Gaia: Gaia Networking~Enhance your Community Experience - Network One: Start Here and Keep Coming Back! - Let's discuss the ECONOMY! How are you feeling, coping, changing?

Re: Let's discuss the ECONOMY! How are you feeling, coping, chang

http://ambersbug.gaia.com — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 06:12:40 GMT

Hello Gaia Networking Members!

I've discovered something in my own back yard (U.S.A. Oregon Eugene/Springfield) that looks like a great combination of utilizing the land, living in community, and providing privacy and autonomy for community members.

It is called Bethel Suburban EcoVillage and is exactly what my mother and I have been looking for in a living situation. Whether or not we will be able to afford a property in the area is another story... the homes I saw listed seemed to be small and priced a bit out of our range. We won't know until we call though, will we?!

I loved what you posted, Andrew, putting things into perspective a bit. I am still not over women washing their hair only once a month! Ick for those ladies with oily skin! At 22 cents an hour I'd be buying some shampoo at the end of the day! ~grin~

The YouTube you posted, Kathy, really helped show the potential of using the community sites to further our businesses! It also showed what doesn't work, which I felt was really good!

And thank you for showing us what giving up looks like, what saying yes to life looks like, and the choice we have between the two.

Smiles!
amber

Re: Let's discuss the ECONOMY! How are you feeling, coping, chang

http://kathysmith.gaia.com — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 02:20:06 GMT

Thanks for the forwards & writing to help on the change. It proves we can change for the better.

Here is a YouTube for those that want to have their own website where you canchange the economy by running your own business.

This artist has a film coming out that took 10 years to make but PBS has been promoting it for him and will 10X his income. it's very inspiring. STAND BY ME are Playing For Change around the world.

Join the movement http://playingforchange.com/

Re: Let's discuss the ECONOMY! How are you feeling, coping, chang

http://kathysmith.gaia.com — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:13:17 GMT

Oil prices have fallen by more than half from $147 a barrel

because of lower demand due to tough economic times

A 53-cent drop in gas prices over the last two weeks has set another record, and the publisher of a national survey predicted Sunday that prices will continue to decline -- but at a slower pace.

It is attributed the price reductions to crude prices and demand. This article on OPEC the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries is more dominant.

As far as the banking industry and auto industry or real estate or the job market, we just keep it all differentiated and take up each one individually and watch the changes and what is happening in those areas as well.

________________________

I’m in the process of researching a book related to the current economic scene and for various reasons. I feel an obligation to share with my friends what I’m finding. I knew when I started (as I think most of you do), that what we’re seeing in world economics right now is deliberately manufactured suppression. And I knew something about who is behind it and what they’re doing. Nevertheless I’ve several times had the experience as I research of following a lead and finding some new data.

The bad news isn’t being faked exactly—it’s being massively lied about, but conditions are not good. The suppressive persons have come a long way toward their suppressive ends.

There are people who see what’s happening and people who are speaking up. We have to keep spiritual too as that is senior to physical universe happenings and yes, we keep our material things going strong, but please read, pray, postulate too. Give yourself credit for who you are. You’re here. You’re a Spiritual Being.

So having said all that, this is my plea to you: Give yourself credit. Know how awesome you are. But keep pushing the envelope as far as you can. Many of us at this time are being asked to do more than we possibly can. That’s not an invalidation of what we’ve done, it’s just a necessity. We as a group need to do the impossible. That’s what it will take. But we’re good at that. As a group here let's be stronger and start uniting rather than counter intending each other.

So don’t be overwhelmed, just be motivated. The battle is on. Keep doing the awesome things you’re doing, and keep expanding your sphere. Do your yoga, your next spiritual awakening steps, read, start charging for your hobbies and art and other resources that are learned or God given talents as fast as you can. Support betterment groups that move toward positive survival games. You’re the one who knows your scene and knows what you can do. We just need to make miracles, that’s all.

