I live near Akron, Ohio.  We were once considered the Rubber City Capital with Goodyear, Goodrich and Firestone.    We also had Hoover and many other large companies here.  People poured to Akron for good paying jobs.  These jobs (plus a lot of others) are now gone.  Summit County (where I live) has one of the highest forclosure rates in the US.  I know we are not alone here...and like you say frumpster, we have a lot of other problems going on at the same time.

I have hope that our nation will recover.  Although I don't know exactly what the solutions will be, I know this country has seen worse times than this and we were able to recover.  Americans (for the most part) are hard working and determined people.  Hopefully, our new President will lead us in the right direction and we will all work toward getting the US back on track.  I'm willing to do my part.....

To me, things are looking up already.  One of the most longstanding difficulties our nation has endured is prejudice and racism.  We as a nation have shown that we are ready to begin moving past that.  Countries around the world admire us for doing so.

Oh, please forgive me....your forum is entitled "Tough Times".  I didn't realize that you were singling out specific tough times.  The greatest and most longstanding tough time our nation has endured is racism, prejudice, and human injustice (since the beginning of our nation in fact).  My point is that these are tough times, yes, but there are things that are beginning to look positive and my hope is that this positive sentiment / beginning will carry over into all other areas. 

frumpster65 says ...

Thats all well and good mg....but I am talking about the 1.2 million job loss.....that has affected everyone across the board...

People still living in tent communities..that has affected everyone across the board...

Our soldiers wagin a war far away from thier homes and loved ones ..that has affected everyone across the board....

People who are being evicted from thier homes...that has affected everyone across the board...

Hard times does not have a color preference ......and yes while America has made great strides in the prejudice and racism arena....it

doesnt change the reality of all the overwhelming tasks ahead...

Its great to keep a positive attitude.....but for some right now ....they are having a really tough time seeing any light at the end of the tunnel.

I pray for them and myself.....

America needs our prayers....

Hey, Im in NW Georgia...........big Shaw area. I think I heard this is the carpet capital of the world.  Yup........lost of lost jobs between Shaw, Mohawk,  Beaulieu.  Maybe things will get better with jobs.  I dont see it happening overenight.........and THIS is the worse time of year to be unemployed <unless your a nurse>.  Hopefully by spring <wishing it was sooner> more jobs will be made available to people.  I hope the economy gets better.  I'm willing to give Obama a shot, maybe things will improve for everybody. 

dmazment............I have never ever wanted to be president.  In high school, I wanted to be a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader.  I sincerly hope the economy gets a boost soon.  Our area of the country is getting really bad as far as jobs go unless your in a certain profession.  Thousands rely on the carpet industry here and its been this way for decades,,,,,,,,,,at least gas prices are dropping a bit so I'm seeing more trucks on the road coming and going from the plants.

Eeeeek....hold the fire!  I'm not trying to argue with anybody or attack anyone.  I don't feel attacked.  It didn't seem that the forum was exclusively about the economy based on the first post.  All I'm trying to say is if we can begin making strides on an issue that has plagued our country consistently for hundreds of years, then I think we can be optimistic about resolving an economic crisis and the war which are things that occur occasionally in our country. 

Just trying to point out something positive and evoke optimism.  Just some thoughts from a glass-half-full kind of woman....that's all.  No discussion of race and no negating the gravity of the economic crisis / job loss.  I'm sorry if you might have misunderstood my direction with the post. 

I do not know what the big solutions are to our current state of affairs, but getting out and helping each other is a start. Staying positive and remembering gratitude helps. I just have never seen any benefits of hashing over how horrible something is. I prefer to do what I can and leave the end results up to God.

I know my parents lived during the depression and they made it to the other side, so God willing so will we. We live in the richest country in the World, and I think we sometimes forget what state people in Ethiopia are living in, just to name one country... We are spoiled here, and trust me I like my "things", but there is a lot I could do without.

