what, did 9/11 happen again? This is the funniest article I read all week. This is satire, right?

Your idea about supporting local businesses is noble and wise. Hopefully your readers will take your advise.

Your observation about stimulating the economy however is puzzling. I have been mulling over this subject for several weeks now and can’t seem to come up with an answer. Why does the economy need stimulated? What is wrong with it slowing down? Isn’t what is happening now just a natural correction by a system that is out of balance? Why the panic? The “market” is a beautiful complex entity that always corrects itself. Yes, the correction can be brutal and uncompromising (Bear Stearns) but as my father often said “If you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen”.

AMEN!!!!!

If you mean random acts of paying your utilities, morgage, health care and putting food on the table then excellent idea. You want a better idea? How about CEOs pulling in millions of dollars a year randomly pass out hundred bills to every employee on the way out the door this afternoon and we will go spend them.

Amen. Let’s help out the small business owners. I know a great little place for Saturday morning breakfast I think I’ll go with my husband. And I passed a wonderful little Tulsa coffee shop that’s been there for years and used to be the only place to go. I felt a bit nostalgic and guilty for stopping at the big chains all the time just because they are everywhere and convenient. Thanks for reminding us how to be a better part of our community.

Sure, when the government gets serious about lowering commodity prices (oil, corn, wheat, copper, etc) by paying attention to the dollar and not lowering interest rates to serve big banks, I’ll have more money to spend on the economy.

But when the government panders to big banks at the expense of the consumer, then the consumer (that’s me) hunkers down and saves. I see no reason to spend when I have to prepare for even higher prices in the future.

hundred >dollar< bills …edit

I can understand everything that you are saying. But I fail to understand how it is going to make a dent in the current crisis. The crisis is that here in USA, we spend too much beyond our means. We need to find ways to make people productive and not part of the consumer chain. 3/4 of American economy is consumer spending. This is ridiculous. Me and you spending more is not going to solve the problem. The problem is people not money. This is a hopeless situation. beleive me, nothing will happen and nothing will work. The world has changed. This is information world. High school level education is going to take us nowhere. Earlier we were inviting smart people from across the globe. Now we are inviting mediocres through H1B Visa. The economy is in shambles. The problem is way bigger than people want to talk about. There is nothing in the economy which can pull us back from here. If you think that this is recession, then beleive me this is not. This is actually the lifestyle people afford in this global economy. We need to know where we stand. Gone are the days when we owned more of the world than the world owns us. So now we are paying the world and on top of that we have close to 100 Billion going out of US as remittance back from the immigrants. They dont want to invest here in US. why? They understand the world more than american understand the world. The only thing we have right now is that our currency is valued more than of the developing world. If you think of riches, think of Euro and Pound. The currencies are worth something and hence the country and the people. Here in US we have a whole bunch of 200 million mediocres trying to live European lifestyle. This was not possible. And we have seen that.. tarunshri@gmail.com

If we spend this money it will just circulate back in the economy (if it is not stashed away by some big executives). How will this help the economy?

I think “not buying” might be a more persuasive ends to a means. It might hit those who should be concerned with this country’s well-being right in their soft spot… their pocket.

Are you serious? We need real answers. Everyone was told to spend money after 911. It is patriotic afterall! Go shopping! Please…enough with the spending. This country needs real leadership, and an immediate answer to growing energy crisis. Going to Walmart just doesn’t do it.

What a stupid article.

You forgot to mention that through the generosity of our pigish consumption we kindly raise the standard of living in countries like China and India who get all our $ for their hard work in manufacturing the crap we buy!

What a bunch of socialist garbage.

You need to read George Orwell’s “Coming up for Air”. There is a musing in it about how the main character’s father, a feed dealer, was driven out of business by a larger operator coming in. I’m not saying it is good or it is bad, I’m just saying that it has been going on for a long time and this is just the latest twist.

Why should we buy just to buy? Consumers shouldn’t be driving the economy businesses should. Have businesses invest in more equipment, real estate and our economy instead of sending their billions overseas. That is the only way we are going to rev up the economy. Most Americans are bankrupt. They own houses (if you have a mortgage you are just renting)we can’t afford. We buy cars we can’t afford and buy more then we need. That is why storage spaces are part of the American monthly expense.
It is time that the corporations step up to the plate and spend some of their profits here to help the economy.

