What’s the point of arguing about it? Krugman says the bailout was needed but it should have been a Swedish-style plan, and that Paulson’ fucked everything up, starting with letting Lehman go under and finishing with his particular bailout plan. We’re in a pretty big disaster, there aren’t going to be any jobs next year, business has completely frozen up. I am, at my non-profit, planning a big event for children, all of which was funded by donations last year – mostly merchandise donations from local businesses but also places like Costco.
Well, this year, everyone is saying, look, we don’t have any business. I had to go someplace today, a huge rental place here, to get a popcorn machine and a cotton candy machine donated (just for the day). The guy donated them to me, I guess because it really doesn’t make a difference, but he told me the same thing they’ve all been telling me: I’ve got no business.
It’s a disaster, and nothing is going to change that. People are going to be starving and homeless next year. Let’s freeze the budget! Whatever, that’s a political statement too, but everyone better batten down the hatches, and if you are lucky enough to have enough, donate to a local food bank, as often as you can.
