It's official: U.S. is in recession

What recession?

People are killing each other to spend, apparently,  piles of cash.

People have TOO MUCH MONEY and TOO MUCH FREE TIME.

Wow what exposure! My cat knew we were in a recession before anyone on Capital Hill would let economists say the "big" word....Recession.

btw- they should have spell checked that article.

I love it when they change the definition mid-game to try to scare people. When they (economists) were figuring inflation, they didn't include gas and housing prices since they were going up. Now that they are coming down, they include them to make the numbers worse.  I wish they would stick to one set of rules/definitions then we all would know what they really want to say.

P.S. By definition, we can only be in the first quarter of a recession, and we need two quarter to make that official.

To think these are some of the smartest economists in the land and it took them a YEAR to figure out Bush ruined the economy.

@ NWO Now - put your hate-filled, conspiracy theory crap back into the foil lined closet. No one believes the crap you are spewing. Take it to FOX, and tell Der Fuher Rupert over there. Maybe he'll listen.

emal I  sent to Rachel Ray, months ago.

Really love your show.  I know I am a guy.  Still love your show.  Great job.
 
 
Just have to say this, with the current US Economic Situation.  Hopefully DOES NOT happen.
 
Rachel Ray: (Emphatically)  Whats for dinner tonight?
 
Rachel Ray: (Smiling) Depression Era Dog Food Stew.  MMMMMGood.
 
Rachel Ray:  (Cheerful) This will stretch that one can of Dog Food out to about one week.  Uh, huh, yes you can.
 
Rachel Ray:  (look of concern)  Is this safe to eat.  Oh yes it is.  The pet food laws passed during the Great Depression are more strict than food eaten by people....humans.  (cheerful) Well, hey, your grandparents ate it.
 
LOL.  I had to say this.  Considering we the US Citizens were lied to.  The losses were not 700 Billion USD.  It is more than 60 Trillion USD due to the ISDA. 
 
Ok, I know it is not funny, people losing their life savings.  It is just that I have to laugh at how stupid this is, me defending against enemies foreign and domestic, fighting these Corporate Wars for Natural Resources (Oil), and being called "U Stupid of America by foreigners that can see how stupid  (hyporcritical) all this is.
 
Depression and Recession Definitions:
 
Depression, those that caused the losses and economic crisis, "man up", and jump off the tops of buildings.  Therefore avoid being lynched, criminal prosecution, or being labelled as traitors.
 
Recession, US rewards those that caused the losses and economic crisis.  Delaware: Freddie Mac, Fanny Mae, Bank of America, Wilmington Trust, First USA / Bank One / JPMorgan Chase, AIG, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, Barclays plc, GM, Chrysler, Wachovia, ExxonMobil, Chevron, ISDA, and those States with Corporations Incorporated at Delaware.

Especially, ISDA. The People that brought you:  the 60 to 100 Trillion USD (it is not 700 Billion USD US Economic Crisis) Global Economic Crisis.  These people will be back for more just like GM, Ford, Chysler, September 2008, 25 Billion, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, to milk the cash cow.  updated add: AIG, Billions USD.  The 60 to 100 Trillion USD does not include the usary interest protected by the Delaware Court of Chancery.
 
"Over 50% of US publicly-traded corporations and 60% of the Fortune 500 companies are incorporated in Delaware;[30] the state's attractiveness as a corporate haven is largely due to its business-friendly corporation law. Franchise taxes on Delaware corporations supply about one-fifth of its state revenue.[31]".

 

So that they can come back again, like GM, Ford, Chrysler, for "mo money". 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s.  Recently September 2008, 25 Billion USD.  Same attitude, same psychology, same people, same results, for Wall Street Corporations (Corporate Board Members are on numerous boards, same people).

I can respond to this article in two words.

Say em with me!

"No SCHYTT!"

Well greg, don't know if too many people have too much money, doesn't seem like that in my part of the wood, but sadly, there are too many people with too much time on their hand :-( And I don't think the later was their choice either :-(

The recession started when the public at large realized that our investement banks over leveraged cdo's and cds's and other over the counter derivitives while increasing the cost of predatory loans forced on unsuspecting borrowers. The fix? Seems to be to feed the monster that put us here. What a mistake....but then we wouldn't want multi- billion dollar hedge funds to suffer now would we? We wouldn't want to change an economy built on debt. Our corporate/government economy has been destroyed and is being held hostage by the same corrupt greedy people that put us here. Let the too large to fail........fail.......get it over with and NEVER EVER let corporations function without oversight and transparancy......As a matter of fact...lets get rid of these corporate monopolies and concentate on privately owned businesses that offer pensions and medical coverage. These corporate giants are not only too big to fail they are so big THEY OWN US lock stock and barrel. I have had enough....how bout you?

