Its Not the Great Depression...Yet

I have been watching a lot of the news lately. More-so than usual. Mostly because I want to see what "analysts" are saying about our current economic situations.
I find it interesting that everyone is predicting doom and gloom, when two short years ago we were the most prosperous nation on Earth.

We need to remember that we are Americans. We've had tough times before. If our great grandfathers & great-great grandfathers could make it out of the Great Depression, then why can't we make it out of a drop in the markets?

We haven't reached that time in our current day where we have hit the Great Depression. Yes, we are in grave danger of a depression. We are not out of the woods on that yet, however, keep your chin up, America.

A friend's mom sent this to me, and I think everyone should read it. And after you've read it, read it again. And then forward it to a friend, or eighty.
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"Through the 200 years of American history, this country has been constantly besieged by bad news. If the early settlers believed things were as bad as they sounded they would have given up the fight to settle the new world and sailed back to England, and the dream of freedom would have perished.

From that day to the present, the people of this nation have listened to the bad news for a while, then they turned their backs on that which was bad, placed their faith in God and faced toward that which was good.

Down through the years, through tragic civil war, two world-wide wards, a series of smaller conflicts, recession and the great depression of the 1930's, we have heard again and again the words of Citizen Tom Paine, "These are the times that try mens' souls." in every case the people rejected the bad news and overcame whatever obstacle was facing them at that time.

Once again, we are put to the test. Everything we hear is bad. we are smothered with a never-ending succession of newspaper, radio and television reports on Watergate, drug abuse, crime in the streets, decadent morals and lack of honest and competent leadership. If Citizen Tom Paine were alive today, he could well utter again his famous quotation.

It is impossible to lock your door against the invasion of the news media into every nook of your home and office. They dont make the news, they merely report it (obviously MSNBC wasnt around then ;o) -but I digress). Tell it as it is. We have the option of acceptance or rejection. We can bemoan what is happening in our world, wring our hands and cover our heads, or we can reject the bad and look about us to the good.

When I was a boy on a small farm in Grant County, news wasnt as quickly available as it is today and reached us mainly by word of mouth. A "drummer" would come by or one of our neighbors returned from a trip to Little Rock or Memphis and we saw the news through tehir eyes. Mostly it was about what was bad in the big cities or throughout the country.

After listening a while, my father would say, "That's enough bad news for one day. Let's go to work." America has heard enough bad news for a while. Now is the time to go to work. Turn your back on the bad news and look around you at what is good. You don't need to look very fa. Your family, your children, your friends and neighbors, they are good.

We live today in the greatest country the world has ever known, filled with opportunities which never existed before. The highest standards of living, more leisure time, better health services, better schools, more ojbs, finer homes and freedom to enjoy these wonders.

This is indeed the time to turn our backs on the bad news and face the future with thankfulness.

W.R. "Witt" Stephens
** Mr. Witt sent this memo out after "Black Friday, October 1987" his wisdom and good advice lives on.
http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=1773 for more information on Mr. Stephens life.

No Time for Partisan Politics

Pelosi asked in a floor speech shortly before the vote. "It is a number that is staggering, but tells us only the costs of the Bush administration's failed economic policies — policies built on budgetary recklessness, on an anything goes mentality, with no regulation, no supervision and no discipline in the system." about the $700 Billion bail out.
At this time, we cannot afford petty name calling. I expect more from my leaders, I expect more from those running my country.
I am absolutely disgusted right now.
As far as I am concerned, the Clinton administration, greedy oil speculators, and unscrupulous Wall Street big wigs are at fault. The economy has taken a serious down turn in the last 2 years since the Democrats have taken over congress we have seen a rise in oil prices, a drop in housing values and I cannot believe the audacity of Nancy Pelosi & Rep Barney Frank to blame Republicans.
We can point the finger all we want, but that is not going to save our economy.
I suggest we all call, email or fax not only OUR congressmen, but also House leaders to let them know how unhappy we are as Americans and that we want PARTISAN POLITICS LEFT OUT OF THIS. I dont care where Barack Obama or John McCain stand on this. Something's gotta be done, and without the name calling.
www.house.gov (search for your Representative)