As recovery drags on, the human toll grows

Economy takes human toll
Prosperity out of reach for many in Carolinas
PETER SMOLOWITZ
Staff Writer


T.ORTEGA GAINES

Tiffany Coval lost her job as a sales assistant because she didn't have child care for a week before school started. With her are daughters Alamah, 8, and Kayla, 6.


Even as many experts predict an economic rebound, a record number of struggling workers across the Charlotte region are applying for welfare, Medicaid, food stamps and help paying rent and utilities.

Winter will increase a need already so overwhelming that some social workers have been forced to take the unprecedented step of turning away more people than they can help.

Morehttp://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/

Compared with the 1990s recession, "This is 10 times as bad," says Louise Williams, administrator of a Charlotte emergency assistance program called Goodfellows. "All of us in the field look at each other and say, `It can't get any worse.' Then it does."

At Crisis Assistance Ministry near uptown Charlotte, the first people arrive before 6 a.m., more than two hours before the agency opens. Some wrap themselves in blankets during the cold wait outside, while inside, the 100 seats in the waiting room aren't enough. Many never thought they'd be here
Economy takes human toll
Prosperity out of reach for many in Carolinas
PETER SMOLOWITZ
Staff Writer


T.ORTEGA GAINES

Tiffany Coval lost her job as a sales assistant because she didn't have child care for a week before school started. With her are daughters Alamah, 8, and Kayla, 6.


Even as many experts predict an economic rebound, a record number of struggling workers across the Charlotte region are applying for welfare, Medicaid, food stamps and help paying rent and utilities.

Winter will increase a need already so overwhelming that some social workers have been forced to take the unprecedented step of turning away more people than they can help.

Compared with the 1990s recession, "This is 10 times as bad," says Louise Williams, administrator of a Charlotte emergency assistance program called Goodfellows. "All of us in the field look at each other and say, `It can't get any worse.' Then it does."

At Crisis Assistance Ministry near uptown Charlotte, the first people arrive before 6 a.m., more than two hours before the agency opens. Some wrap themselves in blankets during the cold wait outside, while inside, the 100 seats in the waiting room aren't enough. Many never thought they'd be here

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did those vote for Bush?

Republican in this state tend to vote like daddie,and most likely will tell you Clinton is the reason for the recession or depression

even with a record number of people lining up for welfare,they still call it a recovery. :eyes:

the economic numbers the way they rigged the vote count in Florida?

If it doesn't look like a recovery, it just might not be one.

One reason I'm suspicious: my ex-wife was in corporate planning in a Fortune 100 company during Bu$h I's 'jobless recovery', and they were using private data and forecasts that showed a continued recession -- and not a recovery of any kind.

Not long after, we both lost our jobs with that company, and we both had a terrible time finding work. All during Bu$h I's "recovery".

Some people forgot about Bush and his misery shortly, after Clinton too office and brought the Country back. Clinton did so well with the economy, that the people beleived the republicans when they told the nation the growing economy was all due to Greenspan, and the nation thought any one could handle the economy in the way Clinton did..What tears me up is Clinton, didn't sit around crying about the deep recession Bush left him, he went to work and turned thing around..Now here we are in the third year about to go into the fourth year of Bush's 2,second term and he is still crying and trying get the nation to think Clinton left him a recession.

I'd hate to see a real economic downturn.

Essentially, Bush's* economic job is already done: two wealthy-favored tax-cuts, record deficits and decreased revenues leading to decreased social spending. "We can't fund things that help the poor and working class because we have no more money", will become a very familiar refrain.