I am truely not trying to be disrespectful because I do not know what other's financial situation's are, but our's is certainly different than it was a year or so ago, but we are making it and will, I just choose to have faith that God will provide for us, He may not give us everything we want, but he will take care of our needs.

God bless you all, and God bless America

This might be a big off topic.  I've been seeing bits more of stuff on the news regarding the energy sources they use in Europe.  I lived in England in the mid-late 80's..........it was so green and gorgous then but did have polluted areas, especially around steel mills and clay mines...........but even in those areas it didn't seem as dirty as parts of our country.  They have talked about France and the nuclear power they use and its suppose to be their main source because they dont have the natural resources we do here.  They also have done alot more with wind and solar...........dont know what and I dont want to look it up.  If/when we change from our current means of power to an alternative I'm seeing in my pea brain that there could be huge issues with the changeover..........Is a changeover possible?  If anybody has looked into this Id love to know.  Maybe if there is a change in our energy source the new sources might be able to add thousands of jobs. It will be a pain in the butt doing a change and will probably cause huge tough times.  What I overheard somebody say at work a few days ago is that the source of our energy problems could also be a huge boost as well, although it will take a long time. 

Today i went to lunch with my husband. We talked and laughed and enjoyed ourselves. I had a fortune cookie that said, well I left it at the resturant but it was something to the tune of... you will be of great help to someone today. I thought, well I am a nurse so it's not too far off base. Well on my way home I drove past the rescue mission and realized they had a grocery list of sorts on their billboard sign stating their needs. Well I knew they had been overwhelmned(sp?) by the community of people who needed food and shelter recently according to the news. So I went to the grocery store and spent half of my grocery budget and took it all to them. After that I really started to think about how much we have to be thankful for as a family. We don't have the finer luxurys in life, we don't even own our own home. But I have a job, aroof over my head and food to eat. I cried when I thought about how absolutly selfish we are. My family and I can be so picky when it come sto food and I just sat there and thought these people have nothing! They would be more than thrilled to eat chicken three days in a row! I had just whined about that earlier this week. As I sat there crying and now sit here crying about it again I feel so awfull knowing that I take for granted so many things that these people would give anything for. Imagine the humility of standing on the side of the road begging for food. I think it's time my family and I start to realize that we have got a lot to be thankful for. My husband got layed off this week, but because of my job we will still manage to get by. We wont be going out to lunch  or dinner or movies much anymore but it's a small luxury to give up. I am grateful for what we have, more so now than I think I ever have been. God Bless.

I know of a great ministry called Angel Food Ministries. It is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing food relief and contributing to benevolent outreaches in communities throughout the United States. They offer a hugh box of food for $30.00. It's approximately $42 to $78 in food you get for only $30.00. They have this in 35 states now. Our church does this and it's a great ministry. You can visit the their web site and see if it's available in your state or in a town near you. They also have different specials each month too. The web site is http://www.angelfoodministries.com/ . You can purchase boxes for yourself, or purchase them and donate them.

Nursejenny said:

My husband got layed off this week, but because of my job we will still manage to get by. We wont be going out to lunch  or dinner or movies much anymore but it's a small luxury to give up. I am grateful for what we have, more so now than I think I ever have been. God Bless.

True empathy.  Thanks for the blessing.  It's apparent that you realize how God has blessed you.  It never ceases to amaze me how He uses lemons to make lemonade.

angelfoodministries does a lot of good work in my neighborhood too. So many of our plants left the area in the last 5 years and the ones that didn't are laying people off, there will be a greater need for help. I am all for us coming together and working as a community to solve our problems. I think that it may be time to re-think our priorities, is cable with152 channels a necessity? does everyone in the house have to have a cell phone? can we plan our menus and defrost food, rather than picking up take-out?

I am not saying that this is all there is to it, just that a lot of us could plan better and spend less.  I read an article about a woman who started a food pantry through her church. It was really inspiring to hear how it touched not only those who received the food, but those who donated also.