Thursday, April 28, 2011

More Economic News . . .

We purchased gasoline yesterday. I can remember in my lifetime when gasoline was not even figured into the household family budget. Seriously, gasoline was an incidental. I should sit down and crunch some numbers as to how it compares with the income and costs of the 60's and 70's, but regardless of that comparative information, there are some things that simply need to be factored in. In the early 70's gasoline became part of the necessary expenditures that needed to be figured into the budget. That was also about the time most family households became two income. So now we fast forward 35 to 40 years and realize, nearly all family households have two incomes, but it's not enough to maintain the mortgage. As for buying a car for cash, for the most part, forget about it. So, it takes two incomes just to keep a roof over a family's head and maintain reliable transportation so both parties can get to work to make the money to pay for the house and cars. Now, we have mandatory insurance laws which will be taking more out of the pocket of the employees, groceries are skyrocketing, and now gasoline is nearing $4.00 a gallon. Yet, according to the headlines, the economy is improving and consumer confidence is up. Doesn't it make you wonder where the stats come from? I guess this is based on the information that Wall Street is up, Exxon is showing record profits, and there is no rioting in the streets. People just go ahead and move out of their homes when the foreclosure is official and they realize one morning their vehicle has been repossessed. Rather than an improved economy, I'd say we are simply accepting our lot in life.
Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth. Torah of Holy Scripture

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