Yes

by Pamela Sims

Created on: November 26, 2011   Last Updated: December 20, 2011

I do believe we are headed for a double-dip recession, if not worse. I don't base my opinion on statistics or polls though. I base my opinion on people-watching, prices in grocery stores and prices on every day goods.

With the housing market tragedy, lenders are not as quick to hand out home loans. If anything, they have gone a bit over to the other side. I see young couples unable to buy their first home without a sizeable down payment. 

It actually reminds me of stories my grandmother told me of the depression. There were several generations living under the same roof just trying to make it day to day. Just the cost of a gallon of milk is higher than a gallon of gas. One pound of butter is as high as $4 on a name brand. I find more and more store brands in my shopping cart as the name brands keep getting out of reach. 

The middle class is moving either upward to upper class or fast-paced to lower class financial standing. The raises in the work department are getting less but the payment for health insurance keeps rising. The cost of gas and automobiles goes up enough where middle class often finding they can now only afford the used vehicles. The cost of medication has risen so much that we find ourselves deciding on what medication we might can do without.

Just people-watching at a mall you will see less people and with fewer bags in the hands of the people leaving. I am seeing things through the eyes of a disabled person who can no longer work much less work a second job or more hours. I am thankful that with my husband working that we can afford internet.

We have encouraged our sons to use financial advisors right from the start. Our sons have selected careers that are here to stay. My oldest son will graduate from RN school in December. Our youngest son has just been sworn into the Air Force. They have always been encouraged to watch the news with us and discuss it. The televised news was just one source but they were encouraged to seek out a variety of sources. TV news is no longer unbiased and it shows. I find myself seeking out snopes.com more and more just to be sure what I read is true.

Who is to blame for this economic mess? There is more to blame than just Freddie. We ourselves must accept some of the blame also. We grew dependent on our credit cards instead of cash. We bought homes that should of been out of our price range, etc. Where it really went wrong was the the screwy idea of the bailouts. Now, no one has to take the blame for losses. Everyone wants the entire country to pay their debt. How many people, who were losing their homes, wanted the nation to pay for their homes?

It is all very sad but somewhere along the line, our entire nation needs a wake up call. It's time to take responsibility for your own actions. Stop blaming everyone else for your entire life. You can't possibly progress to a more informed life until you do. My income is at a low that many would call poverty yet they want to cut medicare. Medicare would be just fine if its many "loans" had ever been paid back. Too many politicians paid for pet projects out of it but never repaid the golden goose. Well thank you very much for cooking that goose! God help the senior citizens and the disabled.

Learn more about this author, Pamela Sims.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.