hi Patty and Bop... only popping in while i had some lunch lol... my take on it is that the economy is like a beating heart.... cash is the 'blood' ... there is a pump, for decades it has been the military industrial market... what the military invents is 'released' to the community in an 'aftermarket' fashion.. less bells and whistles on the item so the public can actually afford it (this is not intended to strike a debate)

you, the consumer, have been 'cycling' the 'blood' back into the system, keeping it healthy.. you have taken risks that there is a safety net for you... for years now we have heard that we cannot rely soley upon our social security finances to support us when our own time comes.. enter the children....

we have saddled them with debt, not unlike our own tho, and the system still functions the same... an increased population will increase cash flow and the dollar value reflects the rise and fall.....

i have heard of many who like to retire to an out of country economy, one with a good trade value on the American dollar... considering that myself...

also, there is flux and flow.. i have heard that this year will be tough, but next year will be better.. things will stabilize.. hang in there

you can always begin a small savings, dont fear that it isnt enough, its something...

take care of the essentials.. food, shelter, beer (just kidding) take care of health... its really all we have