StoptheNWOnow, you forget who was at the helm to create this disaster, get a grip.

I found $1.83 in my couch today.  We aren't all broke.

stopthenwonow, dont even bother man, noone wants to hear the truth when its not good news.

well you shouold be happy that this study was done. Rubin, who was on of clintons boys went on to big a big wig at citgroup, yes the one that is sucking billions of our dolars to bail them out. Is this not similar or worse than cheney bailing out his buddies at halliburton our are the angry liberals blind all of a sudden. have congressional hearings NOW

what?  A recession you say? Noooooo, really? *rollz eyez*

Text from the article: "The decision on the recession means that during the eight years that Bush has been in office, the country has seen two recessions. The first downturn lasted from March 2001 until November of that year. "  Hmmmm....two wars, two recessions, one administration.

So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror...

-Franklin D. Roosevelt

He said that in his inauguration speech in the middle of the great depression.  I think it bears repeating, especially when it seems that this article is mostly about fear mongering.

What? We are not a 'nation of whiners' after all, nor in a 'mental depression', nor is the economy 'fundamentally sound'. Duh, we are not as stupid as they thought us to be.

I'm sure the conservatives will designate themsleves as prophets and say it will get worse under Obama and his liberals. I believe it will get worse regardless of Obama or liberals or even if McCain were in office.

I believe we Americans have been fed a bunch of lies for decades, regarding our economy and its basic operating principles. Former Fed Chairman Greenspan woke up and stated (paraphrasing) 'his basic economic principles were wrong regarding the current meltdown'. Basically we traded our birthright (hard work and investments from previous generations) for debt and cheap foreign goods. The party is over.

We have been lied to for over a year about this recession. Congress had a secret meeting on March 13 this year to discuss FISA (the new and improved Spying on Americans Act) and other things (one of those secrets was that they knew we where headed for a Great Depression at the end of 08 followed by Government collapse in 09 and wanted to know who would rebel against this sick corrupt government that spent money like drunken sailors and wasting treasure on a liars war. Also these crooks wanted to know where they could go to be safe from a rebellion of bankrupt angry citizens.

Two recessions eh?  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4OOCReeLWo

Just something to lighten the mood.

It's a good thing I've figured out how to sh!t nickles.

Wow! It took top economists a year to report that we have been in a recession since Dec. 2007. Welcome to the age of technology, where everything is faster. One question: If it takes great minds twelve months to discover and report that the US is in a recession, why is it that I have only 4 months to get my taxes in order? I would say that we are being governed by a bunch of monkeys, but I don't want to insult monkeys.

It's hard to accept the truth about reality. Economists living in their academic bubble just did not want to accept the results of their studies.

LOL!  Newsflash!!!!  We didn't need the 'official' report to come to this conclusion!

read the article about bush and the repubs in congress back in 2005 that ignored the warnings about the housing market, at the behest of the same banks that are now asking for and receiving bailouts/handouts/welfare whatever you want to call it, and then blame it on the "liberal congress"

Sorry folks but the world's problems are not caused by "liberals"   and FYI - what we deem as "conservative" is seen by the rest of the world as liberal so we are all liberals!!!  like it or not - it's not a bad thing nor is it something to be ashamed of.

Please provide a link to that article as Bush, McCain, Dole and other Republicans have been warning about the housing problem since 2001.

Give it a rest.  Bush and his admin caused this crap and you refuse to acknowledge it just as Bush has refused to acknowledge it was a recession in the first place.  You people stuck in your groups think that Reps do no wrong and then even like to blame those that aren't even in the mix.  Who cares whether you're a liberal or conservative this mess has been created and hate to tell you but your gang was in office and your gang continues to do dumb crap before they get the hell out.

American-344175 You ain't seen nothing yet if obama becomes president.

Obama will be president get used to it.

I am always a bit curious why people try to blame one person or political party for the problems we face. The real problem was and will always be the housing boom. They built too many houses, they charged too much for these houses and that drove up or down, the imaginary value of every home within a few miles of them. The high cost of housing, the greed of the entire banking system. This is what put us in the mess we are in. It was not a person or political affiliation. It was a concerted effort of wealth seekers playing on the poor. It was the blind eye of every American who bought into the system. It was us, the American people who created the mess and it will only be us, the American people who can bring us out of it. By working together, by offering what we can to those who are in need. It is our duty to make this country strong again. It was deregualtion of the banking system, it was deregulation of electric companies, it was an entire breakdown, not just one particular person or party.

wow..okay well now it makes sense...you think liberals don't believe in god and believe in murder...okay i see your logic..flawed, but now it makes sense as to why you think the word liberal is such a bad word.

no lies here - it's the information age just look it up in a non-liberal, non-conservative news source.

