'bush is going to put us in a depression'

[cynatnite]

That from my hubby, a truck driver. Since yesterday he's only done around 400 miles. This next run is going to be about 300-350 miles. He won't even have a thousand miles by end of the day on Wednesday. In a trucker's life, that's pretty damn bad.

There is not nearly enough frieght. No one wants to do it for cheap because of the fuel prices. Truckers around here are getting less miles. This is the worst slump he's seen in eight years of driving. Company drivers are quitting over the lack of miles, but the problem is that it's not better anywhere else.

When the freight doesn't move the only way to make it move is to pay more and the cost will eventually hit the consumer. Wages are staying the same, but everything else will keep rising.

[LaurenG]

1. I'm already depressed

TOO LATE. You are right though, except for one thing. He has allowed and signed into law some pretty low things. By all rights we should already be in a depression. I don't get it.

[whistle]

2. Thanks, these are what economists call leading indicators of

....of the trends in the economy.

[smoogatz]

3. The stage is set for a round of interest rate increases and inflation

that could make the 70s' stagflation look like a picnic. Between rising energy costs and the soaring federal deficit, consumers are likely to get a double-barreled dose of misery starting in 6-12 months. Hold on to your hats.

[cynatnite]

6. Normally there is slow freight at the start of a new fiscal year

Here it is July, usually one of the busiest months for truckers, and we're starting to wonder how it's all going to shape up. Is it possible to ride it out? Or perhaps we're not only looking at the prices to stay close to the same, but the trucking business will wind up being a roller coaster ride. It's always been fairly stable prior to this, but now we think we are seeing the beginnings of a severe economic slump.

[SoCalDem]

8. I have always had the sneaky suspicion

that the Boomers would end, as they started.. broke..

Most of us started out our adult lives in recession after recession..high prices..frozen wages...and all the gains we appeared to have made may soon vanish..just as retirement looms.

[xray s]

4. I don't know how truckers can survive.

And, of course, thanks to NAFTA, they have to compete with drivers from Mexico now too.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Your husband is right

1929 redux, including the denial at the fed level

[DIKB]

7. I can picture the coming depression.

And for once I'm glad I live out in Arkansas, rather than where I was in Orlando. The highly populated areas are going to be hit bad. With costs skyrocketing, layoffs to cut costs are inevitable. Concentrated populations means more competition for jobs. At least people laid off out here are capable of providing in other ways, chicken farms are plentiful, people can hunt or fish not far from where they live. Reminds me of an old adage that was both a blessing, and a curse, "May you live in interesting times."