Is it time to get out of here?

Looking back on the past week or so I ask myself the question; are we on a path where it is time to consider getting out of here?

Get out of the city?  The state?  The country?  Get out of here by road or by boat?  Stand and fight or run for the hills?

Making the choice is a complex matter.  Looking at some of the events of the last week here are a few that caught my attention.

On Twitter the most popular subject that folks can jump into is accessed by #2010Disappointments where one can voice their thoughts.  My post: our government, the economy, our troops dying far away, increased homeless on the street, loss of benefits to 2M more people.

If the economy does not get to you, if the increasing number of people living in the streets does not get to you, if the stopping of unemployment benefits for two million does not get to you, perhaps this will help you breathe easier?  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/01/house-gop-global-warming-committee_n_790739.html

The opening paragraph:  The new soon-to-be Republican Congress is so unconcerned with global warming that their leader, Speaker-in-waiting John Boehner, has announced that they're throwing an entire House committee dedicated to the topic out the window.

In final report, federal debt commission warns of fiscal 'reckoning'

The bipartisan panel's recommendations include a cap on discretionary spending, Social Security reforms and an overhaul of the tax code. A final vote on the plan is set for Friday.
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-deficit-panel-20101202,0,511701.story

I posted this about last summer. Things have gotten worse. More folks out of work and 2 million folks to lose their unemployment benefits this month, 450,000 of them in California. In the post are just a few reasons why some folks are angry. I posted this once again. http://la-economy.blogspot.com/2010/07/why-are-american-people-mad.html

Stocks close sharply higher on signs of economic growth
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fiw-markets-20101201,0,4485022.story
Up today but down again soon as automated profit taking trading kicks in later this week and the real figures on hiring come to light after all the nonsense such as "seasonally adjusted" is laughed at and the 2 million folks falling off benefits are counted, 450,000 of the this month in California alone.



Don Petrosky Garza many folks are not gonna be able to pay their rent this month..

Myles Rose December is going to be a killer month for a lot of folks ... just in time for the holiday season. What a total load of garbage.

Max Buda These are tough days for individual traders/investors.

Myles Rose They are hard days for everybody as the market has no direction. When has no direction it is an indicator that there is no faith in our government or country. Not too surprising the way the parties battle each other rather than accomplish things.  We are on a downhill run and things are getting worse each month. More unemployment. Not only is there no tier 5 benefits but they are even on the path to cutting benefits off for people who are not at the 99 week mark. North and South Korea are having problems and Europe is heading down the proverbial crapper.  Some folks may think all we need is a push to fall toward crisis. To those folks I say, open your eyes as we are already falling.

My AT&T blog is gaining traction with over 10,000 viewers since it was published.  Just one more picture of why America finds it hard to compete in today's economy.
http://la-economy.blogspot.com/2010/11/at-so-wrong-is-every-way.html

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/dec/01/homeless-endure-bitter-cold-san-diego-streets/

Turlock Journal - Cold weather shelter opens today http://t.co/prVF6G5 via @AddThis

http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20101201/OPINION01/12010304/Our-Opinion-Homeless-need-your-time-towels-and-snacks

http://chronicle.augusta.com//latest-news/2010-12-01/homeless-shelters-get-ready-cold-night

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/12/AR2010111202857.html - death of the news?

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Robert-Reich-s-Blog/2010/1201/Sour-economy-could-put-Sarah-Palin-in-the-White-House?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4cf68037d116d519%2C0 and a few comment on

Sarah Palin in the White House:

Very scary.


Yeah. Seriously, if that happens, I'm leaving the country. I'll have no faith in my fellow citizens anymore.

That's not going to happen & I wish the media would just stop promoting it.

I'm inclined to think the same thing, Bob... but I thought the same thing about W.

The truth is if we don't get rid of the income tax and go to a fair tax soon we are doomed; no more IRS for us or business and every illegal immigrant and foreign visitor who pay the Government as well. This well known author seems to have... blinders on, is not well informed or just wanted to write something very sarcastic; The reason why the median male wage went stagnate in the 70's is because the dollar was taken off the gold standard (by a Republican I might add. I'm really getting tired of the black/white thing; The economy is bad for everyone not just angry white workers!

 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/01/unemployment-extension_n_790338.html
 
Bernanke Tells Ohio Executives He's Concerned About Long-Term Unemployment - Bloomberg http://t.co/CyTfUHn  via @BloombergNow


.... and if that is not enough ...  latimes: Widow of 'Singing Cowboy' Gene Autry kills pedestrian while driving in Palm Springs http://lat.ms/h13ZlL

Europe's debt troubles deepen as investors flee bonds of Spain, Italy http://lat.ms/hfm1ND




It seems to me that the system is crashing down faster than the speed of a falling object under the pull of gravity.  Watch the news on uemployment benefits? If you are in L.A. places like @URM may be your only safety net.   
All the above happened or were reported in the last 24 hours.  But wait ... it does not stop there...
 
From last night:  Currently on the news. 2 million will loose unemployment benefits next month.
 
CA_EDD: Many unemployed workers may see new limits on unemployment benefits available due to federal extension deadlines. http://bit.ly/ia06OC 
 

Approximately 454,000 people in California could experience a shortened total of Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits available by the end of the year, and some may soon see an abrupt halt to their benefits, according to estimates from the United States Department of Labor. Not only are benefits not being extended, it looks like they very probably are going to be shortened.

 

Cut-off of jobless aid would lower economic growth http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Cutoff-of-jobless-aid-would-apf-2667293660.html

Cut-off of jobless aid would shrink economic growth and raise unemployment and poverty rates

 

Tempers Flare As Unemployment Benefits Near Expiration
Unemployment benefits for more than 100,000 people in both Kentucky and Indiana could run out in a matter of days if Congress doesn't act. Many people are filing for benefits, others are looking for jobs, but with the threat of benefits running out, tempers are flaring.http://www.wlky.com/r/25948793/detail.html

Euro zone unemployment rate at 12-year high
http://www.financemarkets.co.uk/2010/11/30/euro-zone-unemployment-rate-at-12-year-high/

But it all started with some music and reflections of days past with my blog post prior to this one
http://la-economy.blogspot.com/2010/11/what-were-odds-of-me-being-alive-today.html

There you go ... a bit of a weekly look at the nation through my eyes.