People that lump those that don't think like them into nice neat little packages called liberals or conservatives, clearly have no grasp of reality!  

People are people who for the most part think for themselves, or at least should and no one can be lumped into a stereotype as easily as the media and some would like to try to do to divert from the real problems and solutions we face!

We're Americans dammit and I'm sick of people trying to divide us!

You don't believe in murder?? That statement makes no sense at all.  To correct your stupidity, it was the creation of a national bank (the federal reserve) that started this mess WAY back in 1913.  That was when the people of the US handed over the reigns of control over to the government.  All of that has just been compounded by credit card companies and lenders giving money to greedy people who can't afford their lifestyle.  It is the a-typical consumer that is to blame here, so try looking in the mirror and grow a spine for a change.  Last I checked a large majority of the world is in a recession and you actually think only one person/administration is to blame??  This is a culmination of almost a century of horriblly played plotical games.  Last I read "the people" run a democracy right?  You are just as much to blame as myself and most others on this board.  Talk about ignorance.

You run your mouth before checking your facts if you do by a slim chance go and search for them you will be amazed at when and how it started it started like most things a good idea then got governmental prostituted into this mess we have but if you are not interested in who caused it don't blast American-344175 he actually is partly correct knowledge is power and if you live with blinders on you are powerless

martvol,

can't seem to find the one i read this mronign but here's another: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_42/b4104036827981.htm?chan=magazine+channel_in+depth

i'll let you know If I find the other one

You ain't seen nothing yet if obama becomes president.

If?

Need to look at a calendar, buddy. November 4 has come and gone. Obama won.

The economy has always done better under Democratic presidents.

You're welcome.

What? Carter, and Clinton with that retarded NAFTA! Your comment is above and beyond stupid.

Jellybean, support your statements with factual supportive information.

(remove any spaces for link to work correctly)

Cut the jibber-jabber. You put your pants on just like any liberal, conservative, or indie.

Well that worked out well.. Let's try again...

 www. laprogressive.com / 2008 / 09 / 19 / who-builds-the-economy-democratic-presidents-do /

www. laprogressive.com / 2008 / 08 / 08 / who-creates-jobs-democratic-presidents-do/

www. visualizingeconomics. com / 2008 / 04 / 27 / income-inequality-democratic-vs-republican-administrations /

(Copy and paste into url/address bar, again remove any erroneous spaces)

martvol:  as requested and as promised here is the link to the article which was just recently updated on msnbc - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28001417

Roy Cooper of North Carolina and Tom Miller of Iowa headed a committee of state officials concerned about new forms of "predatory" lending. They urged Hawke to give states more latitude to limit exorbitant interest rates and fine-print fees. "People out there are struggling with oppressive loans," Cooper recalls saying.
Hawke, a veteran banking industry lawyer appointed to head the OCC by President Bill Clinton in 1998, wouldn't budge. He said he would reinforce federal policies that hindered states from reining in lenders. The AGs left the tense hour-long meeting realizing that Washington had become a foe in the nascent fight against reckless real estate finance. The OCC "took 50 sheriffs off the job during the time the mortgage lending industry was becoming the Wild West," Cooper says.

The OCC's Hawke assisted the industry by issuing a ruling in July 2003 saying the Georgia law did not apply to national banks or their subsidiaries. A fact sheet prepared at the time—and still available on the OCC's Web site—says: "There is no evidence of predatory lending by national banks or their operating subsidiaries, in Georgia or elsewhere."

In August 2004, Hawke went a step further in a letter to the Georgia Banking Dept. He said even state-chartered mortgage brokers and lenders were exempt from the Georgia law—if the loans they handled were funded at closing by a national bank or its subsidiary.

This guy sound like Frank or Dodd?

The Bush Administration and many banks clung to what is known as "preemption." It is a legal doctrine that can be invoked in court and at the rulemaking table to assert that, when federal and state authority over business conflict, the feds prevail—even if it means little or no regulation.
Another missleading article. Bush told them these are the laws now. Get congress to change them.
States can only get stricter then Federal law. Federal law always trumps local. Bush said there was a problem.