This is a ridiculus idea! Spending way beyond our means is what got the country into trouble. We can’t just keep borrowing and spending. I don’t like being called a consumer because it seems like it means all we do is buy, eat, poop and make babies. We need to SAVE!

Yes! Please get the word out to spend money in the local community and support the little guy. We feel very strongly about this issue here in Tacoma, WA. Also, make sure you can walk or take public transportation to your destination and save money on gas!

I just want to be a sheep. Baaa.

———–
Like, if any of you could purchase a couple million American-made cars this weekend, could you please do so? You’d have the thanks of a grateful nation, that’s for sure.
————
So we can buy a couple of hundred billion dollars worth gasoline from middle east during the next ten years? Thanks, but NO, Thanks. I would rather work and pass out some cash randomly to my neighbours.

How about we commit a random act of “saving”? A negative savings rate and uncontrolled impulsive spending on crap is what got us here.

I’m trying to understand the spirit
of your commentary. I think you’re
for the inefficient little guy, (business
owner), and against the efficient big
guy with the economies of scale.

What about the really little guy? That is,
an employee for one of the local businesses. Yesterday,I saw a young woman filling out an electronic job application form at a Walmart Neighborhood store that just opened up.

Retail stores are labor intensive, and
there’s always a struggle for a balance
between the number of employees, and
what businesses need to compensate them
so that they don’t walk. Might efficiency have the winning formula in this case?

Erich

Bing! You won’t buy $40 socks??? Man, we all looked up to you, hoping that we too someday could afford to purchase our undergarments from somewhere other than Walmart. Say it ain’t so!

It is hard to get out and do some “random acts of spending” when fuel costs are so high. We are all working to keep fuel in our cars, we still have to drive to work to make the money they are wanting us to spend. There is not much mentioned in this presidential campaign about oil prices, or even what is planned about it, that should be the number 2 priority, the number one should be getting our soldiers out if IRAQ and Afghanistan, not about race or religious beliefs.

Get stuffed Bing. This is exactly the kind of short term thinking that has got the world in the state it is today. Or, perhaps you were joking?

In that case, good one. Now I’m off the bank to buy some GIC so I don’t loose any more money thanks t o the stupid US govnt and policy of consumption.

I always use a local merchant if at all possible, though this is becoming harder to do,

Can’t agree with your suggestion that we go out and spend some money this weekend just for the sake of spending some money. Such behavior will not do anything to assuage the larger problems with our economy. Indeed, consumerism is one of the biggest problems we have. We don’t have a problem buying things, it’s just that the things we buy are made somewhere else. No, Americans need to save and invest in America. It’ll take time to turn the economy around, but increasing investment is the best tong-term solution.

Besides, I don’t need a nw pair of socks.

Good God! Okay! Don’t spend! Don’t use gas! Don’t buy cars! Save your money! Stay at home! I’m going out this weekend, seeing a movie and having some popcorn. That should pump some life into this economy! Sometimes I worry about some of you. You think business is a serious occupation?

Bing – Great idea going to the movies. I think my wife, kids, and I will join you. You’re buying, right?

Bing,

If you are going to spend, make sure and look carefully at where the stuff you buy is manufactured. If you just buy more “Made in China” crap, then you’ll just be stimulating the Chinese economy and enriching Walmart with another sliver of profit. Buy American! That simple rule would do more to help balance our massive trade deficits and stimulate the US economy more than anything else we can do collectively.

Meanwhile, you enjoy your movie and popcorn. You deserve it. Take your family while you’re at it. They deserve the time with you.

Stanley, you boggle my mind. Hasn’t the BUSH ADMINISTRATION spent enough for everybody in the country for the next two GENERATIONS already?

The beat goes on and the beat goes on and on and on.

Must we quickly spend our money before it becomes worthless?

Hmmmmm——????.

On my way. Will actually spend in multiple communities this weekend and will try to give some money to my local golf course during spring break. Now can I get my refund check?

There’s a lot of tightwads who post on here. Everyone needs to chill out and have some fun. Damn.