Thanks for your questions, comments, solutions and someone can form a pod or join Keith's pod on Obama where economic solutions are discussed frequently. Let us know what you would like to help with or need help on to move to a slight gentle cause over the economy.

Re: Let's discuss the ECONOMY! How are you feeling, coping, chang

http://kathysmith.gaia.com — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:00:30 GMT

Is it possible to be happy?

One's attitude towards life make every possible difference in one's living. Sometimes it needs to be pointed out again–that life doesn't change so much as you. ~k

Re: Let's discuss the ECONOMY! How are you feeling, coping, chang

http://kathysmith.gaia.com — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:59:20 GMT

gina said 15 minutes ago:

I would like to pose this question to all of you. I could not find a way yet to post it in the question and answer segment of gaia. Seeing that the economy is significantly flattened except for the lower gas prices. Can anyone here tell me why the only thing that is “right” right now are the gas prices. Why all of a sudden did they drop significantly? Does that make any sense when the auto makers and the banks are going under, the only thing that is remaining a float are the lower gas prices. The more I think about it, the more, I think something is a miss. Please don't get me wrong, the lower gas prices are great, but why in one day, there was a significant drop? Can anyone explain this?

{mod put back in a sequence on this thread]

Re: Let's discuss the ECONOMY! How are you feeling, coping, chang

http://waterheart.gaia.com — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:43:34 GMT

Andrew your disco description is ....like you might have had that experience?... I find that a good book can transport me, good company is cherished, and as for peace and quiet... there is more than I can handle and I have been known to crank up the PA outside so it sounds like a band playing... no neighbours to complain ... haha. Know that you are welcome.................................. Amber, funny that you talked about doing a great job to validate your self worth... that's what happened here. I built the place as an art project for me; like live art, everything from the ground up, it was immense and days I wondered if I had it in me, other days were brilliant (usually when a stage was complete).. But to have done it gave me the confidence to do more. So I am still growing it... and this thread has made me think... now I have this place... a live classroom... you are firing me... thanks for the nudge, I am watching this economy and who knows... keep your head up and best wishes with your communal living.......................... Gina, yes once we give up the addiction of TV and game-boys etal, we can be in real life more efficiently... It takes a while to haul dead trees out of the forest cut them to length and then split them and then stack it... I use 4 or 5 cords every winter... Seasonal preparation is intense and we have 4 seasons... every year, I mean soon one can just be totally involved in living life... and TV is a distant memory.

Re: Let's discuss the ECONOMY! How are you feeling, coping, chang

http://ginadenny.gaia.com — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:46:27 GMT

Amber and Ralph,
Ralph, what a wonderful idea. Seems to me that years ago there was a movie about that type of living and when I viewed it, it intrigued me. What a wonderful idea you had and how you generated it to make it economically efficient. A funny story comes to mind when I read your story:
"All of us went camping one year, myself, Greg, his parents and his girls. The girls were about 12 and 10 at the time. We went to our usual camping area, but the day was absolutely horrible. Thunderstorms and torrential rains. Being on Lake George when it rains like that is like being in a typhoon! Anyways, I loved it. However, the girls were frantic. There would be no TV, video games or the like for a few hours as the electricity to the site was not on and would not be on until the next morning. Talk about panic for those two! Previously, my inlaws took the girls camping and they were a bout an hour away and they had already settled up the camp when my mother in law comes knocking at the door. One of the girls forgot her game system and she was unbearable." To this day and in your new community, I don't think that she would ever survive without "her necessities." LOL.
Amber, Ihave had that feeling many times over in the past 20 years. Not feeling like you are accomplishing anything, thank ful that you have a job in these tough times, yet "daydreaming" about what it could be to have one of your own. I know this is a thread on the economic issues, but as the title of the thread is "how is it affecting you" many of these comments belong here. We look back and sometimes we wonder how we survived before and then reality hits and realizes that though the times are tough, employers and companies may have to "lay off " their employees because they too are in tough times and the decrease in payroll and insurance will save them thousands the next year. I did exactly what you did, looked in the mirror and stopped feeling sorry for myself and put a smile on my face and got to work. I turned off the "home issues, and the worry issues and concentrated on the present.
Wishing you good fortune, my dear friend.