Now here are my sources:

http://www.cafemom.com/journals/read/1220833/White_House_warned_congress_about_Fannie_Freddie_17_times

http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=308186097284712

http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=306632135350949

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E06E3D6123BF932A2575AC0A9659C8B63

Kim-298921

The economy has always done better under Democratic presidents.

Economic conditions do not obey rules, including those about which party happens to have their candidate in the White House. On Obama's watch (but not because of him) the economy will deteriorate into a depression and deflationary scenario.

new leadership....I wonder when that will happen, 2010?

less whining from financial institutions because they cannot afford to pay billions of bonuses.....Phil, I think you are correct....your "white wall, street house " corporations have set the standard.

We got it come Jan 20th 2009. If Phil Grahmm broke wind he would blow the pea out of where hie brain is supposed to be.

Papa, my thoughts exactly and probably 75% of the population as well. 

Actually, my family saw it coming in Sept. 2005 and left the dying state of Ohio for NE Florida.  And since it wasn't dealt with head on, back then by the Bush, (head in the sand WH) it will take much longer to get us out of this MESS.

Papa, the words from my mouth. Now let's see who blames whom for it all.....

My words exactly! I wonder how much money was wasted on this study to come to this conclusion. How long does a recession last to become a depression? How in the world can Obama and his team of mere mortals possibly pull us from this horrendous Bush and irresponsible republican debacle? God save us all!

My words exactly too. There's nothing like being informed. Kudos to MSNBC for breaking this story.

it a depression that the bottom

you know the difference between a recession and a depression don't you a rescissionis when your buddy is out of work and losing all his stuff and a depression is when your out of work and losing all your stuff.

We have to hit rock bottom before we can come back up. 2009 will be a very bad year. Right now we not even that close.

Actually it is because of how the data is crunched. There is a difference in how this body looks at a recession and the way Macroeconomics looks at it.

In macroeconomics, a recession is a decline in a country's gross domestic product (GDP), or negative real economic growth, for two or more successive quarters of a year.

An alternative, less accepted definition of recession is a downward trend in the rate of actual GDP growth as promoted by the business-cycle dating committee of the National Bureau of Economic Research. That private organization defines a recession more ambiguously as "a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months." A recession has many attributes that can occur simultaneously and can include declines in coincident measures of overall economic activity such as employment, investment, and corporate profits.

A severe or prolonged recession is referred to as an economic depression.

So if we went into a recession last year and it is still continuing what does that put us in now?

Obama the savior... Give me a break!!

Yeah right, Obama who is pushing for all these bailouts.  You have got to be kidding me.  What a fantasy.

You groupies kill me.  Blaming the bailouts on Obama when Bush is the one that instigated it.  Obama is telling them where/who it should go to except he is forgetting about the people.  Tax payers need the biggest help not the corporations that overprice everything they sell to and loan to us.  Obama can't fix this bs mess your groupies boy did for eight years but he and his admin can do better and try to fix some of it with help from everyone.  It will take a very long time to undo what Bush did and you know it.  Then again maybe you don't know it since you voted for Bush and then wanted someone like him in office to continue the bs.

Hey Bubba, Bush may have asked for the Bailouts, but Obama is agreeing with Bush! hate to say it to ya. Obama has not changed (so far) unless you think change is adding all Clinton supporters and Lobbyists onboard (once a lobbyist always a lobbyists ex influence) You can only blame Bush so far Americans need to take responsibilty. i bet you are the type that when things get bad during Obama's reign you will be back on these boards dissing Obama. The Prez can have some blame but don't blame the Prez when a**hole people can not live within their means and corrupt banks.

Marc, Obama will do the best he can, given the MESS he was left with. You honestly think McCain and the bimbo would have fixed things?

Thank You Props 2000.  Not only did Bush and his group of cronnie's manage to put us in a recession... He managed to go one better and put the entire WORLD in a recession!  Obama certainly has his work cut out for him... let's start by booting out all of the overcompensated ceo's, cfo's, ect., ect. no more extravagant "retirement" packages, you put the company down the crapper... your fired plain and simple.  And on and on and on....

Please tell me one Bush policy that caused this mess.....just one.

Bush didn't have any domestic policy, only foreign policy of spending more than we could afford and what ever Dicky and HB told him to do.

Bush didn't have any domestic policy, only foreign policy of spending more than we could afford and what ever Dicky and HB told him to do.

