Sign of the timesx2

Along my walk I came to two vehicles in a very nice part of Merced for sale. One was a 1988 suburban for sale 1400 dollars. It was older and had some miles.. but it looked like a hauling machine.

Near an intersection was a older pickup..with a garden business trailer attached. Going price was 2400. The label on the truck was the company that did a yoeman clean up job on our backyard a couple of years ago. It was an instant business on wheels.. just ad lawn mower and a licenced driver and you could do gardening.

Small businesses are hitting the cusp or believability. Starbucks has announced that they are closing many of their newest stores.. expanding too fast to the weaker economy. Mervyn's and linen and things are both filing chapter 13. I think that the reason for that was the dependence on Chinese goods. We are no longer the place for these goods. The weak dollar has made this market dry up. Also the increases in fuel costs to get these items to the store may factor into the equation.

So what kind of America will we become? Will we rely on Big Box stores and big franchised businesses with advertising budgets. Even with these advertising is in a total quandry with the lack of eyes in T.V. and fewer people buying paper newspapers.

We have some serious retooling to do in the US. I think that we can do it. We have to keep and open mind on what the "new" will look like.

Have a great day.. Pat