Re: Let's discuss the ECONOMY! How are you feeling, coping, chang

http://ambersbug.gaia.com — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:00:24 GMT

Sherrilene,

Your post on 'Happiness... Lessons from Around the World' on the Economy thread, in my opinion, fits PERFECTLY into this discussion about how we are feeling, coping, changing in response to our diverse economic situations!

I will be cross posting over to your Featured Member thread for December as I feel it is relevant over there also...

How much does attitude and happiness effect our responses to our economic situation? Well, I can say for myself, judging from my experience today... it has pretty much everything to do with it!

I went to work today with a feeling of dread and anxiety about the security of my job... Nothing was different about my job today then it has been for this entire year. So what was different about today?

It's the last few days in the retail world before the rush of Holiday spending ebbs into almost nothing until springtime, there is a crush of people in varying degrees of happy to down right cranky, we've gotten a week of snow and ice that has made it treacherous to get to work, and I've been dropping the ball on too many projects. Not a recipe for confidence in our economy or in myself for that matter!

I know my head has not been in my job... it's been on travel, an upcoming move into community living with myself and my mother spearheading the project, worry about my friend trying for two months to find a job in an area with limited job opportunities and him being of very dark skin in an almost all white community, concern about another friend with an ancient heat pump failing during a record cold snap today and she's not in a financial situation to purchase a new one... the most important thing I have right now (besides my health) is my employment and I've been putting it on the back burner while I cope with other, less important, and completely out of my control, issues.

For the first two hours of my day it took everything I had to keep from hiding out in my stockroom, away from my responsibilities, away from the crowds I'm supposed to be engaging, away from the reminders that I can't possibly do everything needed to be done for the day... the weight on my chest was so heavy I could hardly breathe.

I took my first break and looked at myself in the bathroom mirror and asked myself what was the top two or three things I would be evaluated on if called in front of my store supervisor. The first would be, "Why aren't you out on the aisle talking to customers?" Big gulp... the second would be, "Why haven't you opened up any credit accounts this week?" Another big GULP... and lastly, 'Why haven't you scheduled any events for the store?" These are the things I was hired to do and I've not been doing any of them.

At this point I realize the only way I'm going to get my confidence back, lift the weight from my chest, and feel good about the job I'm doing is to do what?... stop everything else I was doing, put all other worries out of my mind, and work on those three things!

Tomorrow myself and my co-worker will be greeting our customers wearing red shirts, our black smocks, and reindeer antlers while we invite our customers to have fun, relax, and get a complimentary make over for the Holidays! We will offer 15%, 20%, or 30% off to anyone who opens up a charge card with us using the scratch off tickets given to us by our company (then I'll make them pay off their new charge card right then and there to keep them from having a balance!) and by the end of our day I will know I did my best.

I would like to say that the weight has lifted from my chest and I am feeling happy as a lark for getting out there and doing the three most important actions to ensure job security... the weight's still there and I'm still anxious. But I'm proud I didn't go hide myself in the stockroom and I know I will feel better and better as I do the actions that are most important to my supervisors and our company.

The first Happiness Lesson from Iceland was;

Happiness Is Taking Pride In Who You Are.

I take pride in being a valuable employee and when I perceive that I am not living up to my potential, I am not happy and my outlook on life and the economy is dismal at best. The only way to change dismal back to happy is to take the actions which make me a valuable employee no matter how uncomfortable those actions may be at first.

Only 15 more days until the New Year... I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Smiles!
amber

Re: Let's discuss the ECONOMY! How are you feeling, coping, chang

http://ambersbug.gaia.com — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:03:33 GMT

Waterheart,

I enjoyed your post immensely! Not only did you find a way of living that feeds your spirit as well as your stomach, at the end of the post you came up with something I find very intriguing... opening up your retreat as a 'living school' to teach a way of living by actually doing instead of sitting in a classroom and memorizing text!

