Cynthia, one needs to have extra money to buy stock, I am short on money every month let alone thinking about buying stock when I need medicine, milk, bread etc…

My gut feeling of our economic shift is based in the fact that there is a great leveling coming because of our Western materialism and hording (not helping the alien Deuteronomy 28 all). I memorized as a kid “He judges men and nations by His righteous will, declared through prophets and apostles”. When Solomon dedicated the temple, his prayer was not just for Israel and the jews - they were merely a model for all nations (II Chronicles 6:33; Paul wrote in Acts 2:5-11 “from every nation under Heaven”). Too many millions do not have food, clothing and shelter while we have $300 facial massages for cats that I read on Yahoo this week. I couldn’t bring myself to spend $100 on a blouse even if I had the money. I just want to sit on the ground and hug the women of Iraq who survived such a regime and apologize for taking so long to really help at all and not USE them. We have buried ourselves (me included) in so much junk and unnecessaries. We just might have to put two families in one house and learn to get along. Some parents of the world if they have a bed have all the kids with them in it. Privacy? Huh? America’s future horizon?? TRIM TRIM TRIM WHINE GET OVER IT TRIM What I am trying to do on a “Grassroots level” is get the people in my immediate area (precinct, business, church) to even want to really talk about and plan for the seriousness of the situation. Many small businesses are closed, closing, sales are off everywhere and everyone wants to pretend their worries will go away and not bring them into the open to discuss them. For myself I might get a list from the Mormons of what they stockpile(smile). I am trying to find people who are level-headed near me to provide leadership in my circles no matter what happens- disasters or economics - still looking. I prefer to be building up Joseph-types and Daniel types who are prophetic, know their God and times and then prepare the people before the famine or whatever. Are there any statesmen to lead at home or just “get into office with my buds politicians?” I’m still looking for candidates. I’m also thinking of revisiting a book I have on “Living Together in a World Falling Apart” from the 70’s on communal living. Trouble is some of my fellow Christians don’t get it yet so not sure who to commune with.

Finally paid $6 for a whole chicken. Years ((20+) chicken in Ghana was already over $10 each. Israel etc. have paid over $5.00/ gal for years - our turn, huh? Also we are glad we garden - but aren’t getting any of the rain or snow this spring (a concern), have firewood and fireplace, generator and hope the furnace doesn’t go out because the house is too big and not well insulated. Again wondering who I would really want to live with in hard times. I have a stockpile of new Tupperware to trade and my husband has a large Amsoil synthetic lubricants inventory to barter if necessary. Hopefully won’t get that bad.

Forward all these to our candidates - all levels of gorvenment and then offer to help them with solutions.

I noticed in Nov. of 2007 my investments had dropped by 20%…I noticed prices in my favorite produce store had gone up…then in Jan. of 2008 the final blow…I got laid-off…yes, indeed I can FEEL the recession. I heard about your website on Charlie Rose (I love his program), KQED San Francisco. Lydia Lujan

Ooops, I do know how to spell government - thoughts ahead of my typing and need to take time to proofread.

I saw you on Charlie Rose too. That’s how I found you. Come on women we can lead. I also love To the Contrary on PBS. Will some black conservative sisters please give more input to balance the scales? I also ache to hear from mas chicas who have lived here all their lives and are politically involved. I’ve had a head injury and don’t read books much any more too hard to concentrate, so web good and talk shows PBS style helpful but still a little too left. Also don’t believe in President bashing no matter who is in office - thank God anybody wants to run anything so I respect the office and don’t blame them personally for local issues. A lot of what we think we know about them is filtered through some pretty biased media. Check out Bush’s speech to the UN never mentioned on national news some time last year or before that basically chewing them out for knowing what to do to protect the women and children of their nations from pornography, sexual trafficking, and abuse and turning a deaf ear to it. I wish I owned the tape. Anybody have it?

I am getting organized!! No more jumping in the car to run over to the other side of town. I now list errands and make a plan. Besides, seeing my emptying wallet everytime I stop for gas, it’s more crowded at thrifty ‘flea market’ stores. I use to wander around them looking for forgotten treasures. Now sometimes I can’t find a place to park.

I saw Alvin Attles, retired coach for the Golden State Warriors, shopping in my local Grocery Outlet one Saturday during March Madness.

A friend in a high-powered managerial position just told me she has recently lost 40,000 in her 401K . The housing market here has slowed to a snail’s pace and two of the largest local construction companies have laid off 2/3 of their crews. Every economist I hear interviewed says “this is just the beginning…..”

Very small things and very big things. One of the big things is seeing my grandaughter’s friend’s father go to Iraq so he could save their home from the sub prime disaster. One of the little things is the look on the coffee place attendant’s face when coffee went from 99 cents (I’d give her $1.50) to $1.09 (that means she only gets 41 cents now). It took me awhile to figure out that look on her face and then I adjusted the amount I gave her every day. What bothered me the most was that it took a while for me to realize what that look was about and how awful it is to depend on that dime. JT

After reading every single post on this topic, I am scared stiff! I live in Canada. Anything happening in the USA tends to move north. I’m thinking…would it be a good idea to go back to school to learn a trade? We are getting our roof done one last time, thinking that maybe roofing shingle prices will soon hit the roof. (no pun.)

The signes of recession are everywhere. I believe we are in a recession. The price of gas/oil guaranteed it. The domino effect just from gas and oil prices alone beginning with the cost to the farmer producing the food to it’s final destination to the cost of overhead for the stores is devastating. Then add the subprime. There should be a special counsel appointed (which will not happen) to investigate the private enery committee chaired by Cheney at the beginning of the Bush administration when oil was $20 a barrel through today’s date. I think the American people will be appalled at the findings and I believe there would be criminal indictments. When they leave office in ‘09 I will bet anyone who wants to take the bet that Cheney will have become a billionaire at least once and maybe more. This is not a partisan political issue for me, it is about learning the truth which I do believe does set us free. You are the leading ladies in this country who can indeed make this your issue and we will then get to the bottome of this.

WoW , We Americans use 10,000 gallons of gasoline a second . We are addicted to booze, lottery, tobacco, take out food, etc. I don’t have disposable income to waste on anything but the essentials these days.