Post Script: I’m not saving much these day. Incidentally, Barney Frank was on Charlie Rose last night discussing the importance of regulation. Below is the link if you missed the show. http://www.charlierose.com/shows/2008/09/17/1/a-conversation-with-barney…

When I begin complaining too much about what I don’t have/own anymore, I opt for a ‘reality check’. Most of us are quite fortunate. See the link below. IKE: The aftermath. http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/09/the_short_but_eventful_life_of….

My husband and I are in our early 50’s so retirement savings lost will probably be restored over the next 10 or 15 years. We like our home, so we can ride out the fall in housing values here in southern California. Our grown children are all right too. Most of our neighbors and friends feel the same way. Our greatest concern is with our relatives. We have a lot of them and many need our help right now.

“My Fiance’ is a State Trooper here in VA and they have been bringing the Troopers in for Riot training for the upcoming elections. They are making sure the Troopers are ready…if that isnt scary not sure what is… By C O on 09/18/2008 10:19 am Is this in only selected areas of the state? I’m in VA in a law enforcement related position (very closely related) and nothing like this is happening in our agency. There have for several years been updating and recertification of SWAT teams and for the last few years ongoing updating of National Incident Management Systems and Civil Disturbance training as part of Homeland Security. But nothing has been intensified as a result of this being an election year in this area of the state.

#1 My husband had to get another JOB because after 911 everything went to poop in West Tennessee for him ..So he drove 100 miles to Memphis to get one .He got one ..worked 4 more yrs and that DRIED up ! He was paying more and more for gas we had no Health insurance ..we couldnt afford that and GAS ..I got sick ..they refused me @ the County Emergency room ..and it was full of illeagls from Mexico and they were being taken care of ,I had to go home ..so sick and in dire pain and my last chance after crying in bed a whole year my self to sleep each night praying to GOD ..begging and begging ..I went home and got on line looking for a HEALER …I was a dead woman, I knew it in my soul ..My Liver was as big as a basketball and my kidneys were only putting out a few drops at a time .So I typed in Healer …and a cure page came up …natural cures ..I did it and I prayed to Mother Mary …I woke up and went to the bathroom to pee again and I looked into the mirror and I was HEALED ! I was Healed !!! I felt 20 yrs younger …my black circles were gone under my eyes …Black circles means little or no cirulation to your heart …No Cream in the world will help you … Then after this Great Miricle I got my Husband to start to say the Holy Rosary with me everyday ..And he was very emotional …LOSS of Jobs our credit cards were almost maxed out …No Jobs ..NONE for him ..I was very weak ..I couldnt work ..I wanted to but I was getting over my ordeal ..Then another miricle ..We sold our house ..we built together with our 4 hands …The Hard way ..And we moved away from Pugatory …Bought another house in another state with JOBS …and we down-sized …The state we moved to has a natural gas explosion ..Billions are being poured into this state in certian counties .But I attibute our getting out of it To The Holy Rosary ..and that is it …When The Clintons were in office we had EVERYTHING …Health Insurance ………Savings ……FOOD …..then came Bush the serpent …and we almost lost everything ….Most of our friends did loose everything and got divorced ….A very sad time in History ! I miss my friends I feel sorry for all of them ..I pray for them ..thats all I can do >>>..NOPE !>>>> I can Vote for Obama !and Rock the Vote ! Lets take back America !!!from the Devils !

My biggest concern just now is that the money from our state teacher’s retirement investments isn’t all invested in banking stock. We lost a bundle when Enron died. I don’t know for sure who suggested it, but I hope that there were conditions put on the bail out funds recently handed out, like none of it can be used for bonus funds for CEOs and that sort of thing. As you can probably tell by my lack of knowledge of correct terms, I have next to no experience with investments and I really didn’t see all of the banking problems coming even though I’ve known for some time that the housing situation was way out of control. One other thing - this whole topic of who does and who doesn’t have a good work ethic is something else I’ve seen coming down the road. It kills me that my children are at times caught in the trap of working themselves to death and still have trouble keeping their heads above water. Add to that concern about older relatives who can’t make ends meet on the meager fixed incomes they have and you have a whole to meaning for the saying “being caught between a rock and a hard place.” But we keep on keeping on. What else can you do?

The financial meltdown has me really worried. I live in Australia and our bank accounts are not guaranteed in any way by the government or the banks. If the whole system collapses and people haven’t taken their money out of the bank, they will be absolutely poverty stricken - UNLESS everyone starts to think outside the box. I predicted that the materialistic basis for society would collapse sometime this decade and I decided that the only way to be prepared was to set up systems which used alternative methods and which worked outside the norm. Here’s one example: There are communities which have already built a local economy with their own local monetary system. This is legal in the USA and elsewhere. Local economies are helping people to survive in their community and this system is making life better and fairer for many people all over the world. I’ve got many other ideas which I gathered from viable communities, and which are in my latest book “AlterQuest - The Alternative Quest for Answers”. I wrote this two years ago when I predicted the economic recession/depression. Although I am worried about the current situation on the planet, I do feel a bit better knowing that I have a series of systems which could save many people from devastation. So my comment is: Do not go with the flow. Do not wait for politicians of any persuasion or other ‘leaders’ to solve the issues. Just gather together, as women, as mothers or as anchors for your entire community and find the answers for yourselves. www.alterquest.org

I am not working right now secondary to my heart surgery—-I am scared and scared for everyone!!!! I thank God I own my home. I have taken what little money I have and taken it out of the bank—I am like my grammy now—it is hidden in the house! I almost could see it happening though. I live in a middle class neighborhood. Over the past few years I have watches people buy up all the house that have gone up for sale. I am happy for anyone that gets their own home but once I got to know some of my neighbors— they would tell me things like— ”oh yeah my house is 100% financed-because I have no credit and filed bankrupsy last year”” All of the sudden there were these real estate companies offerring anyone a mortgage—even with ”no job check” Not only that once they moved in the would buy a new car-fence in their yards-get pools—they all seemed to be living beyond their means. I was right out of 10 of them only one is still here after 4 years. Remember the days where you had to have good credit to get anything…… not that I dont wish everyone a home-I do- but it seems they are set up—-you can’t make 10$ hr and buy a 200,000 home and expect to make it.

Frannie, here in VA and I think in several other southeastern states the State Police/Highway Patrol officers are colloquially called “State Troopers”. As with any event that has the possibility of eliciting emotional responses from a large number of people, the law enforcement agencies are aware of the potential here for such a circumstance because the largest voter turnout in recent memory is expected in this state. They know it could mean long lines and crowded polling places which combined with the inherently competitive nature of all elections can lead to short tempers. Our law enforcement agencies would be less than diligent if they weren’t mindful of the potential need for police presence in such situations, but to my knowledge that is the extent of any preparations being made by law enforcement.

The conditions have made me less wasteful and stopped excessive spending. I am retired and my husband is more or less retired. We have been through several recessions and I remember when the first one hit—- everything started to feel like a slippery slope. At the end of the 80’s (I think) there was another one and I was prepared. I started paying more attention to stock market activity and interest rates, etc. I had never bothered before. I really saw this one coming. Pay attention to interest rates, pay attention to the Fed, pay attention and know the regulations of FDIC, mortgage rates— and on and on. Boring I know, but not so boring if you can sleep well at night. If you feel its too good to be true go with your gut feeling, You’re probably right.