No Longer Ready to Retire

[cal04]

In Economic Crisis, Nest Eggs Vanish, as Do Long-Held Dreams
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/20/AR2008092002256.html?hpid=topnews

The American Psychological Association released a report showing that the No. 1 cause of anxiety for Americans is money fears.

That was in June.

After last week -- which saw volatile market swings, major bankruptcies of once-stable and venerated Wall Street firms and the largest government intervention in the market since the Depression -- people across the Washington area reported not only heightened anxiety about money, but uncertainty, if not outright fear.

People such as Tim Kenney or Thomas Williams said the summer's stress over rising gas, food and energy prices now feels like nothing. Now they are watching hard-earned savings shrink or simply disappear. Kenney began to wonder if the very foundation of the economy, and with it people's dreams and plans, was crumbling.

Jean Celine, 64, was already so worried about rising health-care costs that she'd been forcing herself to go to the gym every day to stay healthy. After last week, her nerves are shot. Like many her age, she has only a small pot of money to live on for the rest of her life. Any loss is a big loss. And the average 65-year-old retiree can expect to live 17 more years, the AARP says. So this weekend, Celine started a $15-an-hour job. "I'll probably be working for the rest of my life," she said. "Some golden years."

[Xipe Totec]

1. It torques my tail to see just how much devastation it takes to wake people up

Now, finally, they see the difference between Republican and Democratic philosophies.

Pyhrric victory, Yay!

:cry:

[boomerbust]

2. 15 Dollar an hour job?

Not easy to come by these days.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

3. When Barack gets elected President

I sincerely hope his administration addresses the minimum wage. It has not kept up with inflation and is a shameful disgrace. Even working 2 minimum wage jobs doesn't cut it.

Even though I've long been an Obama supporter, I think Hillary's idea to freeze foreclosures was an excellent one. Keeping people in their homes should come before any corporate bailout.

[Skittles]

4. some of us never had those dreams