Let's not forget the two wars we couldn't afford, no effort to be fiscally responsible and pay for it, and borrowing money from china just to sustain it

Bob-486006
um first bankrupcy reform that prevented peopel from going to the courts to have their mortgages reworked.
second the american dream down payment inative.. this is purely bush's
that removed the one bit of risk the poor had with gettign a home.. the down payment.
oh and lets not forget his letting the industry write laws and pretty much do what it wanted. heck the credit industry rewrote the bankruptcy laws.
heck bush's policy to prop up the market over inflation caused oil to go through the roof along with food and everything else.. See by print9ing dollars like they are tp you can have a war and tax cuts too. Unfortunately everything especially commodities get more expensive as people abandon the dollar and oil makes everythign more expensive when it stays high for long.

which bush policy caused this? lol which didnt?
Seriously we would not be here without bush.. try to deny it.
you cant be president for 8 years and blame the last guy.. sorrry but life isnt that slow.

Good golly, don't you get it...blaming is taking up all of your time. Why does there always have to be a fall-guy (i.e. Democrats, Republicans, China, Immigrants, Blacks, Whites, Jews, Muslims, Baby Boomers, etc...)? The reason why there always has to be a fall guy, is that we have been conditioned to be a blame society. What happens when we lay blame on others...that's right we are off the hook, everything that happens subsequently is the fault of another. What people need to see is that blaming is never a solution; Yes good job you figured out the whodunnit, but you have done nothing at all to help the greiving family with the funeral arrangements. There are a lot of bright people on this forum, If we enact legislation for oversight and transparancy some of the blame may have positive results in regard to the relative health of America, but mainly blame serves to detract us from what should be done. Stop the in-fighting and make your opinion count.          

Geeeeee...Barack is not even in office..and this nucklehead has it as being his fault, must be a writer for the RNC

Try stand up comedy, your audience would be rolling in the aisles

C'mon man, why stop there?!  Barack is also behind the terrorist demolition of Mumbai last week and the Chicago White Sox scandal of the last century as well. 

It's a damn good thing that Obama's particular brand of socialism can fix this mess or you'd be out of work forever making inane comments on bulletin boards.

Facts are facts and as soon as barak said capital gains tax would double if he is president, well you see the out come.  People are scared of this guy even though they voted him in, they didn't vote for him but against Bush.

Tampa come out it's ok barak will take care of you.

so sick of trash talk

roadlesstraveled, are you sick of trask talk against Bush or Obama?

Tampa

nbctjon

open minded

Ryan

If you all didn't see this coming where have you been?  This is not even news worthy unless you have been in a cave with the walls covered by posters of your god (barak).  Blind followers of the ONE.

bakka;  you seem to be the one who is blinded by partisanship.  how can you claim that this economic crisis is in any way related to Obama when he isn't even in office yet?  the policies that led to this crisis weren't his because his haven't been implemented yet.  you claim that Obama supporters believe that he is the "one" and by saying so you show yourself to believe that he is "the one to blame."  try leaving your comfort zone for a second and challenge your partisan ideology and maybe your ignorant statements will cease.

roadlesstraveled-you may want to travel a bit more.  It is a great education, for instance Costa Rica schools have a higher literacy % than US schools with 40 + children in a class, broken down schools no heat in many of them.

Ryan hope you are sick of trash talk about Bush. 

Bakka, I am sick of people blaming Bush for everything.  It's something the Dems will regret, when Obama gets the same treatment they gave Bush. 

Ryan good to have friends on this propaganda newsvine.  The left thinks we can all come together and be one big happy family after trashing President Bush for 8 years. 

obama

promised change

Now he is changing the promise

Ryan:  Most of the things that Bush gets blamed for were caused by his mistakes, or by someone appointed by him.  Either way the blame was legitimate.  In a few cases he recieved more than his fair share of the blame but these instances were exceptions.

As an Obama supporter i can assure you that if Obama starts making blatant missteps i will be just as critical of him as the next person.  In other words i am an Obama supporter not an Obama apologist (unlike so many fans of Bush; apologists run rampant in his crowd).  Of course i can't speak for all Obama supporters but those that i come into contact with feel the same way i do.  In my experience most liberals (certainly not all) are a little less dogmatic than many conservatives and have the ability to judge someone by their performance rather than what they claim their principles to be.  Of course there are exceptions to every rule.

Oh and bakka...it's fairly obvious that your doing little more that spouting empty rhetoric.  Just thought you should know.

What does travel have to do with blaming some in the spot light for our troubles?

