We live right across the Hudson River from Belle. Our area may have seen growth since 9/11 because of its relative proximity to New York City (an approximately two plus hours commute), and perhaps that growth helped us forget the decimation of our area in the 1990s when, in an effort to maximize shareholder profits and continued enormous salaries and perks for high ranking officers, IBM laid off huge numbers of people worldwide, 25% of which were within 40 miles of where Belle and we live. For those who see unemployment figures as just that--meaningless figures--these numbers represent whole families AND the owners and their families of adjunct businesses (pizza places, dry cleaners, you name it). Countless foreclosures....

Belle, and others who feel as she and we do, please see my posts asking for small items as charitable donations in threads that include 'Post-Christmas' in their titles on the 'Wanted to Buy' forum. (The owners of this forum placed my request for charitable support in this seemingly unlikely forum....) One of the groups that our Classic Car Show has supported is the St. Charles Borromeo Food Pantry in Gardiner, NY. We give away countless door prizes, an enticement to spectators to attend, and (as requested in the 'Post-Christmas' post) if you've received little Christmas gifts that you have no use for and no one among your family and friends wants, PLEASE consider donating them to us. Our son who will be visiting in January will bring them back up north for us to be used in October 2009; otherwise we'll bring them when we snowbirds return to the Hudson Valley. Many thanks!

Interesting
 

I guess I have been sheltered or things are not as bad in Boston. I was not sheltered in the stock market. I didn't have paper loses they are real.

I still have faith in America and it's people.

Part of the "delusion" is the fact
 

the media dwells only on the negative...

7% unemployment = 93% still working!!!!

foreclosures up 50% = less than 3% of all mortgages = 97% still happy.

It is in the best interest of the media and politicians to have you believe the sky is falling....it is so prevalent in our lives that if the media kept saying everyday the sky is falling like they talk about unemployment and foreclosures....there would be a lot of people outside looking to see if they could see the sky actually fall.

The more the media can get one to hover and hang on every word they speak the more control they have in what one believes....and when the media is one's major or only input there is no ability to differentiate....hence way toooooo many American continue to think things are much worse than they really are.

Most of us don't come in contact with those who are out of work or in foreclosure because (dare I say it?) they are in the minority.

Turn off the boob tube....do some research....but American (if you can find any)....always look at the bright side....and by all means do not listen to the politicians, the insecure you feel, the better they feel.

Happy New Year....it can still be a good day even when it is raining outside.!!

BTK

I agree with BTK, keep looking on the bright side. However, I feel that we must keep informed about what is going on. That's partly what got us here. We kept in our little corner with our heads in the sand while politicians did their thing with our money. Don't just watch one news station, watch them all to get a broader outlook on what's going on in this world. Take the facts and discard the newscasters opinion. Your opinion does count and you can make a difference. Let your politicians know what you think and support. I believe we can make a change.

As far as unemployment goes, I live on a road with 6 houses. Two of my neighbors have had to find other jobs. My one neighbor has been constantly getting new jobs because of companies in trouble. My friend who works for DHL and has a few years till retirement is wondering if he will have a job or even have the company retirement. Visit a food pantry and you'll see that there are many people hurting. The food pantries are running out of food. My mother told me that she and my father had jobs during depression and helped to feed the neighborhood. We can make it and become a better country, if we all pitch in and help others.

Thank you for identifying my "problem." I am a sworn "Brightsider."

Any day on this side of the lawn can be a good day.

Yoda