It”™s a changed world we”™re living in, post-Great Recession. A new way of doing and being.
It”™s a very different business climate we”™re working in as well.
Everything”™s on the table and the stakes are high.
Lately, it”™s been a more vocal world with uprisings intensifying across the globe.
A pervasive feeling of uncertainty has been weighing heavily on the masses, as fears of a worldwide recession mount.
In the U.S., that unease is bubbling in a caldron of economic malaise.
We are in the midst of the second-longest downturn in the nation”™s history. The U.S. has lost some 7 million jobs. Unemployment, at the national level, is stuck at 9 percent.
Closer to home, our numbers are better. Unemployment figures have dropped, but that lack of confidence continues to bedevil.
Consumers are cautious. Retailers are wary. Businesses, particularly smaller ones, are rethinking plans for growth and expansion.
People remain unemployed ”“ some for more than two years, which in Realtor speak makes them “stale houses” ”“ and many fear losing their homes.
Now, some are speaking up.
In recent weeks, the Occupy Wall Street movement has been gaining momentum. Those activists and other protesters are occupying the streets and the daily headlines.
Some wave signs ”“ “Reform the Hierarchy,” “I am the 99% and I”™m fed up,” “Love” ”“ while others run with the bulls in an anti-Wall Street furor. Still others sit quietly on the fringe.
Whatever they”™re protesting ”“ corruption, greed, war, indifference ”“ they appear united in their anger.
Clearly, two forces are at odds ”“ “Corporate greed is ruining our country” vs. “We the greedy are paying your taxes.”
Whether all of this is constructive remains to be seen. We are hopeful it”™s a means to an end. Perhaps that”™s subjective, too. Pent-up anger needs to be released somehow. So this is understandable.
Critics say the noise is diverting attention from more pressing matters and diverting tax dollars from critical areas to park patrols. Others dismiss all of it as disgruntlement or disillusionment.
One thing is certain ”“ pessimism and populism are on the rise.
A Gallup poll last week found Americans are blaming Washington more than Wall Street for the nation”™s economic woes ”“ 64 percent put the blame squarely on the shoulders of the denizens of D.C. Thirty percent blamed financial institutions for the economic straits the nation is in.
While we”™re not choosing sides or promoting causes, we champion freedom of speech and the right to assemble. We encourage and applaud public debate. We”™re not behind the scenes, though, and not sure where all of this is headed. And we are keeping an eye out for any groups or other factions looking to co-opt the movements.
For now, we”™re gauging a broader movement. All of these protests speak to a deeper issue.
There”™s a growing sense of disenchantment and disengagement from sea to shining sea. People sense a demise of the middle-class and harbor an absolute distrust of their elected representatives.
Internal strife does not bode well for our nation, or our economy.
And that”™s cause for much greater concern. And reason for us all to reflect.
What do you think? Where is this leading? Email your comments to cmcbride@westfairinc.com.
