.

    It's likely going to get worse before it gets better, but both major political parties have been at the helm for much worse periods in our time, and both Clinton and Bush's terms have been impacted by unseen-before new highs and lows(tech bubble, housing bubble).

    Keep your head up, save everywhere you can, and you'll be a'ight.

    Posted by: State of the Union Jul 2nd, 17:06

  • Alicia, whereas I don't see your post so I don't know what you're specifically referencing, I have to say, disagreement is to be suspected when a lot of people are complaining about what they received. The posts I've seen that are bashed generally complain about the amount and don't seem to appreciate getting anything. I myself cannot imagine ever complaining about free money, but to each their own, I guess.

    Both sides have a valid argument. On the one hand, people are genuinely lucky to receive anything, as it is indeed free money (at least free to the receiver) that will not be recollected or reclaimed through adjusted 2009 IRS collections. On the other hand, a blanket stimulus does unfairly distribute the money in some cases and some on this website have pointed that out. I think if everyone steps back and stops comparing to each other and stops wanting more, they'd realize that we were lucky to get something.

    So without reading your post, I'm guessing you weren't happy with distribution, but hey, that's your opinion. But I think you have to expect positive and negative feedback when posting things on the internet that are very polarizing, such as these stimulus checks.

    Don't worry about what others say, just be happy for what you received, use it for whatever you want, and good luck keeping your head above water until it works out for you.

    Posted by: Sorry Alicia Jul 2nd, 17:16

  • its the other millions of americans who are suffering that i am trying to defend and stand up for, thats all. i am fine, and i will be just fine, there is just a lot that needs to be said for people to hear.

    Posted by: I dont need you to be sorry, but thanks. Jul 2nd, 18:56

  • I do not understand how people can feel the way the economy is right now is fine/OK/not the worst...I'm just going to lay it on the line,(and lets just see how much I'm living out of my means)...I get paid bi weekly, I bring home about $2000 a month I have a 2yr old child...car note $420(05 pontiac,insurance $200, rent on a 1/1 $950, water $30, light bill $200...hmmm thats $1800...me and my child have to eat...gas have to be put in my car so I can get to work, someone have to watch my child while I'm at work(no family here), I have a student loan over my head from when I tried to better myself and found out the school was too expensive, find cheaper apartment, hmm come to south florida and tell me where u can find an apartment suitable for an adult and child for under $950/mth in a reasonable neighborhood...now if that is not living in your means I don't know what is.

    Posted by: I have something to say Jul 3rd, 18:14

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