The end of the world -- I can't take it anymore!

I have had it.

For those of you in live in the US (well, probably the world), you know that we are in one hell of an economic slump. I think we all get that by now.

But the press -- my God, what do they want from us?

I offer as an exhibit the following:

http://biz.yahoo.com …s_us_usa_econom​y_gdp.html

Read this article and try to feel good about the world. Could the writer have taken a different slant?

"GDP holds on in 4th quarter to beat estimates"

"Despite recession, GDP rises slightly in 2008"

I don't want to see another person unemployed or hungry, but every time I read something like this, I find myself hoping that the writer is the next guy on the chopping block.

Makes me embarrassed to be a member (albeit part time) of the 4th estate.

[/rant]

So what is your point, its hopeless so we should curl up and whimper waiting for the end? Or get off our butts get back to work and living life and wait for it to stablilize, which it will do. The economic boom we were having was supported by an artificially inflated housing market. It will take time to build back to the previous level and hopefully this time based off something more solid than speculation driven real-estate.

No, I think his point is that he's tired of the doomsayers.

The headline "Q4 GDP down 3.8 percent, biggest drop since 1982" is somewhat misleading when down in the actual article you find "For 2008, GDP rose 1.3 percent, the slowest pace of growth since 2001".

So the economy is really growing (albeit slowly) while the headlines are proclaiming drops.

I could make some politically loaded comments here, but I'll refrain so as to keep the thread open.

McFerrin: "Don't worry. Be Happy!"

Jpatten wrote in post #7221497
So what is your point, its hopeless so we should curl up and whimper waiting for the end? Or get off our butts get back to work and living life and wait for it to stablilize, which it will do. The economic boom we were having was supported by an artificially inflated housing market. It will take time to build back to the previous level and hopefully this time based off something more solid than speculation driven real-estate.

No. But I think we are on the same team.

mbellot wrote in post #7221894
No, I think his point is that he's tired of the doomsayers.

The headline "Q4 GDP down 3.8 percent, biggest drop since 1982" is somewhat misleading when down in the actual article you find "For 2008, GDP rose 1.3 percent, the slowest pace of growth since 2001".

So the economy is really growing (albeit slowly) while the headlines are proclaiming drops.

I could make some politically loaded comments here, but I'll refrain so as to keep the thread open.

Thanks for the "self-control". You hit it on the mark. The media appears to want to keep singing from the same doom and gloom hymnal.

oaktree wrote in post #7222110
McFerrin: "Don't worry. Be Happy!"

It's not me I'm worried about. Its the people that get laid off next week because some company who is still turning a profit feels like they have to make Wall Street happy.

mattograph wrote in post #7222366
It's not me I'm worried about. Its the people that get laid off next week because some company who is still turning a profit feels like they have to make Wall Street happy.

Not Wall St. Their shareholders.

Wall Street IS the shareholders. 70% of the funds invested in the market today are institutional investments. Pension, Hedge funds, and the like. All under the care and management of the same companies that recommend you buy and sell, then take a commission of the transaction. Its our money, but they're driving.

Media worsening crisis

Hi all,

Do you wonder if the media has a role in making economy worse?

Look at the daily papers with screaming headlines that this co, retrenched this amount, that company lost this amount....doesn't it make people fear more and in turn stop spending....which in turn worsens the crisis?

As a owner of a small company, everyday i've thoughts if i should retrench ppl since so many companies are doing it, to be able to survive, since the economy is painted in such a horrid state...

Yes...the economy is in bad shape...does the media have to proclaim it every single day!

What do you think

Justin

Until the next big things comes along. They do.

we have been talking about this for months at my house

Just yesterday we had a Chingay parade here in our country, which is something like a Madre gras type of parade for a Chinese festival
It has colorful floats, dancers, performers, lion dances, dragon dances...
Performances from all over Asia...

http://www.straitstime​s.com …tory/STIStory_3​32559.html


Usually this event pictures will be splashed across several pages with full bright color...cos it's also the Chinese New Year...

Well instead, my local paper decides to tell you that 16000 jobs were lost in bold headlines...c'mon we know the economy is bad... do they really have to scream it everyday

mattograph wrote in post #7222434
Its our money, but they're driving.

I've said it before, but it bears repeating (frequently).

Weathermen, Doctors and Stockbrokers. They are all just guessing, but only the first is mostly harmless.

Looks like it's about time our secret govt. to wage another war to re-direct the media's attentions instead of the economy..... hmm.....

The news media has largely turned into an entertainment outlet.

If you read hard news, it may be worse than the sensational versions on TV.

Once you realize that the leaders, in many cases, don't know more than you do, and are not, in the main, good leaders at all, things become more clear.

They'll move in packs -- If there's a good reason to layoff employees to protect their bonus payout or position, then it will be done.

I think what's wrong, overall, stems from a shift from hard work to fast buck.