by Toni Doswell

Created on: January 12, 2009

" Empty pockets create more empty pockets." That is a saying I coined because it speaks volumes in addressing the condition which seems to be the lot of many. Joblessness combined with low consumer spending has a direct effect on our global economy, since we are globally transparent and much involved.

Recessions are due to quarterly downturns. As people everywhere now have to choose between needs and wants, between must-haves and can-have-laters, there is definitely an interruption in the large volume of goods that use to be sold as luxuries. Somehow the luxuries now are looked upon as unessential, and the basics are seen as most essential until times get better. What has happened is that the flat out truth being told that Americans were in a recession for an entire year before it was announced opened an awareness can that hasn't had the lid put on straight yet. People are now wondering what else was hidden from them in an effort to not discourage them from spending.

Because we import and export goods, and do more importing, other countries are very dependent on Americans purchasing their products. Eventhough goods are produced at less cost abroad and overseas, still they have to be sold. If there is no one to purchase these goods, all markets take an economic hit. We are economically intertwined. This forces other countries to cut back on production of certain goods and lay off workers because they can no longer afford to keep them. In good times, this is not the case, but in times where the word, "recession" reverberates in everyone's ears, we automatically begin slicing and dicing and cutting back.

More service jobs, where we work to assist others are becoming the wave of the future. Factory and manufacturing jobs are still here, but workers in these industries never know when they will be given a notice that their factory or worksite will be closing. This uneasiness and not being sure of where one stands in the long term, has caused consumers to hold back on spending. When their job is deleted for any reason, many will have to fall back on their savings if such funds exist. Joblessness, therefore, if not real, is a looming threat to job security. Free spending, therefore, gives way to careful, deliberate spending and saving.

Nobody literally prepares for a recession, however, a recession prepares us for closer insight, more cautious moves, and even halts some of our desires from moving forward. Most Americans love to spend. It seems to be our very nature, and to when it is apparent a curb in that passion is apparent, the question is- "What next?" Well, it seems we will have to actually wait and see. No one can adequately predict what our economic future will look like. We do so the cycles of spending slowing down. We do see businesses folding. We do evidence daily employers telling their long time employees sad news. What we need to see is hopeful signs of a recovery. We need to see new types of businesses opening, workers being trained to function on new jobs, new venues for entrepreneurship opening up everywhere. Jobs mean hope, and hope means happiness. Once the recession lifts, brighter days will come, and people all over the world can and will feel better. We are one big family. Your pain becomes my pain. My reward is yours. Hopefully the recession will not last long, and hopefully we can all take measures to make sure that everyone, worldwide can enjoy a quality of life of normalcy.

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