How bad do you think the economy and energy crisis really is (U.S.)?

Question

Do you think things are worse or better than what is disseminated to the public? Unemployment rate jumped by half a percent in a month's time and oil prices continue to spike, social security is going to be a real problem, and currently drilled domestic oil will be dry in under five years time.

On the other hand, the U.S.'s true unemployment rate has always been substantially larger than it reports.

Answer 1

Stock up on barter goods and self protection . That how bad i think it is going to get .

Answer 2

All I know is that, in spite of the fact that I am gainfully employed, the increasing amount of dollars that I shell out for gas are real, and the increase in my salary is not keeping pace with it.

I live 6 miles from work.  Recently, I purchased a commuting bicycle.  I think the energy crisis will get bad enough that I can no longer afford to drive to work daily, so I'm starting early on finding other ways to work.

Answer 3

This is beginning to remind me of the 70s - without having to wait in line for gas.  Even if it really isn't that bad, the high price for gas is forcing lots of us to make choices between filling the tank and eating out, paying bills, etc.  As we all feel like the economy is bad, we stop buying which makes the overall economy worse.

As for energy, I think we have lots of it we just never planned well.  We all but stopped solar in the 80's, have not built a nuclear plant in decades and can't even put up a wind turbines in one of the most progressives states in the US.  

And don't we have oil that we aren't drilling?  I want to protect nature but can't we drill and do that too?

lol - I rarely post politics here.  I am not sure what got into me this morning, Maybe I have not had enough coffee ;)

But I do think the economy will get worse mostly because most people think it will.

Answer 4

I think it is worse than reported.  Usually us little people know how bad it is before it is ever reported in the news...we live it.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/06/markets/...

I also agree with Mogollon Dude

Answer 5

I really don't believe we've seen the worst yet.  But, I think the media would have us believe that the economy isn't as bad as it is.  We will be at rock bottom when you don't make in a day what it costs to fill your tank.