Things are getting very interesting around here.......The shoe is dropping...

for the last year we haven't paid ourselves we work and work and everyone else gets paid. We operate our business with no bank loans or financing and own all machinery and equipment out right, however it is no longer worth the investment with what the government is aiming for... it is very unfortunate not for us as much as for our employees, some have worked with us for over 20 years. We are just going to go play with our collector cars and our other hobbies. We know many business owners and most feel that the new proposals will absolutely drive their profits to unsustainable levels. Ours was a business with no debt, I can only imagine what is happening to businesses struggling with financing. I feel this is going to be a VERY common occurrence in the next few years. The government policies are going to destroy the ability to create wealth in this country. Maybe they want to drive independent businesses out.

The Liberty a society retains is inversely proportional to the number of Lawyers in the Government.

"Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." Benjamin Franklin
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Certainly the local news keeps saying that companies in Atlanta are letting people go, but my neighborhood seems to be fine. In fact, a couple banks are opening up...right across from liquor stores!

;-)

it's hard to be awake; it's easier to dream--

300 jobs just lost in a local company--

the "hope" is that they will be rehired when things 'improve'--

those who remain on 'skeleton' *crew* continue with furloughs--

dealerships that were closed, belonged to owners who were Republicans & did not support Obama. Anyone else read that? True?

There are four whole auto factories completely gone, two were across the street from each other, the sites are now vast empty lots since the structures were demolished and rubbish removed. Our whole infrastucture in Lansing Michigan was built upon a successful auto industry and it is a real struggle. One of our hospitals is struggling and there are major budget deficits that are anticipated to worsen once the stimulus money is gone. However, I love Michigan, it has amazing resources (water/land/forest) and I plan to stay here no matter what.

I keep hearing how unemployment is up and things are getting worse, but our housing prices never went down that much and are going up again.

I'm just happy I have a job.

"Your comment has been queued for moderation by site administrators and will be published after approval."

When the hell did I end up on a watch list on DP??? Did I say f*** or something?

http://www.youtube.com/wa...

I have stores on Amazon and eBay. I had a massive drop in sales around September. It picked up a little bit last month, but the only items people are buying now is stuff that is priced under $5. I've seen a lot of threads on seller forums over the last few weeks complaining about an unusual slump in sales, so it's looks like I'm not the only one...

Like you,I have an electronics store in upstate NY: the cost of doing business keeps rising while customers are more and more hesitant to spend

As RP has said, they own the system. Gonna take more than ballots.

Sheldon Waxman
sheldonw72@gmail.com
www.independentcontractor...

http://www.dailypaul.com/...

Prediction is over a year old.

This time next year ...

We will see most of what I describe unfold.

WAHOR!!
http://www.dailypaul.com/...

Life in Urban South Florida today is tentative.
Commercial properties have already been hit hard, as well as residential properties. In my neighborhood, within a 3 block radius of my house, there are 23 foreclosures. The house across the street from me is in foreclosure. This is only the amount of foreclosures that I think there are, from my evening walks and hand counts. The home across the street has been vacant since 05-06. (just after Hurricane Wilma). It still has the remnants of the blue tarp they put on the roof after the Hurricane. I have lived in my house now for 24 years. I raised my 3 children here after my wife left me when my youngest (my little girl : )) was 7 years old. My daughter has now given me 2 grand children. This past April, my daughter, her husband, and 2 children moved back in to the house. It was kind of a win win. I have a large house (For me anyway). A 3bdr/ 2bth with attached garage and there was no way to sell it. So, i fixed the garage, live there, and rent the house to them.
My small business, that I have had for over 30 years, has been reduced to a cash only basis, for tax purposes. I grow my own food and I am thinking about raising some fish. I still have to buy meat and dairy. Being anti-war, I have never owned a gun. I had always thought that a gun was the primary tool of war. But, my longevity here on earth has taught me differently. I am now prepared for the defense of my family.
Life in urban South Florida today is tentative.

"The enemy is always within, never out there." - Vernon Howard

I own The Balance Wheel fine watches and Goatopia a small goat dairy here in the mountains of Colorado. In the past two years we have seen a drop in our average sale from $7000 to $700. I sold my store in Vail (for next to nothing) back in may and now only have my store in Beaver Creek. My clients are the wealthiest people in the world. And even they are not spending money. They are just as afraid as the rest of us.

My Dairy is starting to move forward but the local people are having a hard time commiting to $40 or even $20 dollars a month for our milk. Eggs are selling well. At $3 a dozen. I need more chickens or to run for a government office.

I do have to say that even with my support for Ron Paul the local GOP would support my run for office.

I have been a carpenter most of my life, I recently found a incredible building method which can help a lot of people who can not afford a "regular" house. It's called Earthbag building - http://www.earthbagbuildi... These domes are virtually indestructible - impervious to hurricanes, earthquakes, fires and rot. No need for a concrete footing! A very small amount of wood (Which can be salvaged from pallets), sand bags, barb-wire and DIRT. To give an example of how inexpensive it is, you could build a 9ft high wall 100ft long for $550. Labor is the largest expense, (approximately 1 hour labor per 4 bags laid) but the way the economy is going all we'll have is time!

"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."
Thomas Jefferson

is where I expect to see the next wave of problems (with regard to real estate in general). This will likely be most obvious in urban areas, but likely to see large numbers of strip-centers and even outlet-mall types go under as well. Small & rural towns may see less of this simply because there likely aren't many newer buildings there.

The Halloween retail numbers were bad, I expect that the Christmas numbers will be terrible. I'm expecting to see many more businesses go under after the 1st of the year.

My own extended family will NOT be buying gifts this year We're all still working, but not buying. Just decided to stop contributing to the bogus "consumer economy" and all the "made somewhere else" labels on stuff.

Haven't been into any of the BigBox retailers in almost 2 years now and don't miss it at all. Making good progress at quitting all fast-food national chains. Making every effort to spend my hard-earned money at locally owned businesses on products are are made/grown 1) locally 2) in Texas 3) in the USA ...in that order.

fighting a revolution or not, it's what will draw the line in the sand.

I know I'm a soul that is searching for truth in any matter.. it makes for brash feeling and filter breaking for others who are still either not wanting to accept the reality or thinking they can benefit from controlling others with lack of truth purposefully.

in saying that.. we are all going to experience an awakening soon.

every one of us.. from the compassionate to the learning to the disinformationalist .. we are all in this together..

I love each and every one of you here equally regardless if you make me smile or make me annoyed.

we are all created by the same universal force and well all will die from that source.

The Non-profit I work for is having a tough time getting State, Local, and Private grants because the state/local governments are broke from less and less tax revenue and the private trusts lost their shirt in the market. Someone asks me for a job every day. Besides that, I must say that the Baltimore area has done pretty well as far as shops closing. Maybe its because we are so close to D.C.