Signs of hard times.... do you see it?

I have definitely felt the hard times of the economy. I work as an educational assistant, and personally I feel like as part of the classified staff we take the brunt of the budget cuts. At the end of last school year, I found out that I would be taking a 2% pay reduction due to a shortfall in funding of the 301 fund that pays for professional development. The irony was that my salary is not even paid out of the 301 funds, yet I was told that my salary would be helping to subsize the budget cuts. The hard part to swallow was that I was an instructional assistant that was 1/2 way through getting my Master's degree in Special Education. I am a very highly qualified employee in my position, yet rather than being rewarded for my continued professional development and years of service; insted, I was getting a pay cut. Last month come the latest budget cut, the district cut instructional assistant's hours on half-day. I received less than 24 hours notice by the principal regarding the budget cut. The rationale was that the district did not want to touch instructional time; however, they increased instructional time for kindergarten and third graders by 45 minutes per school day. A move that I might say that developmentally was not the soundest due to it really making it too long of a school day for these students. This also came after the voters approved the override allowing the district to keep need funding that previously the district was scared that voters might overturn. My opinion was if they knew we were struggling with funds than why not campaign at that time asking voters to help support education and ask for the required funding?

It is. I agree. Hard times are everywhere, and with everything being raised in prices and all, kind of hard to save at the same time. With a normal salary, I usually give my mom a little, spend on bills and stuff and the necessary to save. But sometimes to save up even takes a toll. But I force myself to save, no matter what. It's very important. I think saving is important even in stringent times because we never know when we need to use some for health and stuff like that. Good discussion here, jpso :_)

I wonder if the hermit crab was having difficulty making the mortgage on his tin can house, would the government help him out?

I think things are tough all over right now. I think it is kind of funny, but really symbolic, the picture of the hermit crab. I wonder if the main problem with the economy is the media. Bare with me here, while I explain. The media keeps talking about how bad the economy is and there are commercials on tv about saving money and not spending, etc. So, what is happening, is the people who haven't really had any change in their income, aren't out there spending. We need these people to go back to their old spending habits, and quit being so worried. The only way to turn the economy back around is for people who have money to quit saving, and start spending. They aren't making any money on interest right now anyway, so why not go back to their former lifestyles!

I do agree that there are many difficulties nowadays and all we need to do is to stand to the challenge of life and to be brave no matter how impossible it may seems so.

Times are not always hard. I belive we always have a chance to choice under given circmstances. We made our choices and we have to bear with the consequences. Our government is a given fact and unchangable. Many claimed to be perfect but failed to prove it. It might be different idiologist in one room is not effective but they call the otherwise undemocratic. Nevertheless, we have our own life and we need to choice for our children and our children future.

Hey, Yes I see some really hard times ahead of us, I don't really know when all the bad times will start, but I think that the birth of them have already begun. Hopefully with God as our friend, he will help us through. Make sure you have a good day, God bless and Happy Lotting!!

Well, it does not only affect the prices of commodities but call it Signs of End times, it is much more real to me. All the injustice and crime happening around the globe. Evil is getting more evil by the day. The corrupt are being more corrupt. So the poor will also increase in number. Be it the cause of the government or not, economic crunch and so, but we don't see some improvement in our own country right. I might say that whoever will seat as President, will just inherit those debt in world bank. That's reality, why people migrate to other countries, to be able to sustain themselves and their families back home. Because they will never see something good when they are just there and do nothing. Life is really hard these days.

I agree it is hard out there at the moment, but even in economic times there is still money to be made. Also us the general public need to sit up and take some responsibility aswell as the banks lending policies. As banks wouldnt be lending if there was no market need from the general public aswell as businesses. Hopefully once this economic situation increases people will stop living on credit and living above what they can afford. But during this economic climate people are making alot of money while some people are loosing money you just need to find the niche to enable you to make money, for me I am investing in shares as once the climate is over the share prices will rise but you need to have the money to buy the shares. Good luck to all,

I think the time is very testing and this will continue for a long time.

i agree with that. my Parents worries where they will get money to send us for our allowance and other expenses weekly especially we study far from home. i have 3 brothers (2Iin college, 1 high school and i'm a fresh graduate so i still depend on them for my everyday expenses.). she wishes that i could have my licensed soon and have a work to help them.

I agree sir...sometimes I'm wondering how life could be when all people suffer from all of this. I've seen a lot of people suffering from hardships and even my own self. I might say..life is not fare. Yet, I'm still thankful because God doesn't give me problems that he knows I cannot handle. And I know through those obstacles I've been through, made me realized how lucky I am because till now I'm standing with head up and say to my self, I'm strong enough to fight for my own good. ;)