[Thomas W. Bethe]

I personally think that it will get worse before it gets better.

I live near two cities, Lorain and Cleveland, that have been on the poorest cities in America list for quite some time. The county I live in is one of the poorest in the state. Jobs are scarce and Ford recently closed one of its major plants. There are no real large national industries in this immediate area and all the local manufacturing jobs have been relocated elsewhere. If it were not for smaller businesses there would be a lot more people out of work. A shopping center near here is very close to closing down for lack of people buying things.

The outlook was not good before we slipped into a major recession and it will take a long time getting out once the recession lessens.

I too refrain from watching the evening or morning news as it is all doom and gloom but on the other hand where I currently live and have a business the news is also frighteningly true.

I think that if you watch what you are doing, scale back any large expenditures for equipment, pay off your loans and run as lean and mean as you can you will be able to come through this current fiscal meltdown with no problems. At least that is our plan.

Good topic!