Oh heck, it just seems like a good time to comment. Let's start with and let us not forget the economy for us low culture rabble has been bad for several years. Of course it has only been a recent trend to validate that reality after the fact (note the reference to 2005 in the article), and now long after we have lived with it for years, some sources need to remind us we will be further ground into the dirt as if it is new news.

Then, as we incrementally creep into a potential total economic collapse, I challange a blogger - any blogger to enlighten me as to what America will look like in a year from now. I know it is hard. We Americans of course, can only see one week in advance.

And while I am thinking of it, are we so inept, that we assume the economy can turn around in a couple days or so? Any one remember the 1970s? Most likely not!

And finally, I remember in 1983 bringing up the forbidden subject that a whole culture locked into natural gas and assuming it would always be a cheap energy source was perhaps...a mistake. I was told then I was a fool. Jump ahead to today. I rest my case your honor.

So, please allow me one last comment before I must go back to work at one of my two under-paid, lucky-to-have-a-job-at-all jobs, "We are all screwed times 10!"

Someone please intervene and tell me I am so very wrong for wondering if we are getting excatly what we deserve - an economy that is an incemental work in progress catastophe. Someone scold me and tell me I am crazy - please.

Bob Keith
cooldadiomedia.com

I get a kick of how i'm being forced to help out low income families with low-income assistance fee. thats shows up on my alliant bill now.I'm all for helping people in need but with gasoline, food, and utilities i'm getting pretty needy myself.looks like alliant is just making sure they get paid.

Those poor power and light companies, they really are underpaid. I feel sorry for them and love giving my money to a good cause.....Not

I feel for the retired and elderly that are on a fixed/retirement income and are getting reaped by Alliant and others...jmo

ndburdick,

Don't worry about Bush. He is not really in charge of the economy. Your comments should be directed at Ben Bernacke who for some reason doesn't see the writing on the wall. I really wish someone would force him to resign. He should be limiting the money supply to strengthen the dollar right now. Everytime he says something to the press, I want to say "No S**t! You are about 3 months behind there Bucko!"

Oh, well ... I predict another winter of wearing at least two sets of clothing in my apartment, wrapping up in blankets even when not in bed, and retiring early for the night to stay warm. Not a bad price to pay to keep that heat bill down.

Thank goodness for my apartment with heat included in the rent.

Stagflation it is! Bush will only begin to think we're in a recession when HE stops making money. (Something that I doubt is going to happen very soon). We should not be relying on the President to tell us what kind of shape the economy is in and especially not expect him to do anything to fix it. (He won't).

A recession is 2 consecutive quarters of negative growth in GDP - which we have yet to have one negative quarter in this cycle. Recessions are a normal part of the business cycle.
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See: http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national...
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The economy is slow, no question, and prices are rising. I'd be more concerned about Stagflation - remember those happy times in the 1970's?

Heating bills may signal inflation, but aren't a product of a recession. They may even cause a recession (with other factors), but they aren't a sign of recession.

And just think, Bush says we are not in a recession. What exactly is his definition of a recession?

Give us a break!

SHOCKING!