A So-Called ’Recession’

We're in this huge recession now, right? Our economy is falling apart, if you listen to the majority of pundits these days. Prices are too high, income is too low and people just have no extra money. They can't even afford their food or mortgages. I mean... 6% of mortgages are falling apart. SIX PERCENT!!! Can you believe that? That is horribly tragic. Our unemployment rate is, what? 6.5%? Foreclosures are up 23%, home prices down 13%. I mean... America is falling apart!!! Of course, we're not falling apart near as badly was we were in the Depression, or even during Carter's administration. But our economy is so bad that the government had to send out checks of free money to everyone to attempt to inject a boost into the economy.

Now, those of you that know anything about modern entertainment know that this week is the release of the much anticipated Grand Theft Auto 4 on the next gen video game consoles. This is a game that runs $60 new, not counting a deluxe edition that comes in a lock box that runs around $90. There are preorders out the yin yang for this game, and there were people waiting in line to pick up their copies yesterday. Kids stayed home from school to get and play this game. This game sells millions of copies... in a country where the economy is in a recession?

Last quarter, Apple sold over 2 million iphones and more than 10 million ipods. It's tragic, that our economy is so shaky that ONLY 2 million people got new iphones last quarter. It's George Bush's fault that we didn't sell 11 million ipods. That selfish jerk and his war for oil! How dare he crap on our economy like that. Doesn't he know we need to see at least 15 million ipods to have a strong academy?

Movie season begins with Iron Man this Friday. Would you be willing to bet that Iron Man, Indiana Jones, Speed Racer, Sex & The City, Incredible Hulk, Dark Knight, and movies like that are going to make tens of millions of dollars? I'd be willing to bet that. Even though everyone is so broke! They'll still go out to see those movies, I know I will. How bad is the economy, really, if people are still willing to pay $11 a ticket to see a 2 hour movie, much less people willing to pay $200 million to make the movie?

MasterCard and Visa finished great quarters too. It kills me. They finished great, because people have too many credit cards and wrack up too much debt. They get elbow deep in debt they can't manage, then cry to be bailed out of it.

Let's talk about the Fortune 500 list. Ford, Wal Mart, & GE in the top 10? Why aren't we screaming about their evil profits, as well as gas companies? Why aren't we screaming about Apple's sales? Why aren't we screaming about all the video game profit? If everyone is so strapped for cash, how is Grand Theft Auto 4 selling so well already? How did the $200 video game 'Rock Band' sell that well? Poor money management. That's how. Don't whine and cry to me about how expensive gas is, and how you're broke and can't buy food, then go buy a $200 or $60 video game. Straighten up, and take care of yourself. Personal responsibility is a common theme I mention, and I bring it up once again. If you feel you're strapped for cash, cut your spending on nonessential crap.