The mood has changed, I can feel it

[Toots]

I felt it really big time when Clinton won his first term. It was like someone threw a switch. Overnight the markets started to rise and people's mood was more jolly. I felt it again in 2000 only in the other direction. The mood in the country suddenly soured. Money tightened up and the markets plunged. I feel the same thing now though not quite as strong. People are happier. I think this is going to be a very good Christmas for most folks. I think retailers are going to do very well. The mood is optimistic and people feel like spending for the first time in six years. There is hope once again. Happy holidays everyone and Merry Christmas as well. I know there is a month to go but I am starting to get in the spirit for the first time in years. Now if only we could spread some of our/my optimism to those in the Mid East....Things are going to get better and sooner than most would believe. There are some smart people in charge now...Peace :hippie:

[madokie]

1. Yes we have the 'grownups' back in charge

[acmejack]

2. Now we must hope that all the damage can be undone.

The dollar is falling off a cliff. Monday will be an important day. Ozymandias's' post Monday morning will be important as his knowledgeable analysis will tell us what he thinks is going on. He alerted us to what was happening Friday morning and he was spot on. By Friday Evening everyone was freaking out.

If the Dollar continues to freeefall against the World's currencies, it may not be as merry of a Christmas and a much bleaker New Year than we had hoped. I had expected this "Correction" to occur this coming year but not until late in the first quarter or mid year. The recession is coming folks.

[Donkeykick]

5. I'll bet...

you will see gasoline go back up to $3.00 a gallon or more before the end of next year too.

[Selteri]

8. There is a reason I keep my funds diversified and put into foreign markets as well.

This market is being propped up right now with some numbers that are dispraportionately distributing the wealth. This has been an economy where the rich have gotten richer while the poor have become destitute and their ranks have swelled. I agree that the change has finally begun to happen though and believe that the market can recover to be able to support itself and the rest of America, starting with a minimum wage hike that is desperately needed and hopefully to follow up with a return of worker's rights with states becomming right to employ, not right to work.

[midnight]

3. Good morning. Yes ,it does feel a bit different. I'm not sure what

it is that feels so different. I hope we can improve the direction of our economy. without the weakest among us, having to pay for those expensive wars?

[snappyturtle]

4. I wish I could share in your enthusiasm.

I can't. The rich will spend enough during the holidays to make the economy look good. I have traveled several times in the last three months from northern MN to Texas (west of Austin) and I saw a derth of poor housing and homeless individuals along the road. I believe the war economy and the ensuing slide of the dollar has drained us. I saw many thrift stores and dollar stores....more than in the past few years when making this same trip.

I do agree that the mood is better. Maybe because we have a bit of hope on the horizon! More people seem aware of the fiasco that this administration is.....finally.....thank goodness.

edit:spelling

[B Calm]

6. Hopefully I'll start making real money again in my investment funds.

Been a long dry spell....

[InvisibleTouch]

7. Same here, I can tell the difference.

Or at least I think I can, though it could very well be all in my mind, since I was so relieved about the election results. But it does feel like I can breathe again for the first time in 6 years, and something has shifted, there's an upward climb now. The ice hasn't all melted yet, but the sun is out.

Even in the midst of the prosperous 90's there was poverty and homelessness and unemployment and thrift stores - that's not going to go away entirely, at least not anytime soon. But we've got a better chance of tackling those problems now than we did just a month ago.

And the economy coupled to the country's mood is a self-perpetuating cycle. When people feel good, they feel safer about spending money, which kicks up the economy, which in turn makes people feel good, and so inclined to spend more money on some luxuries, etc. I'm seeing it myself, albeit with a sample size of one, in my Ebay sales. People are buying necessities, but also luxuries and collectibles. Could be just the usual pre-Christmas gluttony, of course, but last year was terrible.

Gas prices will almost certainly continue to rise, since we're dealing with a self-limiting commodity. But we may be better able to afford them, too. And better yet, we may finally start seeing a huge push toward alternative fuels now. Kudos to Al Gore!

[peacetalksforall]

9. I stress caution about some things - the right wing networks are

not going to be nice to Dem Senators and Reps. They will go on attack and it will be as difficult to listen to as there glee and glow in thier six years of pimping up the Republicans.

We are going to be kept sober by the stories ccoming in about and from our soldier kids (about meaning how they are suffering from stress). We're then going to start hearing the stories about the crimes of our PNAC baron leaders.

I hope a brighter vision will carry us through the monetary destruction done to us by these madmen and women.

[NoBushSpokenHere]

10. I noticed this when I ran into people I knew in the grocery

When they said hello, I could see the hope had returned to their eyes. It was really strange. You could definitely tell the difference in Democratic shoppers!

[radfringe]

11. may feel like spending

but I ain't got the money to spend.. going to be even sparser than last year for the family