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The economy is bad. It turns out we've been in a recession since December 2007. Can you imagine that? It's 1981 all over again and that was bad...Gloom and Doom. Folks are going to have to buckle down and get tough. But back then, 1981, we had places that made things. We don't have as much of that anymore. But, 1981 wasn't all that bad for some. Moral of the story...Uh, uhm, linking I mean...You can always find a reason to grin. Sometimes those reasons are people. And, people are alive, if not dead, and life happens as few know destiny. And destiny lies for us in many places, way up in the High Lonesome with a cowardice of curs or our passions for the loves we know. Sometimes those loves are places, sometimes works, sometimes hearts. Our minds takes us where we want to go with courage, determination, and the love for life.
Nuff of that...
The Appalachianist
Nuff of that...
The Appalachianist
posted by Hill Billy Rave | Thursday, December 04, 2008
19 Comments:
I was 10 in 1981 so I don't remember the economic climate. At the time, I was too busy with Princess Diana's wedding and developing a questionable taste in music that continues to this day. That last part is well said, A.I. You getting soft in your old age? ;-)
I hated wedding. I remember that was all that was on TV. I was 13 and can remember some of it. Not in great detail. Questionable music, you said it...
You're a fine one to talk about questionable music. ;-)
I am so old I like Motown and before that something sometimes referred to as Doo Wop. It's like the fifties and Elvis and J0hnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis. The Appalachianist is right. There are no jobs to go back to . . . my step-father was laid off in the recession of 1957 . . . it was traumatic, but after six weeks or so he was called back to work. Those mills, the J. P. Stevens mills of Great Falls, South Carolina, were among the first to be entirely shut down. The town itself resembles a ghost town . . . unemployment and unwed mothers and people waiting for their grandmothers social security check is very much what is left . . . in other words, it is awful. Don't kid yourself about going to an "information" economy. Bill
1981--I quiet my good paying job at the bakery to go to work for the Boy Scouts for significantly less money (and the bakery offered me an extra $100 a week to stay on, even today that seems pretty good!)
AP, Michigan has been in a recession for years (if not decades)
Murf, I suppose your right.
Bill, maybe we can call it a misinformation economy? Great Falls, that's down close to Lancaster, ain't it? On the Catawba?
I brought up 1981 and you brought up 1957. Of course we've had some since, but there lies the answer. History, and not the comic book version they feed our kids and worse, we adults assume as complete.
Sage, $100 was a pretty chunk of chnage then. Heck, if I was offered that right now, I'm gone. But as I read from your post you got a good education under Ron. I think I'd like him.
I hear that about Michigan. I work with a boy that is from there. Has family still in Traverse City. From what he said, the place is not doing so well. But, I don't know that much about it.
Actually, the area around Traverse City is doing the better than much of the state--it's a great travel and vacation area (and beautiful) which means more service jobs and not the higher paying jobs that are fleeing the state like snowbirds at the onset of winter.
Working people have been sold out, of course, I have no status or newspaper or money, so my opinion, like that of the working class, doesn't matter much, but I don't like what I see happening. I put back many things made in China when I was out shopping for Christmas. I was amazed at the quantity as well as the quality of their products. It reminded me of my long ago childhood when everything seemed to be "Made in America." It isn't that all of this represents a lack of work in the United States. A lack of work represents a people without a culture or a sense of right and wrong or a place to be in a chain of being that includes the past and the present and a hoped for future. Yeah, I went to my grandson's play, A Christmas Carol and saw the ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. If the coming recession can be likened to Scrooge's experience maybe some good will come out of it. It is kinda like that . . . getting back on the good foot as James Brown might say and seeing the Scrooge's of the country reform . . . not merely over money . . . just being forthright and honest. When things improve, I hope that there is a place to go back to work. At any rate, "Merry Christmas, and God bless us every one!" Bill
In '81 I was twenty one, living in San Diego and cruising the Pacific Rim countries for the first time. If there as a recession I must not have not have noticed.
By the way, while those pacRim countries are always a treat, it's the first time that makes your jaw drop and you pinch yourself to see if it's real.
Gas was $1.55 in Lafayette, LA. That seemed pretty reasonable to me. Don't know what it is in MI or NC, but in FL it's still around $1.75. Not sure why I added this info.
Sage, I know that property and property taxes are high there. Higher than here and we're inflated. Actually there is a company there, Collar Clinic, that repairs Electronic tracking collars and training collars. That just occurred to me. I'm told Michigan doesn't have as much wildlife as it did 30 years ago. But, back to it. I think the manufacturing jobs are leaving all over, and Michigan must be feeling the crunch more than most.
Bill, you said the coming recession. I think it's been here. But, I hope that is not prophecy. I fuss with Twister all he time. He complains about something being made in China and wants one made in the US. You can't find anything hardly. What you going to do? Do without?
Yeah, they had a recession and didn't invite you, Ed. Consider yourself lucky. I think it might have started earlier, but culminated in 81.
Gas is anywhere from $1.69-1.85 around here. I know in SC it's cheaper, they have less tax. People defend our tax saying we have better roads than SC, but here in WNC, we have roads paved that have no business being paved. Government is a racket.
It was a cold day in the woods.
Oh, but to count our blessings, Ed, look at all the people that said we would never see gas this low again, and look at it now! I read it might be down around a dollar next year.
You are right about the "do without," but soon it is going to mean do without a job for a lot of Americans. We are so diorganized to meet the changes in our society. People need work and continuity in their lives. Everything is going to be put on the move. This piece or place of work is removed and then that piece and then where do you go . . . to Wal-mart to be a greeter? I hope not. I wish I had an answer. I think you are right about the recession having started earlier . . . an elderly WWII friend of mind has been arguing that point with me for a year. Finally, I have to agree with both of you. Bill
Bill, what's made in the USA? Not allot of your most common consumer goods. You're right, we are pretty disorganized.
R'Ed - This morning, gas near the crib was $1.47.
I have been substituting on any number of days . . . substitutung at both high schools and middle schools. I have to use other's computers. I am pleased to see how often your blog turns up in the hunt for a way to get to the site. Many often say kind things about your site and especially praised are the observations on histroy and weather and places in and of the Appalachians. I don't want to forget the dogs. BTW how are the dogs? Thought I'd let you know something you already knew. Bill
Yeah, more praise is just what A.I. needs for his huge head. ;-)
Janie and I like any photos that have boots. What ever happened to my little boot lovin' accomplice?
I paid $ 1.47 down by Westminister SC today. I saw gas in Lawrenceville Ga for $1.39.
Murf, that's a head full of brilliant ideas. "I'm so fucking sick, I'm the king of the world, I'm a genius of useless stuff".
Me and Janie exchanged e-mails here recently. She's doing good.
Bill, the dogs are alright. A little bored with Deer Season going on.
I'm still waiting to use my knowledge of the J-rod antenna in a social setting. :-)
I'm glad I asked about the dogs . . . your head ain't full of useless stuff . . . maybe the spellin' ain't so good . . . . ;>) but it'll do for a mountain man. Bill
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