Getting Ready for Boom Times

I think many of us are looking to remain as lean as possible through any recovery.

Every forecast I have seen shows a slow recovery in the future and some very serious concerns about a double-dip recession, primarily fueled by a massive debt load.

This is a world economy problem, but in the US we have done more of our share to add to the debt load.

The prospects for widespread employment recovery is poor and industry is looking to do as much as they can with the workforce numbers they have now. I see no reason to change that strategy until an uptick in sustainable sales is evident and prospects for a possible future downturn in economics are reduced.

I agree that it is a bargain hunter's environment out there and those with cash on hand can take advantage of that situation as long as they do not squander too much of their reserves that might be needed to weather the remaining economic doubts.

Right now businesses have been sitting on record cash reserves that they have been gathering as a shield from the economy. Those funds will be tapped when businesses have a better warm fuzzy about their future as some signs are emerging that some economic life is coming back.

While some industries might see a boom in revenues in the future, I don't think the stage is set for a general industry-wide boom to happen for this year or even next year. We still have a lot of time to plan, although.

Upturn???? As a country we have just used our credit to the limit, lost our income, and now we have to pay our debt. I don't think the recession has yet started let alone winding down. Just my $0.02.

I don't think things are really that bad, but the threat of inflation and a second recession are a very real concern. I think that there have been some very poor (if not serious) economic decisions made in the last year by the government. In fact, I can point back several years in that regard.

The net effect will be an economic drag on the recovery efforts short term and some hell to pay long term. However, there are number that do show the economy is growing, not shrinking. The question is how will that be, at the least, sustained given the debt and tax loads we face?

Far as Rocket Science and cars AH you do damned good. Far as who to blame for what, and what to do in the situation we are in, I've long made points that do try to guide us all. And we have some disagreements.

Now I myself am real pissed about both the last administration, and things that the new administration has done. In particular far as the last administration the extra war doesn't stand up well.

US Hubris is right extreme. Got three hot wars going on, and one economic environmental war going on.

It is really too simple. War and Corruption keep people at war, and poor.

War might come home generally. It's happening on the US Mexico border.

Go for peace if you want long term profits and a good neighborhood for your kids.

Seems like the new administration has shown first they will play hardball domestically, and has been playing hardball internationally with the plate they fought to eat, and has been putting money in dike holes, and may well turn around and do more good than expected.

Sustained growth will in the US actually depend on infrastructure spending. Maintaining cheap energy, which is what very much enabled the Manufacturing base, and is the foundation of civilization is on the agenda, and money has been allocated for it. Was a sharp move to increase the Pell grants by even a little.

Who here isn't in favor, or recognize that really it is very important to put money into education?

We're playing hardball at home and all over the world. I thought Obama might be the same as Carter, but then if you play ball in Chicago, where there is a legacy of killing over jobs, guess you may well know how to play, and play to win.

"That government is best which governs least," is the mantra I have always felt needs to be applied first!

Of late I think that people are getting a good taste of the reciprocal, but it is unclear what will become of the distaste they feel.

The problem is government.