[hope_full]

What would you say the odds are that this fellow is right? Because I'd be happier thinking he *is* right. I'm in the very unfun stage of "new information overload" and "massive tsunami-type paradigm shift" and these days (and nights) peaceful sleep eludes me. Yeesh.

http://finance.sympatico.msn.ca/savings ... id=7083127

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'B')y now you've heard the dire predictions. Oil trading at US$200 per barrel. Gasoline at US$7 per gallon. Galloping food inflation. And as long as we're talking "galloping", isn't that the four horsemen coming over the horizon? You'd think so, to see the way the press is covering recent economic predictions.

I've recently received e-mails from people who are worried about these scary predictions, and are wondering what they should do about them. Should they buy guns and canned food? Are home bomb shelters a good idea again? Okay, they didn't actually ask those questions. I made that up. But they were thinking those questions, I could just tell. I could feel the fear seeping right out of their e-mail.

If you share some of that sense of dread, be at peace. Life as you know it will continue. It's just that you won't be able to eat or drive. Kidding! I'm kidding. Really. Here's what you need to know about the recent economic predictions that are being cast in a catastrophic light by some of the news media:

[JJ]

it doesnt seem that you can compare Europe to the United States, as the article suggests "we will just adjust" accordingly. Are all those people on the outskirts of Houston, Chicago, Las Vegas, LA, etc. gonna just walk to work or ride a bike?

[patience]

I think he is way off base. Those who hang onto their gas guzzlers will see their value drop faster than California real estate. JJ is right. Those commuters in the outskirts areas are going to hurt bad.

It's a shame we can't winnow out this sort of misguided talk. We need real guidance for the masses, not pollyanna nonsense.

[Midessa]

I think he is right. Higher fuel prices will force some life style changes but doomsday will most likely be postponed yet again. We will adapt and overcome, don't panic.

[kpeavey]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Midessa', 'b')ut doomsday will most likely be postponed yet again

[Serial_Worrier]

I wonder why any SUV these days has trade-in value? Shouldn't they all be at $0 right now?

[aflurry]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kpeavey', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Midessa', 'b')ut doomsday will most likely be postponed yet again

[Midessa]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kpeavey', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Midessa', 'b')ut doomsday will most likely be postponed yet again

[Revi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('GASMON', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Serial_Worrier', 'I') wonder why any SUV these days has trade-in value? Shouldn't they all be at $0 right now?

[Serial_Worrier]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Midessa', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kpeavey', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Midessa', 'b')ut doomsday will most likely be postponed yet again

[Midessa]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Serial_Worrier', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Midessa', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kpeavey', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Midessa', 'b')ut doomsday will most likely be postponed yet again

[Twilight]

Too vague an article to be useful.

I will straight get to the point. If you are trapped in a long commute and a house that loses you money every payday, have debt or few savings and only a couple of days' food to hand, you are screwed. Forget the rest of the world for a moment, because you have your own personal apocalypse to deal with and it is your personal world that is ending.

The hype could be wrong, but you are still screwed.

With that out of the way, do something about it. An opinion piece on MSN of all places should not be a source of reassurance. It says nothing about you. I bet there will be a bunch of people reading that piece failing to pay off a five-digit credit card balance or with a mortgage rate about to reset, and some of them will be moved to think, gee maybe things aren't so bad after all. Do not let that be you.

[AgentR]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JJ', 'i')t doesnt seem that you can compare Europe to the United States, as the article suggests "we will just adjust" accordingly. Are all those people on the outskirts of Houston, Chicago, Las Vegas, LA, etc. gonna just walk to work or ride a bike?

[dbspl]

christ, the evidence is that the world is still here. as long as the undead continue to refrain from feasting on the living, the burden of evidence is carried by the apocalypticists.

what evidence do you have that the complicated and unpredictable interactions of politics and economy will yield your particular doomsday?


aflurry, you're my hero...

I realize that I'm a newbie, but I just don't see how you can make a more valid point than that! This is pure poetry.


db

[grampybone]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Midessa', 'I') think he is right. Higher fuel prices will force some life style changes but doomsday will most likely be postponed yet again. We will adapt and overcome, don't panic.

[muon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('hope_full', 'W')hat would you say the odds are that this fellow is right? Because I'd be happier thinking he *is* right. I'm in the very unfun stage of "new information overload" and "massive tsunami-type paradigm shift" and these days (and nights) peaceful sleep eludes me. Yeesh.

http://finance.sympatico.msn.ca/savings ... id=7083127