Every January our President gives the State of The Union Message. He talks about Our forward planning and proposed budget.

In our lifetime, we may see the “Estate Of The Union Message”. And proposed disolution of rights in our American Heritage.

Looking at legal language, one will see that rights can be bought or sold with consideration–money or other valued property.

Spend with your left brain, save your right brain spending for better times.

In our CAPITALISTIC world, net worth is the measurement of our rights, and the extensions of them.

Actually, I do need to go out shopping this weekend for new clothes. Not as in “I only have 20 pairs of pants, I need more!” shopping. I got a new job (yay!) and have very few “professional” clothes. This job is very important, because it has dental insurance….so now I don’t have to pay for a root canal 100% out of pocket.

Actually, if I go “buy” a root canal, and I go to a small family based dentist office, does it count as “Supporting the little guy” ??

Say it aint so Bing! Don’t tell me you subscribe to the G.W. Bush policy on how to fix our nation. Spend, spend, spend! For example, $600 dollars isn’t even a plausible short term fix, it is a sad solution causing more widespread destitution. The solution requires a more long term approach which involves getting our middle class back which has finally collapsed under the weight of outsourcing and cut backs. If only the politicians could understand that $600 dollars isn’t a fix, it in fact is about the worst thing you can do. Bring jobs back to America so those people who have lost their jobs and then their homes as a result can get money in their pockets to spend. If you give a person a job, the amount of money they will be able to spend is a far greater return on investment than a quick $600. Besides I am pretty sure most of your readers have no money to spend between gas and the collapsing weight of the economy, but you enjoy your movie Mr. Bing, maybe if we are lucky, we will even be treated to a Bing review on Monday.

Can’t go to the movies, the tickets are too high and so is the gas to get to the theater. The popcorn is way overpriced and the “butter” they use on top of it causes cancer. I’m staying home and sitting on my sofa with all the lights off.

Sure, Bing. I think this weekend, I’ll empty by dollar-denominated savings account and buy some Euros. They seem to be doing better than my 401(k) anyway.

Spending money to stimulate the economy used to work like a pinball machine, bing , bong wazoom as it bounces around the country entering and leaving everyones pockets. Not Today all the feds money takes is one bounce and BEJING where it stays.
The US is screwed and there is nothing anybody can do about it, we are globalized, get ready to earn Chinese wages.

I just read that 500 factory workers are being laid off in Ohio and 1200 sales reps from another company no longer have a job as of Monday. The company I work for is a weekly joke in most business magazines as they are financially close to bankruptcy one week and doing “okay the next”. This of course would explain the significant pay reduction last month and the layoffs the month before.

My point….spend what money this weekend? Some of us don’t have any……..

Random acts of spending, you say? Whoo-hoo I’m ready to help! I’m going to hit the one day sale at Macy’s, buy a $4 coffee from Starbucks then go to Disney World in two weeks. Thank goodness I can afford to pay for it! Hope someone is grateful out there!

“Throwing money at the problem is what Americans do best,” said my (white) American friend. It’s very patriotic. You won’t find that anywhere in the world. People are so stingy, they never think about the collective economy. And spending money is what Americans do best, it’s better than any state imposed economic stimulus.

The saddest thing here is that none of you are entirely correct. The problem isn’t buying imported goods, the solution isn’t necessarily spending/ buying American, it is that our American-Made industries aren’t exporting enough. Paint and plastic models are made in Illinois, cars in Detroit, but the rest of the world doesn’t need this stuff. We need a way to integrate with rising ecomonies and all go up together. Meanwhile, I just bought a hot rod, which uses lots of gas and will need many American made parts to go back together. and eventually a fresh coat of American paint sprayed by an American, in an American bodyshop.

Gawd I so hope you are kidding!

We are 9 trillion in debt due to spend now, save later mentality. SS broke. Medicare broke. Trade deficit 800 billion/yr. Credit gone, home wealth gone, pain is coming and the we can’t escape it. Called “economic cycle” (or “return to normality”)

American’s used to be thrifty, it’s what made us great! I have no flat screens and proud of it. Have over 6 figures set aside for my 1yr old and 3 yr old in 529’s. Have 20% ready for a down payment when house values get back to historical norm (after another 20% drop).

