I think we're in for a world of hurt

Two things could really hurt me in the coming months. Fuel prices and a local GM plant closing down. I don't know about you guys, but when OPEC forecasts $200 per barrel of oil I listen. I might as well drink the black gold I'm so dependent on it for my livlihood. Also there is a local GM plant that may be shutting down in the near future leaving thousands of people without a job in my home town. The combination of fuel prices and huge local unemployment rates could make for a depressed local economy. I think it's already starting to happen. My dad paid $3.98 a gallon for regular unleaded today. I don't think people are taking the rising fuel prices seriously enough. At least those who can still afford to pay for fuel aren't. Fuel prices could do more than damage the local economy. I'm think it could lead to another depression for the whole country.

Anyway, I need a plan. I'm not going down with the ship. At least not if I can help it. Wealth might even become more concentrated to the top 2% when the dust settles and lord knows I don't have a million dollars to weather the storm with and buy stocks for pennies on the dollar. My thinking is that I might be sitting alright with my job. I haul car parts for Hondas to dealerships. Honda makes a lot of fuel efficient cars and they will probably be in high demand. And those who can't afford to buy new Hondas will need car parts to fix up their old ones.

But, you know, I really don't know for sure what might happen. All I know is that it's scaring me and I feel the need to prepare for the worst.

after about 5 years out and I'm scared silly about what my options are. And how far I'll have to drive to get to work, etc. I know you're a truck driver - I think you're probably OK, as you say, working with/for Honda because their cars will only continue to be in demand, but it never hurts, even in a booming economy, to be frugal. Not miserly, but frugal.

if oil goes up like OPEC thinks it will. Do you think we'll be able to get by with fuel prices that high? To put it in perspective, if you are a hard working trucker, chances are you're running 3000 miles a week. The average truck gets 6 mpg. That equals 500 gallons of fuel a week which works out $4000 a week in fuel at $8 a gallon.

There will be layoffs because in a state agency, budgets are set a year or two in the past. They didn't anticipate gas prices like this, which are destroying our budget. People will be laid off and I may be one of them.

and I think the pain may last for an extended period of time. I've already been struggling for a long time. I'm not sure how much more of this I can take. And it is frightening. I'm learning new skills, pinching all my pennies, and hoping to eventually be able to buy my way into another country. It is a hope/choice that is all about looking out for my interests and my future.

I do not expect the US economy to recover during my lifetime. Our nation has been raped and pillaged. Recovery will require rebuilding both our infrastructure and our manufacturing base. It will also require the death of consumerism. Frankly, I'm not sure we're up to the task. Our country is essentially bankrupt - and lacking leadership, plans and will.

I wish everyone well in the trying times ahead.

I was writing somwhere on the internet the other day about how I have this feeling of doom and gloom at the core of my being and how it was coloring my perception of the world around me. I wish I could say with certainty that it was just all in my head now, but at the very best all I can say is I don't know.

I guess nobody can say at any given time what might happen for sure in the future, but I think you can make an educated guess just by paying attention to what is happening now. It looks bad.

Gas prices keep going up and going up. That, in turn, makes every other price on every other thing we buy, go up. We are so fucked.

like me. I work for a town in southwestern new hampshire. My commute now costs me about $40 a week where 5 years ago it would have cost $20. While part of my job is to serve the public, I can see the possibility of town hall being open only 3 days a week rather than 5 and I can see doing most of my office work and communicating from home. I'm lucky that I just need my car to get to and from work and not for my work!

"The end of wars"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3272625

Also, a friend just traded her Escalade in for a Prius.

My next door neighbor owns the local Chrysler dealership.
He is hurting bad. The big SUVs and trucks that have been Chrysler's bread and butter just are not selling.

And people are actually driving at the 55 mph speed limit on a local expressway. Or lower. Not blowing by me at 65-70 any more.

There are some big, BIG changes a comin', and it won't be pretty.
Signed:
Glum in Alabama
:-(

I'm not happy with myself about it. Denial feels like a safe place, but I know it's not.

:hug: that's all I can say, is to :hug: you.

that's going to be built a little north of Findlay? I think it will hurt some long haul truckers but I'm wondering if it will increase jobs for those who do shorter runs?

You're in the Dayton area aren't you? Do you think it will hurt or help you?

But I can tell you that anything rail roads do will likely have a minimal effect on most truckers. There is a shortage of drivers right now and some of the larger trucking companies actually load truck trailers on train flatbeds for transport. A trucker still has to take them from the rail yard to their final destination, though. So your analysis is probably right. Truckers might lose some long haul loads, but new short haul posititons will be created. But the impact will likely be so small that no trucker is going to lose any sleep over it. BTW, yes, I am from the Dayton area.

What truckers have to worry about right now are the rising fuel costs and their effect on the economy as a whole. It just might happen very quickly that if things continue to worsen we will see a surplus of truckers as well as companies downsizing their fleets. Something most successful trucking companies have never experienced because of continued growth of the economy since trucks became a reality.

I think you are being truthful to yourself, as hard as it is. However, I have hope. Did you see this thread in GD? http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3266115

It is regarding vehicles fueled by electricity and then the replies provide additional hope for alternative energy.

I don’t disagree with becoming as frugal as possible, but there is hope. I am of the suspicion that there is a method to the current madness, and it is to concentrate the wealth, the middle class has been making life too difficult for the top percenters.