Chicago Heading for Massive Layoffs

Richard Daley, mayor of Chicago, has stated recently that many corporations that employ folks in his town are planning massive layoffs over the next few months. The city will also be making cuts. The corporations plan on laying off many more people over the next year.

"Each one tells me what they're laying off, and they're going to double that next year. We're talking huge numbers of permanent layoffs for people in the economy. It's going to have a huge effect on all businesses."

Combine that with articles of how cities are begging the government for some of that billions of dollars giveaway to billionaires to be used to help maintain city infrastructure, and I'd say that the U.S. is on a rather steep downward economic slide. Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Atlanta are some of the cities mentioned.

Add to this that smaller cities like Vallejo, California, are being forced to make cutbacks in police and firefighters because they no longer have the capital in their budget to pay them nor their pensions and we are looking at some serious financial breakdown here in the U.S.

Combine this with the big 3 U.S. automakers on the verge of collapse... Can you say: OUCH!

When you look at these things, even if you are relatively uneffected by the economic downturn (using the term "relatively" loosely), we are all witnessing the effects of the economic downturn and experiencing them as well.

In our walk around this little town, Shusli and I have talked with a few of the small businesses and they are all experiencing a downturn in business.

The economy depends on ordinary folks ability to spend money. If folks can no longer afford restaurants, restaurants go out of business, and then there is less capital in the system and more unemployment. Because of gas prices and less work, folks aren't buying cars, and the big 3 are going under which means more layoffs and more people unable to purchase things and more small businesses going under and more layoffs, etc.

Because the U.S. economy is based on credit, there is very little real assets backing the U.S. financial system. Money that was borrowed was backed with other forms of credit. This has created an economy that is based on what I've heard called "a mouse click." With the current $950,000,000,000 giveaway to bankers ("giveaway," because it is virtually unregulated) relatively little amounts of that money is making it into the hands of those that need it. Thus, the economy worsens while billionaires run off with our tax dollars. Tax dollars that could have been used for police, firfighters, infrastructure, creating real jobs, etc. The good news is the millionaires and billionaires who have created this mess we are in, will have plenty of money...our money...our tax dollars. They won't be worried about eating. But they also know that an economy like the one we are in and that IS going to get worse, will create a bunch of bitter pissed off hungry people. These people usually fight amongst themselves while the wealthy continue to eat and be happy on our tax dollars that our government GAVE them. But more people, even your average anti-intellectual person, is beginning to see what this government is actually doing. Thus, people will have reason to rise up.

Since the Posse Comitatus Act has been basically thrown out by King Dick and co-King George, they will use the military to protect the wealthy from those whom they just stole all of the money from...the U.S. poor non-elites, who, of course, far outnumber them. Most of the jobs that will be created in this economy will be jobs protecting these horrific criminals from their millions, if not BILLIONS of victims. Finding people who are loyal to such monsters will be harder and harder as more people will witness their families falling apart, their communities, their neighborhoods, their friends, etc. They'll be making money, but witnessing the effects the corporate elite have IMPOSED upon the populace. That should make for a relatively shaky foundation of protection for the folks that have created this mess that we are finding ourselves in.

The story of the "Lost Boys of the Sudan" has always intrigued me. All these young boys orphaned by war wandered the desert to find any help. They helped each other out (unlike "The Lord of the Flies"). Those who were good at finding food sought out food. Those who were good at finding shelter sought out shelter. Etc. We are going to need each other more than anything during this whole process. We are going to need to take care of each other. There will be a major culture shock as those who spent their lives believing and consuming will find there is no basis in such a system. We will have to restructure. We...here at what is "perceived" as the bottom. We will have to take care of each other and make a new world for ourselves.

Feh...We'll see what happens. I could be completely full of shit, for all I know.


P.S. One more thing. I just read that Iraq and the U.S. have signed an agreement to keep 150,000 U.S. troops in Iraq for the next three years. So, this war that has taken at least $3,000,000,000,000 out of the U.S. economy will continue in order to maintain the wealth of oil billionaires while Iraq yet suffers greatly and our friends and families will continue to suffer as well. But don't forget the good news: Millionaires and billionaires will still be doing mighty fine while you and your families learn the meaning of suffering because of them. How dare you not be born with a Silver Spoon in your mouth.

P.P.S. Let's not forget the war in Afghanistan, as well as the impending wars with Iran, Russia, and North Korea. Where is all that money gonna come from when many in the U.S. will be out of jobs and not paying taxes and all of our tax money has been handed over to billionaire bankers? More borrowing on more credit? Another mouse click?