CHESSNOID

If you observe your family and friends situations in the current economy, you can probably get an idea of whether the economy is getting better or worse.  I am sure it will be different for everyone so I will speak for myself.

I see that in the last 2 years the economy has become bad.  I also see that most of my family and friends’ situations have become worse.  Fortunately for some of them they listened to what I said and even if they didn’t believe me at the time, I think just being aware of the possibility of the economy tanking prepared them to downsize their lifestyles.

I watched that documentary called House of Cards which you are able to watch online.  It shows the aftermath of the economic collapse.   It is hard to believe it is still getting worse, but it is.

Other casualties are the kids who are becoming homeless.  It doesn’t matter what your political affiliation is, you have to  recognize they are victims of no fault of their own.

NY Times: Surge in Homeless Pupils Strains Schools

the number of schoolchildren in homeless families appears to have risen by 75 percent to 100 percent in many districts over the last two years, according to Barbara Duffield, policy director of the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, an advocacy group.

There were 679,000 homeless students reported in 2006-7, a total that surpassed one million by last spring, Ms. Duffield said.

With schools just returning to session, initial reports point to further rises. In San Antonio, for example, the district has enrolled 1,000 homeless students in the first two weeks of school, twice as many as at the same point last year.

The other victims are the family pets that have to be abandoned because people are losing their homes and can’t afford to keep them. For many it is like giving up a family member.

HSUS:

Every day in the United States, thousands upon thousands of puppies and kittens are born because of the uncontrolled breeding of pets. Add to that number the offspring of stray and abandoned companion animals, and the total becomes even more staggering. Every year, between six and eight million dogs and cats enter U.S. shelters; some three to four million of these animals are euthanized because there are not enough homes for them.

If you have any doubts about those numbers, just pay a visit to your local shelter and see how many animals they have up for adoption. Most of them will be euthanized.