I have been counting the FOR SALE signs while we drive down residential streets.  I have also noticed the number of businesses that have been closed down.  You used to see open stores and busy shoppers on the streets.  These are just some signs of bad times that the teams of deniers we are in trouble say cannot be there. 

I noticed some time ago that the packages of hand soap I buy are the same size but lighter and the individual bars are carved out so that you are not getting a full handful of soap you used to expect.  Some things shrink and some are not available anymore but you find that the signs are telling you to buy, buy and buy.

The most fearful signs we see are the car businesses that are closing their doors.  That is the most visible of signs that we are in trouble.  For GM to shutter its many outlets means that bankruptcy is not just having its impact on this giant of manufacturing businesses, but it is putting its workers, even long time workers, out of work.  But that is not as fearsome as some other observations that I have been reading about - what is happening to our nation and, perhaps, the world.

I remember vividly the GREAT DEPRESSION and its lingering after effects. The remedy for not being able to move merchandise was to advertise how cheap the product had become and how much more you are getting for your dollar - if you had dollars to spend.  The most significant signals that things were awful were the "self help" articles in the papers and magazines.  Grow your own garden vegetables, sew your own clothes, start your own little business and scale down your scale of living.  Get along with less.

What is so fearsome about today's recession/depression (the end is in sight or is bottoming out since yesterday or will by the end of next week) is that the $5.00 battle is on for your lunch or dinner meal.  Whether it be the ubiquitous "Subway" or its competitor (for $4.00), the "Torpedo" you can find the fast foods trying to move their foods faster with more on them at less cost.  This belies the fact that if you go to a restaurant and look at the menu prices - they have gone up considerably from this time last year. And, then, we still are an obese people.

I think we can survive this one.  After all, Carol manages our finances so that we can afford an around the world cruise next January while she bargains successfully as Treasurer of our Condominium with our suppliers.