State of the Union

[tones2SS]

This is all I'll say since I belong to a conservative forum and this is a car forum;
I can only take so many lies in one sitting.
I'm not too keen on those smirks neither.

[Shmoov69]

Bushes fault.......Hope and change....Bushes fault.....change and hope.....Bushes fault......healthcare "reform" and evil rich people........Bushes fault.......uhhhh........Bushes fault!!!! I have detected a common theme to him in the last 2 years!!


Anyway, I'm in commercial roofing and it hasn't been this bad since 1979-80... And I'm afraid that it will be worse this time, in the long run that is.

[SWAPMEETCRAZY]

And it's so bad in places now -we've not even noticed these gas prices fixin to kick us in the azz!!! Big hurt on the co. i work for!!! jim

[camcojb]

Originally Posted by SWAPMEETCRAZY

And it's so bad in places now -we've not even noticed these gas prices fixin to kick us in the azz!!! Big hurt on the co. i work for!!! jim

oh, I've noticed the gas prices. Gas here was $1.69/gallon just two years ago (Dec 08). It is now double that at $3.39/gallon. That costs me $2500 per month in increased fuel costs and in this economy I cannot recover any of it. All contracted work has actually been reduced to keep the contracts, so I end up working way harder for a lot less money.

Jody

[XcYZ]

2 years ago, we had a complete hiring freeze - no hiring under any circumstance (which directly effects me, I'm now on-call over 2,200 hours per year). We're hiring again to replace retirees and people leaving, so that gives me *some* hope that maybe things are at least trending for the better.

But really, I have zero confidence in our country's leadership.

[Fluid Power]

I guess my outlook is different. I probably am ahead of the curve as I own an industrial distribution and engineering firm. I deal directly with manufacturers. We do nothing in Automotive (thankfully). The bottom fell out for us 3rd quarter of 2008, probably a little early than most recognized. 2009 was a disaster and 2010 saw a huge increase for us. We finished the year up about 21% over 2009 which brought us up a tick over 2008. We have been WOT since 3rd quarter 2010 and so far this month. We deal with Whirlpool, PPG, GE, Emerson, Coca Cola and other big companies. Coke is doing a $280 million plant expansion in our back yard. Whirlpool added shifts and re-opened 2 lines. I had a meeting with the Emerson people yesterday and they claim to be headed for the best year ever in 2011. Kenworth just announced that they are adding 85-90 people at a plant we work with. Steel prices and other metals are way up due to demand. I think we see the bottom first and the light at the end of the tunnel first. Hopefully, you guys see the turn around soon.

Darren

[fesler]

Some good points but if you really want to solve some of these issues we have cut the government in 1/2 we don’t need that many people working for us. WE THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE not WE THE GOVERNMENT TELL THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO OR WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT BUY. It’s time for us to stand together and take back this country and stop all the nonsense spending and laws being created. Close the boarders and make all people come into America the same way and if you don’t like it get out. I live in AZ and the numbers coming across our desert daily are crazy.

It’s simple and will take a few years to do and get through but we and I mean all of us have got to start buying and building things in America. Try to only buy things from US companies and support your country. Buy CHEVY, DODGE or FORD stop buying the foreign cars. The American car companies are there now, the cars are built very well and will last for years. We bought 12 Chevy’s for projects last year to help support this country and will do so again this year. If you shop at Wal-Mart you are part of the problem because almost everything in that store is from overseas. If you want to support China then shop away at these places. You may spend a little more but at the end of the day you know you are helping out your fellow American and that means more to all of us.

We are feeling this economic crises just as much as anyone but we do what we can to spend our money with American companies and products. At the rate we are going we will not have our country much longer and if you don’t care then don’t do anything but if you do stand up and support your country and your military. FREEDOM is not FREE and buying American products keeps the money in America and that is what we need. If we stop buying stuff from other countries and work to make it ourselves like America used to do we will be back on top in no time but if we keep buying and relying on other countries we will fall to the ground and fall fast.