I would be willing to bet there are many people who would sign up for a class equipped with fresh well water (I had that once in my life and long for it still to this day), a bath house, garden fresh vegetables, and the time for some renewing of the spirit as a bonus!

From reading your post it seems you had some skills in construction which probably aided you in the construct of the retreat itself (saving you some big $$$) and with the rules and regs allowing you to create freely (saving some more big $$$) this 'garden paradise' of yours has been free to thrive under your guiding hand... there may come a day when what you have created will be a blue print in many areas of how we can survive this economic downturn. A standing ovation to you!

Smiles!
amber

Re: Let's discuss the ECONOMY! How are you feeling, coping, chang

http://waterheart.gaia.com — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 02:07:04 GMT

Well, right now it's freezing cold... but you are right paradise exists in the natural world, the big cities and other man made areas are creating trash, bad air, crime...hey we know this, how to make it better is the question... and decentralising and giving the power to small communities to take care of themselves might be a way. Out here there are thousands of acres of forest and only a handful of people... no social life, unless you drive a while. But the small towns take care of themselves, their Banks are fine, there are jobs and the little markets are stocked and reasonable, when you walk in somewhere they know who you are. I needed no I.D. to vote, they knew me........... I am blessed and in gratitude...

Re: Let's discuss the ECONOMY! How are you feeling, coping, chang

http://ralph.gaia.com — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:46:39 GMT

Kath,

This song is just brilliant and very positive in a world gone completely wild. Great vocalist too!

Thanks for posting this,

Ralph

Re: Let's discuss the ECONOMY! How are you feeling, coping, chang

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:59:47 GMT

Found this interesting article about happiness in different countries.

I know this is the Economy thread, but since Bhutan came up and is quite reasonably being looked into as an 'out there' alternative, I felt it might be useful to see what happens in different places.

Please enjoy:

Happiness Lessons

from Around the World

By Eric Weiner [Source www.beliefnet.com]

Blessed, Sherri

Re: Let's discuss the ECONOMY! How are you feeling, coping, chang

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:55:53 GMT

Well, after reading Gina's post, I don't any more responsibility whatsoever for 'fixing' the s*it that is out there!

My God! Let someone who's responsible kindly step up and do the honourable thing!

Please!!

Thank you, you knowledgeable, wise, soulful and honourable person, Gina.

Loads of love to you,

Sherri

Re: Let's discuss the ECONOMY! How are you feeling, coping, chang

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:51:47 GMT

Oh!

How I LOVE your spirit and bravery Kathy!!

You LIVE this message of change.

Keep going for it, girl!

Loads of love,

Sherri

Re: Let's discuss the ECONOMY! How are you feeling, coping, chang

http://kathysmith.gaia.com — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:53:56 GMT

Tis' the season to DISAGREE! It is possible to change. It is possible to start something new in this economy.

Just for the holidays, let's see if we can come up with more happiness. I posted a song below that makes me happy and invincible toward what I do to the economy just to start a flow.

Disagree with the cold weather! Disagree with the concept that “There's no TIME left!” Disagree with the “learned opinions” of CNN, NBC, CBS and FOX News!

Disagree with the consideration that the days in the sun are over! Au CONTRAIRE! They are just beginning!

And if you are an artist/celebrity, or know or admire one… Or just if you enjoy the arts and want to be part of a civilisation that is going up towards AESTHETICS…

It's time to disagree BIG TIME with the big game of making the economy work 'round the globe!

The next Gross National Happiness campaign to work on is right here on the web…let's take some awesome things that can make a happy holiday and list some ideal concepts!

And for those of us in Gaia Networking this is the place to be to help usher in a new Renaissance by supporting the workable ways to bring about happiness!

How can you turn that down? AGREE TO DISAGREE! It's the true spirit of the holidays!

This is one of the theme songs that I chose to start with and dedicate this to Gaia from my point of view.

