subby1

Prior to my temporary lay-off, it was $100 for each of my two daughters....which was still a stretch (playing catch up takes quite a while). But I would be willing to bet that in the end, we ALL end up spending more than we had intended. oh...btw, I STILL managed to reach my goal. The bills...I'll worry with after Jan 1st.

That's true! Here it is, almost Christmas time, and I notice so many negative event threads about the economy, shrinking middle class, etc. It's not anyone's personal fault, but rather, a reflection of where we all are right now. Seems indicative that most of us are struggling, and are under a lot of stress. Proof in the pudding, my friend!!

Seriously?? I'm not trying to be contriving here. I spent years blogging about it before I ever actually began one for myself. All I can say is that it was an eye opener for me. You're out there, without a net, taking the plunge, and all you have to rely on is your knowledge of your field. I thought that would be enough 4 years ago. I have learned since then, that there's a LOT more involved in just YOU being good at what YOU do. A whole lot more. This thread is for one purpose and one purpose only- to hear stories about small business owners, and what they had to overcome to achieve their

That, it is!! Sorry for my diatribe on "acting like grown-ups", but Geez, Lueeze! Ya know? Sometimes, I feel like I'm cleaning the turds out of my cat's litter box when I read some posts that just "loose it" in their emotions. I LOVE reading this stuff....just wish people could take it with a grain of salt, then fall back on their intelligence, while their passion/emotion takes a back seat.

I'm just speechless in this one!!! :clapping: Until we get the "middle class" back again, we have no prayer of progress, much less, digging our way out of this hole we are in. I tend to think of the rich and prosperous as the "engine" while the working middle class is the transmission. See how far a car will go without a transmission bolted to the engine.

While I may not always agree with you, I personally think your comments are very thought-inspiring. I'm not one who claims to know it all, and hope to God, I'll never be. I especially like the part about Rush being an ENTERTAINER, first and foremost. This is a fact. Moreover, he's so good at it, that his followers have shut their own personal thinking processes down to the point that they are merely sheep. Ya know what I'd like to read more of??? NEW ideas!! Thinking outside the box....reading right-leaning posts that don't have to wind up in anarchy, etc. Left winged posts who would rally

Well hell....I really wanted to get into this debate, but with the childish bullcheeze name calling, why bother? I still read the back and forth's, but it's gotten to a point to where if someone disagrees with you, you become subject to the personal horse-crap name calling of moron, liar, idiot, etc. This usually comes from the popular right-winged pcommers. As a former right-winger myself, I was always taught that no matter how far "out" someone may seem to be in their concepts and ideology, it was OUR job to retort with common sense, and NEVER stoop to such pubescent measures of name calling

There is. Just because it's a state law doesn't mean it can't be changed.

No need to read the entire thread...just based on the title, I would have to say, "can you blame them?" I'd probably want my money back too. Our nation's debt is a travesty, and no one in his/her right mind should be defending us on how inept our government is in paying its own bills.

Good points. Where does it end? And who's to say what is what?

Next step, the PORK BARRELS should be burned to the ground!! Eliminate lobbys, for that matter. At least for now....or better yet, as they so slickly put it, make it a temporary thing. Ha!! Then keep those GOOD laws in tact, instead of "federal income tax would be temporary", and the endless supplies of lies regarding this is only a "temp" thing.

Unfortunately, many businesses will have to start over again...lay everyone off, declare bankruptcy on their conglomerates, then re-assess how they can start a new company, based on the lower wages that people are willing to work for..BUT, at least that's a start. Any professional should know that he/she will NOT be making what they made in the past, for some time to come. So, IMO, it's on the shoulders of these professionals to break the ice, and get back to work, albeit a lower wage. We have to start somewhere. We have to move beyond denial of what's happening. We have to WORK!! Screw the wa

