Americans Are Pessimistic About the Economy
7 0f 10 Americans are Doing Fine
They are working, airplane bookings are full, cruises too, sport event tickets are sold out, restaurants are packed, premium TV channels are common, private schools still have waiting lines for enrollment with big tuitions, lots of newer cars on the roads, gasoline prices have dropped 50 cents/gallon or more here since 2008, my income taxes dropped some due to the middle class tax cut in 2009. See the following too regarding healthcare expense increases published by Kaiser:
"HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS AND WORKER CONTRIBUTIONS
The average annual premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance in 2010 are $5,049 for single coverage and $13,770 for family coverage. Compared to 2009, premiums for single coverage are 5% higher ($4,824) and premiums for family coverage are 3% higher ($13,375). Since 2000, average premiums for family coverage have increased 114%...." The past 9 years health insurance rates had been rising at 12% or more. Since the health reform bill - in 2010 they rose only 5%. So that is better.
Our unemployment where I live dropped from 10.2% in 2008 to 8.8% now. But these stats are regional, and we all know that manufacturing areas have been hit harder.
My friends and family are all working in decent jobs. They got their college degrees, learned something useful, and were willing to relocate to get in the door. None are CEO's but they are secure and steadily employed.
What has truly changed is that many Americans have come to realize that the Easter Bunny is not responsible for their finances, and they can't borrow what they cannot afford. Too many were living on credit, and thought the Disney version of life would allow them to refinance every time they wanted to buy something.
What the government has spent on like a maniac is WAR. Defense spending rose by $300 billion since 2000. Why no complaints about that?
It is not up to the government to create jobs. Corporations, and you and I are supposed to do that. So, instead of waiting for the government to "do something", let's US do something. Successful people don't wait for others. They take it on themselves to create new opportunities. Some of the old days and jobs will not be returning.....
DeeToo of SC @ Sep 11, 2010 01:24:05 AM