Happy Holidays, Kathy:

You Are The Reason ~by Bonnie Ste. Croix

If you could take silence and make it be words

If you could take children and let them be heard

If you could take war and let it be peace

The sun would rise on a world that's free.

If you could take shame and let it be pride

If you could shine light on the places you hide

If you could bring soldiers back to their lover's arms

The sun would rise on a peaceful morn.

If you could take Earth and heal all her wounds

And know every small step is gonna help it come true

If you could see beauty in everyone's eyes

Then you are the reason for the sun to rise

If we could begin, think of how it would feel

To slow down the pace now, and let yourself heal

To love that there's difference, to love that there's same

One by one in the world now,

we'll make it change, we'll make it change

If you could take Earth, and heal all her wounds

And know every small step is gonna help it come true

If you could see beauty in everyone's eyes

Then you are the reason for the sun to rise

Yes, you are the reason for the sun to rise

You are the reason for the sun to rise.

BE THE REASON.

Re: Let's discuss the ECONOMY! How are you feeling, coping, chang

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:58:56 GMT

Bravo Gina!!!!!

You have clearly hit the nail of truth on the head! This whole idea of top down economics is the source of the problem... not only the auto industry, but the banks, everywhere.... it is flawed, and for it to work, it is fundamentally immoral.

It really does not matter whether government money, private money, or bankruptcy restructuring bail out the auto industry... there must be a fundamental shift in economic models where the people who help the consumer get what they need... be it sales, healthcare, education... are recognized for the job that they do. The front line of any organization is the bread and butter of concious capitalism, and until that changes, nothing changes.

Thank you for sharing your story... you are wonderful!

Dave

Re: Let's discuss the ECONOMY! How are you feeling, coping, chang

http://ginadenny.gaia.com — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:18:15 GMT

If I may speak off the beaten path here. This is from a simple minded person, again yet experience in some of the industries that have been affected in these times.

Let me speak about the auto industry, as I have worked in the industry for a few years. Does anyone here know exactly what goes on in a "dealership"? when I first started in the industry, I had just gone back to work after a year's medical leave. I needed a job and they hired me. At first I thought it was for the "token" female. For over a year, I was the only female salesperson in my dealership. I did well and my paychecks were good, four digits sometimes.

I could make $1,500 one week and the next week about $120.00. I feel very terrible for the industry right now, yet I don't feel bad for the higher ups. In the industry, the salesman is the low man on the totem pole. The manufacturer (we'll use Chrysler since I worked for them) sends the autos, yet when they send the autos, they send autos that do not fit in the demographics of area. Where I lived, Chrsyler would send high end luxury vehicles, i.e. the 300's and Crossfires. Our area was farming country where they needed more basic work vehicles instead of the fancy hemi trucks with plush interiors, heated seats.

They needed to send just basic trucks for working and plowing. Yet our lot was filled with SUV's and maxed out trucks and luxury vehicles. Once these vehicles past 30 days on the lot, the dealership had to pay "rent" to Chrysler for each vehicle on their floor plan. The longer it sat, the more money the dealership lost per month. We had some fuel efficient vehicles, but not enough of them. The worse mistake that Chrysler ever did was to take the Neon off the road. Low priced vehicle and great fuel consumption.

Here is the scenerio: "A customer comes in & wants a vehicle. My job was to take him to the oldest used vehicle on the lot. Even if I knew it was not what he/she wanted. After a few test drives, they land on a vehicle. The vehicle is selling for $12,300 with the customers payment of $250 per month. We bought the vehicle for $4,500. Nice profit for me....wrong. Now you subtract the service of the vehicle about $1,000. Now the price for me is now $11,300. If the car needs brakes, muffler, new tires; please add another $1,000. Price is down to $10,300. The price to the customer is still $12,300.   Finally that is done. Now it comes time for the finance advisor to have his/her day. The higher interest rate that he gets, the better the profit for him on the back end. Now, he sells upholstery care, under carriage car, rust proofing and an extended warranty. Now, it comes down to $4,500. My take zip. Finance manager $5,500 and the customer's payment $350.00. This is considered legal and profitable. I lost money on that deal completely to the finance manager. Now for the salaries and the deal that the Senate placed with the union "to go in line with the foreign car makers plan". They said no. They did not want to give up the salaries to get the loan. To me this says that if they did not want to lower the salaries to accept the help from the government, it only means that they don't need the help nor the money!