I oppose trash talk about the current and future pres...whats done is done and we are all along for the same ride...no one is more right than another. The election is over, so is the smear campaign.

plus

(Joseph J. Schatz,

"Tax Break Tries On 'Middle Class' Label," Congressional Quarterly Weekly,

2/17/06)

no body ever stretches the truth to suit them. 

We live in a country where the welfare of Americans is the most 

important thing....pssst

That came from the GOP and of course they would say that...of course.

I just wonder if there is anyone out there who has capital gains to be taxed?

Facts are facts and as soon as barak said capital gains tax would double if he is president, well you see the out come.  People are scared of this guy even though they voted him in, they didn't vote for him but against Bush.

Tampa come out it's ok barak will take care of you.

Nobody is going to take care of anyone, least of all a politician, but maybe your neighbors will help you out if things get rough, maybe you will help out your neighbors, the shadows of Iceland and England are coming our way, when we are in the thick of a depression it really won't matter who was complicit.

WOW!  are you kidding me???  You're the only person in America besides Bush who doesn't think we're in a recession!!!!

Guess what..WE ARE IN A RECESSION - and I don't care what the "technical" definition is because there are so many factors that inflate those numbers to make it look better than it actually is!

WAKE UP!

AnthonyV - You have an opinion and I respect it without name calling or questioning your sanity. With that said I will remind you that opinions are sorta like rear ends, most have at least one. I have no doubt that you may well be in a recession in your personal life. I feel your pain but.....there are still over 90% of our population working and over 90% of peole paying their debt on time. i hope your personal conditions improve but please respect the opinions of others.

I personally have no debt and a well paying job but unlike some, when I talk about my country I don't consider my own personal situation.  I take our country's situation as a whole and maybe you haven't traveled to Florida lately or been to one of the hundreds of towns and cities losing more and more jobs everyday - or maybe you're just rich and out of touch with 98% of our country, I really don't know how ANYONE could think we're not in a recession - unless of course you have a stake in trying to convince people we're not.

You might want to consider one other option AnthonyV and that is maybe I'm a positive person who doesn't allow negitivism to influence me. I'd respectfully suggest you try it. You might like it.

AnthonyV, is it to hard to comprehend that a recession has clearly defined principles? 

I personally think that we are in a recession, but I do understand there are certain principles of defining a recession.

Samual I think you might have passed positive and gone straight into denial.

It is going to be a long road to recovery. 

Good luck to all of us.  Keep our sense of humor.

These same experts who just "decided" we are in a repcession would probably not admit someone who died is really dead, until at least 6 months after the body was buried.

Samual -

"You might want to consider one other option AnthonyV and that is maybe I'm a positive person who doesn't allow negitivism to influence me. I'd respectfully suggest you try it. You might like it."

There is a difference between being positive and being completely out of touch with the reality of the world you are living in.  I respectfully ask that you come out of the cave you live in and look around for a minute or two.

Believing we're not in a recession is not going to make it go away!

He's right we are in a DEPRESSION......

that's goign to mean we have to stop shopping at Wal-Mart and giving all our money to China

I never shop at Walmart!  I shop at a local supermarket only.  I buy American made as much as I possibly can! 

Here's my theory:  All of us need to band together and invest as much as possible back in to the stock market (only buy American).  Rally together, put money back in to it.  The bail out monies can go back in to our pensions that took such a beating.  It's a win win situation!

I'd love to help but I have nothing left after I pay my bills.  Now, if the gov't wants to give me a bailout then I can help

I like the theory and am right there with you in buying american, but I think the problem is not confidence, as the media would have us believe, but a lack of actual money people have to invest or buy right now. 

but then again maybe not.

We are not in a Recession! We are in a Depression! The media and the government tell the people we are in a recession because if they say depression it will cause panic. Think people!

Uuummm, Mr. Tenny, I usually believe your comments to be spot on, however, I know many people who are currently VERY worried about food.

In fact:

TAMPA — Jeri Moss never knew drinking water could hurt anyone.

So Moss thought she could stretch her budget by adding extra water to the baby formula she fed her son, 5-month-old La'Damian Burton.

Then a week ago, La'Damian had a seizure and stopped breathing. As Moss frantically tried to revive him with CPR, it never crossed her mind that water could be the culprit.

La'Damian was rushed to University Community Hospital, where he is recovering. Moss, 23, held a press conference Monday to warn other parents.

"If I had known it was harmful, I never would have done it," she said.

Water intoxication, especially in babies, can cause levels of sodium in the blood to drop too low. That can cause seizures, brain damage or death.

Doctors think La'Damian will recover completely, said Dr. James Orlowski, chief of pediatrics at the hospital.

