This what the Bush money whammy feels like in my neighborhood.

[dixiegrrrrl]

Talked to 4 people on our block today. All of them just got a financial whammy.
There are 10 families on this street.

1. Mr. M.'s 90 y/o mother, 2 doors down, had to go to nursing home last year.
He is paying 1200.00 a month for her care and Medicaid requires he sell her house.
The house he grew up in. It is paid off, reasonably priced @ 85 K.
(Half acre lot, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, one story brick rambler, built 1960,
new roof 3 years ago)
Even he can find a buyer, can the buyer get a mortgage?
And his job is cutting back, timber industry, he says he may be out of job in Feb.
Strong union man, Democrat, real sweet guy who did the "right thing" for his mother.

2. Mr. C has house, wife, 2 teenagers. Worked at the Pulp mill 20 some years.
Wife works for AT&T call center.
The mill is shutting down for at least 30 days end of month.

3. Miz J. is a 71 y/o widow. Husband left her well off, lots of stock and retirement funds,
house is almost paid off, if not paid off by now.
Market has eaten at least 40% of what was a good nest egg.
Her lawyer son is managing her money, but he is still keeping her invested in
BOA and other stock. Yikes....

4. A good friend runs a timber company, manages timber lots over half the state
for private and corporate owners.
Mills are cutting back, so timber sales and re-planting are not being done.
She has hired up to 400 people in the area during tree planting time,
has a regular crew of 12. Tonight she says she has 30 days cash on hand for the
company. Can't get the usual 90 day loans to keep business going.

But a new Super Wal-Mart is coming to town. wheeeeeee....


:-(

[intheflow]

1. dixiegrrrrl

I'm so sorry for you, your neighbors, and your town. :hug:

K&R :kick:

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Thanks...I know it has to be the same in every neighborhood.

Various versions of the same theme. Different tipping points.
Hearing and telling our stories makes me feel connected, 'cause god knows the MSM will never do it.

[eridani]

2. Not doing the tree planting? Yikes!

Talk about shortsightedness and eating the seed corn, etc.

[comtec]

5. The OP explains why - she can't afford it

seeding costs money, and the lumber owner simply doesn't have the money.
imho she should drop some industrial hemp seeds till she can and sell the mature material to fabric companies.
people always need clothes and it would probably cost much less to plant and harvest than the trees for wood currently.
it would also produce vastly more oxygen than the trees.. but that's just me.

point being she doesn't have the money.

[Hannah Bell]

4. that's so weird. i can tell a similar story: including the damn new super walmart.

they're the only business that's expanding, in anticipation of bankruptcies & a new supply of peons?