Comments on: It's Not A Subprime Crisis- It's A Consumption Crisis http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/ Fri, 18 May 2012 02:39:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: metroplexual http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11838 metroplexual Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:11:16 +0000 http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11838 Mark in SD, I have to agree with much of what you say. My wife has worked for an airline for 14 years. It has only gone downhill for the industry over th last decade. I welcome a change in affordability for a ticket. The flights are too crowded and the pasengers are too rude anymore. I will be in Europe this summer I will see the net effects you speak of. Mark in SD,

I have to agree with much of what you say. My wife has worked for an airline for 14 years. It has only gone downhill for the industry over th last decade. I welcome a change in affordability for a ticket. The flights are too crowded and the pasengers are too rude anymore. I will be in Europe this summer I will see the net effects you speak of.

]]> By: DCBeacon http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11837 DCBeacon Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:43:18 +0000 http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11837 I agree with Brucewho that the present and coming changes are cathartic. Aspiration that comes from reading, listening and dialogue, play with loved ones, and creativity through hard work and teamwork will surely beat the aspiration that comes from watching commercials and comparing one's self to over-consuming neighbors. Speaking of commercials, the "commercials" keep telling us that the "housing crisis" is a crisis of epic and tragic proportions. I'm not buying it. I feel like a return to affordability in housing for the middle class, and a return to thinking of one's house as a home and not a speculative investment, are very good aspirations for all of us. I agree with Brucewho that the present and coming changes are cathartic. Aspiration that comes from reading, listening and dialogue, play with loved ones, and creativity through hard work and teamwork will surely beat the aspiration that comes from watching commercials and comparing one’s self to over-consuming neighbors.

Speaking of commercials, the “commercials” keep telling us that the “housing crisis” is a crisis of epic and tragic proportions. I’m not buying it. I feel like a return to affordability in housing for the middle class, and a return to thinking of one’s house as a home and not a speculative investment, are very good aspirations for all of us.

]]> By: Mark in San Diego http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11836 Mark in San Diego Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:25:20 +0000 http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11836 Let me comment on the "big company greed". . .yes it is there - nothing new, but the current runup in prices can be traced right back to Ben Bernake with his interest rate cuts and subsequent dollar collapse. . .I am in Europe this month working, and gasoline and energy prices here have not gone up much. . .why? Oil is priced in dollars, not Euros. . .when the dollar goes down, we in the USA pay more, but here in the Euro/CHF zone, there currency has gone up more than 20%, and therefore things have not gone up much. As for consumer spending - very much agree - we have built a society around cheap energy, and now things such as discount airlines, and 60 mile commutes are history. . .a lot of adjustment will be taking place in the next 5 years. . .flying will be a luxury like it was when I was young, and families will go back to one car. Let me comment on the “big company greed”. . .yes it is there – nothing new, but the current runup in prices can be traced right back to Ben Bernake with his interest rate cuts and subsequent dollar collapse. . .I am in Europe this month working, and gasoline and energy prices here have not gone up much. . .why? Oil is priced in dollars, not Euros. . .when the dollar goes down, we in the USA pay more, but here in the Euro/CHF zone, there currency has gone up more than 20%, and therefore things have not gone up much.

As for consumer spending – very much agree – we have built a society around cheap energy, and now things such as discount airlines, and 60 mile commutes are history. . .a lot of adjustment will be taking place in the next 5 years. . .flying will be a luxury like it was when I was young, and families will go back to one car.

]]> By: jan http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11835 jan Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:57:31 +0000 http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11835 The word "aspiration" is interesting. I know someone who works as an executive with Coach. She tells me that the customers who can't afford their purses but by them anyway (usually with two credit cards plus cash for a single purchase) are referred to as "aspirational buyers." The word “aspiration” is interesting. I know someone who works as an executive with Coach. She tells me that the customers who can’t afford their purses but by them anyway (usually with two credit cards plus cash for a single purchase) are referred to as “aspirational buyers.”