"This is a very serious situation, especially in these economic times," Orlowski said. "Most of the public doesn't know" that too much water can be so dangerous for babies.

Orlowski said this is the first case he has seen in a while, but that he has seen parents try to overdilute formula in the past, especially when times are tough.

Moss said she gets free formula from WIC, the federally funded Women, Infants and Children nutrition program. But the powdered formula she gets each month isn't enough to feed La'Damian, so she used less formula — about four scoops when she should have used six. She has been feeding her son that combination since he was born.

Moss said she told WIC staffers that she didn't have enough formula.

"They basically told me there was nothing they could do, and to go find him a food bank," she said.

Orlowski said it was upsetting that WIC couldn't provide enough formula.

"That's what WIC is supposed to be there for," he said. "That's the frustration in this situation."

Officials at the state health department, which administers the program, couldn't comment on Moss' situation Monday. But the agency says the program is designed to be "supplemental."

The best — and cheapest — food for a baby is breast milk. Moss said she tried to nurse her 18-month-old daughter, Yasmine, and she always seemed hungry. So she didn't try to nurse La'Damian.

"We always try to encourage that because it's free," Orlowski said of breast-feeding. "But not all moms can breast-feed. … We do everything we can to promote breast-feeding."

Orlowski said hospital nurses tell new parents about the danger of overdiluting formula.

La'Damian, born weighing 5 pounds 8 ounces, now weighs 8 pounds 6 ounces. He should weigh nearly 12 pounds now, Orlowski said.

The children's father works putting up tents for special events, Moss said, but that work isn't steady. And she isn't working because she is studying to be a medical assistant.

Moss already has put that training to use. She learned infant CPR on the first day of class.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/article922584.ece

SickNTired,

Amen, just look at the empty food banks in this country and the new class of people having to use them. All we need now is the Dust Bowl!

Whether the Bush Administration acknowleges anything at this point doesn't matter.  AnthonyV, you obviously need someone to blame for whatever is affecting you. Point your finger, shout at the top of your voice and do whatever you feel will help you but get over it and start doing something more positive than posting on a blog. Doing what you are doing accomplishes nothing but provide fodder for others who love misery.

Samual,

You know nothing about me.  I do plenty to pitch in my part.  I buy local groceries to help my local economy.  I help out at food drives and shelters to help those who are in need.  I drive an american made car(or at least I think they still make it in america!  haha) I've invested in companies that are struggling, but hold promise or have endured in the past, as well as those who are looking to improve our environment, I recycle, I do everything I can to limit my carbon footprint and our dependency on foriegn oil, etc etc. 

So maybe , just maybe - there is something to what I am saying and if you would open your eyes to the reality of our world we now live in - you would see that we need more than a positve attitude to get us out of this mess! 

And sorry - but I'll blame those who are at fault with no ideology behind it whatsoever - just plain facts.

less much less. ppl would not be rushing to be able to afford (because of that special friday offer) what everyone thinks they cannot live without.

But black friday trampling is nothing new.

Black friday makes me angry, it just proves that Americans can not wait to go out and spend money on junk that will just pile up and have to be sold at an auction because they cant make their house payment.

We just proved to everyone that the middle class Americans have plenty of money to burn and that those extra fees on everything are hurting no one...so let them fee us more.

True. You have a valid point.

The fact that someone was trampled to death in a Wal-Mart so that people could get the better deals says a lot about our society.  As Americans we should be embarrassed that something like this occurred.  The life of a human being was placed below that of the possibility of saving a few bucks on some damn DVD player.  Our consumer mentality is consuming us and we have no one to blame but ourselves.  This event is an example of the inherent greed and corruption within the capitalist system as we have developed it.  Consumerism will be the downfall of this country and has already become a prominent force within our culture ( i use the term loosely).  Culturally speaking, the only thing that relates us anymore is consumerism and individualism both of which are antithetical to society.

How long do you think people stood in line at Walmart waiting for TWO THOUSAND people to pay for their merchandise? It wasn't about the deals it was about the steals.....

I hear ya. $10 CPK no wonder people were going crazy! LOL

Uncalled for observation and just plain stupid. Hope the guys family does not read that.

Its a game for investors and others...they are placing beats on whats gonna go belly up and whos gonna sink first....they are making fun of us...and invited washington to watch.

Seriously Samual? .... shorts are the ones that keeps stock values in check and helps reflect the actual value of a stock. People who play shorts hate our country ????? I am just speechless.

If the short traders are so wonderful we will see how long it takes the SEC to reinstate the uptick rule.