Here's another thought on the bailout for the industry. Walmart makes more money than the government is proposing to send to the auto industry. Why not let WalMart bail the industry out! The only way that the auto industry is going to survive is by cutting the top heavy staff, their salaries, etc. If only for a little while. Have them swallow their pride and just start back from scratch. If all the industry does this...they won't need to have a bailout. Either that or have all three manufacturers join as one. I am sure that with all three, not in competition with each other, but working with each other, there will be more jobs available, less people at the top and a better foundation to begin again. With whatever money they have left, combined with the three of them, less would have to be borrowed and a complete reorganization of the auto industry. I know this is off the wall, but folks, think about it, three companies joining as one, one CEO, one board of directors, many jobs, and ideas from all of them...far fetched and dreaming. I think that it could work. This is my opinion only.

Re: Let's discuss the ECONOMY! How are you feeling, coping, chang

http://ambersbug.gaia.com — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:43:14 GMT

Oh GRANDNESS, Kathy! I wonder if we could start a post with solutions only as the title? I can't wait to read on peecycling as I've been sort of doing that lately! LOL

I can't wait to put in a garden but will see where we land in this housing adventure. Maybe the house we rent will allow or already have a garden. Or maybe it will be after 6 months of living with 5 people in a rental that we move into a house that is community owned... who knows where this adventure will lead us?!

Smiles!
amber

Re: Let's discuss the ECONOMY! How are you feeling, coping, chang

http://kathysmith.gaia.com — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:26:36 GMT

This is the trailer that goes with the food forest and the Food Forest This is the website that goes with this http://permaculture.org.au/ Here is an article about three different kinds of worm farms, including one that makes a very attractive garden bench.www.mitra.biz/howto_wormfarm.htm And another video to watch is made by a New Zealand enterprise. It explains the concept of a worm farm very well, from the level of a home garden to a commercial business. It's very simple to build a basic compost toilet, and if properly cared for, they are odorless. www.youtube.com/watch?v=coj7oumY3TY&feature=related
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQkF32BeXUk&feature=related and the article www.newscientist.com/article/mg19225831.600-peecycling.html?full=true Go to www.organichomegardener.com when you are ready to start a garden and I can help you. Never regret yesterday, life is in you today and you make your tomorrow. Thanks for starting your sustainable environment & sharing it with us.

Re: Let's discuss the ECONOMY! How are you feeling, coping, chang

http://ambersbug.gaia.com — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:26:48 GMT

Sometimes I feel as though we (the world's population) are a lion in a circus ring... and the few that govern us have a four legged stool they are using to confuse us on which point to attack... so we do nothing.

At least that's what I have heard the proverbial stool with four legs was used for! So where do we focus? Of course, we yell... "Unfair!" when someone who has senority and draws more income gets laid off. What else can we do? How do we get around a system that is in place to keep us unbalanced and unsafe?

Can small groups of people commit to helping the group members in hard times? By providing a roof over the head of an unemployed member until that person has been retrained and reintegrated into the 'system' again? Or maybe the person who has dropped out of the system enjoys cooking and would make meals for the people who are stressed out from their jobs and would do anything to come home to a warm meal. Okay, now I'm speaking for something I wish for in my daily life... to not have to worry about my next 'healthy'meal... I'm driving thru a window every day for my meal and you know that's not good for my mind, body, or soul!

Like Kathy's comment earlier in this thread about the birth of a food forest, a small group of like minded people came together and created something for the benefit of one of the group's members. Does anyone else have a suggestion beyond yelling, "Unfair!"