Intellectually, I'm well aware that the US is in recession. My daughter was laid off from her former job; my 401k has dropped through the floor into the sub-basement; and I'm on leave without pay from my job.
But - my daughter found another job that pays better than her previous one; my 401k has some time to recover before I need it; and my leave without pay is really nothing more than an extended vacation used to deny Obama administration what they wrongfully consider to be their income.
But I'm lucky; I can afford to "go Galt" - for a while, at least.
Most Americans aren't so lucky, and reality hit hard last weekend at a rare visit (shopping is a chore) to the local shopping mall. My last visit was at least 8 months ago, perhaps more. Stores were open; shoppers plentiful.
This time - on a Saturday - the store vacancy rate had to be at least 20%, maybe 30%. Shoppers were present; not plentiful. Mall kiosks were gone. The anchor stores were still open, but selection limited, and stocks appeared low. Sales signs were everywhere.
It isn't pretty. It would be useful if our Obama factotums got out of their government-owned limousines and visited the local shopping mall. A little "reality trip" as it were.
But it's funny what the Recession is making us do, isn't it?I know that I have to play hard-ball at my job a lot more because we can't keep the comfortable "Just hire more people if things pick up," notion any more, but instead must focus on doing more with less people, which, of course, flows against the "comfort zone" tide.
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