]]> By: brucewho http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11834 brucewho Wed, 30 Apr 2008 03:43:58 +0000 http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11834 If you got a big fat gut a belt tightening from less consumption might be a good thing. Grinding your own wheat will put more fiber in your diet too. Exercise from that victory garden will add health benefits no Jenny Craig could offer, plus organic veggies. It will be cathartic for America to get off their butts to survive. If you got a big fat gut a belt tightening from less consumption might be a good thing. Grinding your own wheat will put more fiber in your diet too. Exercise from that victory garden will add health benefits no Jenny Craig could offer, plus organic veggies. It will be cathartic for America to get off their butts to survive.

]]> By: sandman http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11833 sandman Wed, 30 Apr 2008 03:28:57 +0000 http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11833 <i>The looters now wear suits and run power companies...</i> Darn those companies that force you to buy their stuff! The looters now wear suits and run power companies…

Darn those companies that force you to buy their stuff!

]]> By: Keith http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11832 Keith Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:36:50 +0000 http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11832 My big fat gut would suggest that I am not in a consumption crisis. Well, over-consumption, maybe. Manfre - I'm the same way, and I realise that's different than most folks. Most people will spend every dollar then can get their hands on - earned or borrowed. Now that they can't get their hands on the borrowed, we have a consumption crisis? All we've done is taken the kids out of the candy store. My big fat gut would suggest that I am not in a consumption crisis. Well, over-consumption, maybe.

Manfre – I’m the same way, and I realise that’s different than most folks. Most people will spend every dollar then can get their hands on – earned or borrowed. Now that they can’t get their hands on the borrowed, we have a consumption crisis? All we’ve done is taken the kids out of the candy store.

]]> By: twist http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11831 twist Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:54:39 +0000 http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11831 AZSlim- I don't necessarily think it's a crisis for consumers- but it's a big problem for BMW and SBUX! AZSlim-

I don’t necessarily think it’s a crisis for consumers- but it’s a big problem for BMW and SBUX!

]]> By: manfre http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11830 manfre Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:31:33 +0000 http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11830 I aspire to choose whether or not I go to work in the morning. Right now, it is just a fantasy. "Your Money or Your Life" really hits home for me. I could drive a 30-40k vehicle, but, choose to drive my vehicles for many many years before replacing them with 3-5 year old used vehicles. I aspire to choose whether or not I go to work in the morning. Right now, it is just a fantasy.

“Your Money or Your Life” really hits home for me. I could drive a 30-40k vehicle, but, choose to drive my vehicles for many many years before replacing them with 3-5 year old used vehicles.

]]> By: brucewho http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11829 brucewho Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:37:26 +0000 http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11829 Living Beyond Our Means Whocoodnode? Woeisme! Living Beyond Our Means

Whocoodnode? Woeisme!

]]> By: freemonster http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11828 freemonster Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:34:14 +0000 http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11828 Everyone is cutting back in the areas that can easily be cut back. Beemers and starbucks. Triple the price of extravegance. But this sucking you dry crap is disgusting. Is there anybody in charge anymore? The looters now wear suits and run power companies or play the commodities. Too much GREED will backfire. Everyone is cutting back in the areas that can easily be cut back. Beemers and starbucks. Triple the price of extravegance. But this sucking you dry crap is disgusting. Is there anybody in charge anymore? The looters now wear suits and run power companies or play the commodities. Too much GREED will backfire.

]]> By: arizonaslim http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11827 arizonaslim Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:23:18 +0000 http://housingdoom.com/2008/04/29/its-a-consumption-crisis/#comment-11827 If you don't aspire to drink Starbucks' overpriced coffee, or to own a Harley or a BMW, are you in a consumption crisis? If you don’t aspire to drink Starbucks’ overpriced coffee, or to own a Harley or a BMW, are you in a consumption crisis?

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