You are right, and I saw and warned about this since the bottom fell. But, I seriously doubt most folks were aware of the underpinnings preceding the actual fall. My 4 years is my attempt to nail just when the axe fell, whether others saw it coming or not. I know you know what I mean, but thought I would keep it simple so people would know that I meant, when the first of the engineers got laid off, there was a domino effect about to occur that few people would be able to grasp, because of its magnitude.....and IT WAS a BIG ONE!! I survived the late 80's, no problem, although many were laid off

Thanks for the comment (good post!) I do have the bold statements down to a fine art. This is something that needs to be in place for public safety. I've jumped those hurdles all my life, and I am very adept at providing for the public safety in all of my plans I design. I'm referring to a different animal...in this particular stance, building an outdoor equipment repair company. As you stated, the work must be done right, and people need to know that they are in GOOD HANDS with the repairmen. Only that is the EASY part.....just getting the damned thing off the ground is where they really stic

I used to think that way, and for the most part, I agree with what you're saying. The only part I would take issue with is....well, first off- let's see what's happened over the past 4 years. The economy went to hell in a hand basket. This was a problem that could have been dealt with in many different ways. First and foremost, it could have been offset by allowing new entrepreneurs enter into business with some sort of "freedom from the government" at least until they got things up and running. I mean, if the government is hell bent on "entitlements", don't you think the best way to handle th

If that was your final post, it would be enough for me to know why I wub you so much!! You bring up a very valid fact- if people don't have money (probably 50% of the people I know do NOT) then there is no infusion into the economy. Hell, if the government would just get off my back long enough, and spare me the frikkin red tape, I could be booming in business right now, and putting money back into the economy. I've had a good 4 years to see what small business is up against, and it's not the customers....it's the bureaucratic red tape. Simple as that. If the economy were in GOOD conditi

I don't see the need for the mean-spirit in some of the posts. My room mate (who happens to also be my childhood best friend of almost 40 years) were discussing the min. wage thing last night. We are complete opposite sides of the spectrum on the issue. We hashed it back and forth, and amicably agreed to disagree. We never got personal one single time. Afterwards, we went upstairs, watched a movie and had a bite to eat, enjoying the rest of the evening. I guess I'm just lamenting what a good debate used to be. I also understand that when you're debating online, it's nothing like face to fa

I would agree....there's no need for the wording like that, however, she did make a point that caught my eye too. I chose to reply on my own. "Idiotoc, moronic, etc." just aint my cup of tea in a debate. In fact, it dilutes the point that someone is trying to make.

This sounds like the "crystal ball" thing again. Sorry, but I know of too many people in my position who busted their asses in school to become engineers...the people who build everything around you, that you see. This type of work is as honorable as other types of productive work. While I was studying hard, and paying my own school dues out of my pocket, do you think it would have occurred to anyone on the planet that their field would be in shambles within a 30 year span?? Then you have career drug dealers, who are still raking in the money, since their market is practically insured for life

I would certainly agree with this one. Just because look's aint everything, it's still something we shojld try to maintain as much as possible for our S.O. Disinterest in doing so speaks a message to the partner, as well.

:clapping: :clapping: Sick 'em!!!

I'm like you, I guess. Our clients are our bread and butter, so in essence, THEY are OUR bosses. We are inclined to treat and talk to them as such. But knowing more than a few friends who work at Salons and Massage Parlors, I know they see their share of weird and wacky stuff. Never a dull moment, so I've been told by a few.

You're right...sorry, my mistake. I had Douglas County in my head from driving thru it everyday and trying to avoid collisions with the less than apt drivers there. Having said that, I would think that blowing off a shotgun in DEKALB would reap a huger whirlwind than Douglas County...???

Thanks folks. I believe it will. Since my full time job is still contingent on developers getting contracts signed so we KNOW we'll get paid for our work, I'm sinking all I can into my mower business. At least this way, if everything falls through on the engineering end, then I'll be set up to really kick my own business in the butt next year! And IF, the contract goes through, and I'm sitting sweet behind the desk, I'm still providing jobs for my mechanic and possibly a part time secretary. Aint that the American way??? I always thought it was. In any event, I'm confident I'll have the best s