Am I gleeful that the economy is collapsing? Hell no, color me terrified.

I'm a 1%-er, I'm on the bottom rung of the ladder, I'm a paycheck away from the streets, if the economy collapses, I'd probably die, I need meds, and if the system breaks down for only a week, I'd probably perish due to being unable to get my meds. Then there is the problem of rent, gas, food, etc., so yes, I am worried about it.

My parents grew up during the great depression, and I worry about it all the time, but too much worry can affect your health too. To me, this bad economic news plays perfectly into the hands of the rich and powerful, they want us to be terrified all the time, terrified of terrorists, and terrified of the future of our economy.

They want us to panic, they want the economy to fail, although there are plenty here who will ridicule we doomsayers for doomsaying. 'Why would they actually WANT the economy to fail', you ask....just think about it.

Yesterday I saw talking heads discussing which candidate for president will benefit the most from the awful economic news, and the concensus seemed to be that it would benefit Obama the most, but I don't see how. I guess people figure the greedy republicans brought this all about, and that only Obama can help us, but I don't see how, and it's too late anyway.

interesting

It just gets old.

instead of who is most like them.

McCain wanted to make it about who instead of why.

We, too, are on the bottom rung of the ladder. I also need medication to live. We are paying on a 30 year fixed rate mortgage, the only debt we have except for $200 for something we ordered online this week and could not pay cash for. Our vehicles are paid for and maintained. We have insurance through my husband's work, but when he retires, I don't think we'll be able to afford to maintain it.

We have some bonds, vested retirement plans (which we can do nothing with but move dollars around between accounts or add to), some savings in a savings account, and a checking account. Not much, but we could get through a few months if things were bad in normal times. But these aren't normal times.

I feel like screaming. I'm scared too. There is not a whole lot more we "bottom-rungers" can do, especially if we have done our level best to be financially responsible. I don't see how pulling my money out of the bank will do anything more than exacerbate the problems since if there were millions doing the same thing, disaster is the only outcome. I really don't see what more we can be doing. We are thrifty people who pay our bills, on time. But then, I may be naive.

and I'm in a similar situation as you -- one paycheck away from the streets, with a child.

What I keep wondering is, why would anyone WANT to be president with this now evident crumbling? It was one thing when it was impending, but now it's HERE. Certainly the right decisions (Obama/Biden) can help recovery and healing, but the dam has burst and it seems we're in for the worst no matter what. I guess it depends upon just HOW bad people perceive our situation: for the undecideds, if they see hope in the future, they'll vote Obama; shit, either way the undecideds should vote Obama. LOL.

He'll keep his base regardless, and the rich undecideds.

I don't know. I'm having a hard time being excited about an Obama presidency as it is going to be overshadowed by Herculean challenges. In a way, I'd like to see the Republicans drown in that friggin bathtub they've created on Wall Street and elsewhere, but I know they'll never get us out of it, whereas Obama will eventually.

That's where I'll keep my focus: the future and how he's the one who can turn it around for our kids. I just have a lot of compassion for him and what he's entering into -- it's much more dire than "politics as usual."

I hope we start to see a shift in the politics as usual to reflect that. I mean REALLY shift and start calling people out as criminals in no uncertain terms. Come on Dems (Conyers, Pelosi), DO YOUR JOB!!!!