C'mon sar, read us another story about how great the republican leadership is doing!

The economy SUCKS. The rich are getting richer, but the middle class is in a world of crap. While my business circled the drain, I watched many customers lose their disposable income (which came my way) because THEIR customers were going broke. It's been a brutal decade, I don't know if one term of any political leadership can fix this. It might take three.

I agree with #1. We are in a shit hole and not much gets done 1st term. We will all be sitting by watching it spiral downward even lower before any of us catch our breath again. Look forward to some hard years ahead.

It's been a long time since I've heard the term 'stagflation' thrown around.

I keep feeling like when will it end? How bad does it all have to get before someone gets off their ass and does something??
Gas by us has gone from 3.09 up to 3.29 last night.. It goes up and up.. I remember not even thinking of filling up, the money was not a big deal and now I have to budget gas money.. SUCKS

yeppers, it's all teetering just now & I'm not just talking US x

So you guys have it bad too Lou? I always wondered if the whole world feels the crunch too??

We hope the package works...your economy affects everyone.

...i'm very disturbed with the grocery prices...it might be worth it to see if there are any farmer's markets and buy what you can there. i used to think i couldn't afford their prices, but considering they are all local, they don't have to pay for shipping and they might be reasonably priced...

Living here in NY has become impossible. I compare prices w/BP's living in other areas and I'm shocked at what I'm paying for food, shelter and gas. I can't do it anymore. It has sent me into a depression several times. I want to move but can't even get the cash up to do that.
I'm spending $200 a month just on gas.

$3.25???? I wish! Regular is freaking $3.54 here. Most groceries have gone up at least .$50 each and clothes more than that.

I got one of those 'economic stimulus' letters yesterday. Typical republican attitude, just throw money it, it will go away.

I won't turn the money down, but it's going in savings, not back into the economic mine field we call home.

And it seems like it's just going to get worse. I hate Bush.

I agree with the last two comments...
i work and work and never get ahead

Can't say the economy is great..don't know of anywhere in the nation that it is good..but here in rural eastern TN, it is possible to enjoy a pretty good quality of life on a fixed income. Gas is a bit cheaper than you have but there is no State Taxes, car tags, at least in the County I live in are $24 a year & the weather is nothing like you have in MI. In the past 3-4 years our total snowfall has been under 2" & comes in dustings.

After CA & all it's taxes, high gas costs, property taxes...oh, we have a half acre & our taxes are $99 a year & if you are disabled or over 65 will continue at that rate as long as you live or stay on the property. It was good to find an area where you weren't living to pay the government.

We did for awhile, until SS etc, kicked in..manage to live on $798 a month, with no help from any social services. Oh, housing prices are also low..We only paid $14,500 for everything on our land...which includes our old trailer, newer trailer & husband's workshop/shed & that was 3 years ago we bought it..had lived here 10 as renters..for $75 a month..it is paid off now as were able to put a fair downpayment & paid the rest off at $100 a month....many older people here are land rich & carry their own contracts.

Not sure what you are looking for or if you can endure life in a small area..it is 50 mi to Knoxville & 125 to Nashville, both areas are more expensive that where we live but it is one answer to your question.