Samuel, RLT;

There is nothing unethical, immoral, unpatriotic, or illegal about shorting the market.  Logical is exactly right, shorts are the ones who keep most companys honest. 

Samuel,

The uptick rule never should have been removed in the first place.  The uptick rule has nothing to do with the important benefits provided to the market through LEGAL short selling.

They were shopping at WALMART!!!!  They weren't helping our country but China's economy.

All in the name of a deal!  How sad is it that people will "step over" someone who is dead ro dying on the floor, just to get a deal on a TV/DVD???  What has become of us??!!!

What recession?

People are killing each other to spend, apparently,  piles of cash.

People have TOO MUCH MONEY and TOO MUCH FREE TIME.

Greg,

You are so right.

Hope they have fun selling all that crap at the yard sale they are going to have to have in Jan. to pay their house payment, since they maxed out the credit card and interest is at an all time high*. Guess they will wonder how they are going to eat after christmas when the credit card bill shows up.

Greg:

Repeating yourself doesn't make what you say true actually it just shows how self-absorbed you are. 

roadlesstraveled, exactly, people are still, to this day, buying loads of useless "crap".

And, yes, if you can't afford your house payment, then even your new 32 inch high def tv is "crap."

Most Americans are as greedy as they are stupid.  If I were an African-American, I would be saying something like, "I'm black, don't you dare call me the A word."

You are wise Greg.  So many want to blame everyone but themselves.  It seems some people never consider cutting back on anything. When asked, their answer is 'The devil made me do it.'.

like that will happen.

YOU need to remember who controls congress!!! I don't think it's "dear old bushie" as you say...Blame Pelosi, Reid, Barney Frank, and the rest of those Demo"crits" who sit on the hill....It's THEIR fault.  When you people learn to NOT vote for those Demo"crits" then maybe...only then....can you really blame the republicans.  Until then...blame who is truly at fault!!!

The democrats have only had their slight advantage in Congress for a short time.  Do you suggest we disregard the previous six years and hold dems. the sole causes for this economic crisis?  Interesting, how convenient for Bush and all the repubs that dominated Congress for 6 years.  Good plan, you should get a cookie for being a good little republican.

The Dems didn't have control of congress.  Filibusters, one senator can hold a bill from ever leaving committee. The President can veto bills.

I think it would be helpful if the more moderates in both parties decided to do what is best for the country NOT THE PARTY.

Until that happens we are never getting out of this mess.

Same for we the people.  It is time to stop all the "us vs. them mentality".  We are all in this together.  We will all go down together.   

Lets face it folks and try to work for the country not the party.

icepick,

Not that 1 vote makes a big difference but The Dems had a 1 vote majority in the Senate most of the first 2 years of GWB's first term. Technically the Dems have had control of the Senate for almost half of GWB's 8 years.

The point is, both parties are equally guilty in all of this and keeping the citizens divided and pointing fingers is exactly what they(those in Congress) want to have happen.

Chris5209 - Right ON!!!!

What scares me even more is that the American People can not blame the right people responsible for this mess and that is THE CONGRESS - THE SENATE - and THE AMERICAN PEOPLE who go in over their own heads and now want to blame the President.  No wonder we seem to be a messed up country.

If everybody in America did this why do we even bother to have leadership?

oldmustang42... a one vote majority doesn't stand up to a filibuster, nor is it enough to override a presidential veto.

Nope, this one belongs to Bush.

Snotrag,

Nice name, by the way.

I never inplied that it did, I was simply correcting Icepick's assertion that Republicans controlled Congress for 6 years under GWB.  When in fact, they did not.

old 'stang...

Thank you.

While you are correct, 'control' is limited unless a party holds a veto-proof, filibuster-resistant super-majority... which the Democrats did not have.  It's semantics, anyway... since it seems that nobody is in control.

Snotrag,

You are correct. Control, is indeed relative and I believe that both parties are equally, criminally, complicit in all things under Gov't control. 

"It's semantics, anyway... since it seems that nobody is in control."

On this, I agree with you 100%.

I think it's funny that Republican parrots constantly throw Barney Frank in there with the House and Senate leadership, as if he himself held some sort of leadership position. Gee, could it be because he's gay, and gays are fun and easy targets for Republicans?

Naah, they would never do something like that.

Unless, of course, they happen to be settling into a wide stance and mindlessly tapping their feet in the occasional airport men's room...

No one is in control, To be in control you have to know what you are doing. I haven't seen anyone in Washington that has a clue what the hell is going on! Or what to do about it!