Here’s a thought… SAVE …and invest in the market in about 6mo’s (you know…BUY LOW and sell high). It’s what I plan to do and it’s worked well so far.

Sure, Bing. I think this weekend, I’ll empty by dollar-denominated savings account and buy some Euros. They seem to be doing better than my 401(k) anyway.

Posted By Ivan, Washington, DC
I can remember when people in the the US laughed at the euro @ .98
I told everybody back then that they were in for a surprise, nobody listened.

The problem is the US has never had to pay interest on it’s deficit for over 60 years, that is now changing.

When you borrow money today they want to be paid in Euros not greenbacks, so you cannot just keep running the presses like the old days to pay off your debt.

There is too much US money out
there and not enough US money within the country. A sure recipe for disaster.

When the Foreigners lose confidence in the green back it will come home like a sunami, Hyper Inflation will make it like a mexican peso.

The FED no longer releases data on the amount of money issued or printed. WHY???

Foreigners are buying up US assets as fast as they can to cushion the advent of Hyper inflation. They want TANGIBLE assets not a worthless greenback.

If I’m wrong then say so don’t be shy

Just a couple of comments.

1. There is no problem so big that you can’t throw money at it.

2. “I mean, it’s quite clear that putting your money in the bank isn’t as safe as we once thought it was.” — Nobody has ever lost a single dollar due to a failed financial firm by keeping money in a bank or investment account while following the FDIC and SIPC guidelines. Lost money on their investments? Sure. Lost money because their broker went bankrupt? Never. And don’t give me that Bear Stearns crap, that was panic-driven and had no basis in reality.

What would the “Financial Crisis” be like today if the American people had been ushered into “Social Security Privitization? Hmmmm?????

What would the “Financial Crisis” be like today if the American people had been ushered into “Social Security Privitization? Hmmmm?????

Posted By Bob Shelby
A nightmare that would make you and everyone else permanent bedwetters

I would love Social Security Privitization seeing how I don’t count on seeing a cent of it when I retire.

Social Security is a ponzi scheme which is fast approaching its day of reckoning with increased taxes and reduced benefits.

Delete old calendar requests with large files attached to them. If that doesn’t work just create another *.pst file.

Like, if any of you could purchase a couple million American-made cars this weekend, could you please do so? You’d have the thanks of a grateful nation, that’s for sure.

Sorry Bing but American made stuff is out of style. I’m waiting for a chinese made Cherry that gives 50 mpg and costs just over 10 grand
My gas guzzler dodge was a fine truck, but the world is changing and buying American vehicles is just not in tune with the new globalization trend. Driving by stalled and out of gas SUV’s and Hummers is the new trend, wave as you go by.

American industry and financial commerce is in ZOMBIE MODE, you know walking dead that don’t better than to lie down and cover themselves with dirt.

humphrmi: “Lost money because their broker went bankrupt? Never. And don’t give me that Bear Stearns crap, that was panic-driven and has no basis in reality.”

Panic is the new reality.

Um, here’s a concept. Have a SUV to drive thru snow when needed AND a fuel efficient car to drive to work and errands. Shop at wally world for your shampoo and antacids and Bloomie’s for your hotpants. Freedom of choice peeps. Anything wrong with that? I’ve worked for everything I have (American made and otherwise), a VAST majority of it is paid for and if I feel like being stingy with my funds, splurging, or giving it to charity or tithing, I will. To he** with anyone who tells me how to manage my $, where to shop, etc. I make the best decisions for my situation. Not the banks, not the government, not the herd of the public. Not even you Bing, even though I love ya.

Bing, you certainly know how to push buttons dahling.

Wait a minute, you did say you didn’t care where I shop…ok, you are still on my good side 150% then…

this is the hardware store where they have the high quality innexpensive locks….

http://www.jmbhardware.com

my friend is going to break his up over the course of a year and spend it $1.64 a day. Sad…yet funny.

oops…forgot the link!!

http://buck64aday.blogspot.com

“Like, if any of you could purchase a couple million American-made cars this weekend, could you please do so? You’d have the thanks of a grateful nation, that’s for sure.” That a very good point.. But hey American cars sucks you know that How about Japan? We have money remember???