The economy must be doing great, huh?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

As some of you know, I have a police scanner here, and a good antenna that is up quite high. Because of that, I can receive police calls from a pretty wide area that extends into many counties of eastern PA.

I am sad to report that there seems to be a rather significant spike in suicide attempts obver the last two weeks. Domestic violence calls, too. About 5 over this weekend.

People out this way are struggling hard. Few jobs and real estate speculation has raised rents to the point that local officials are starting to speak out about them. Considering the vast majority of these officials are frothing repukes, it must be getting bad. Add to that the fact that developers have been found to be gaming affordable housing rules...

No jobs, either. The county I live in leads the state in per capita welfare enrollments.

It ain't pretty out here right now,

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Hmm and this is out of the usual spike period

though it is getting close to Easter\Passover time... still too early for those spikes

So you may be onto something

[rumpel]

2. I think it is pretty widespread

across the country.

Many people are suffering and * & Co consistently announce rosy pictures - for the 1% - this will shift, these lies and resulting struggles can not be sustained nor shall we tolerate it.

[WorldResident]

3. Domestic violence and suicide attempts have other causes besides financial state

In fact, I believe domestic violence incidence is concentrated rather evenly among financial classes.

[Porcupine]

4. The housing markets a slaughter in N. California

Time on the market is increasing. Inventories of houses for sale is increasing and prices are dropping steadily. Don't even think about selling a condo; one local condo conversion project is giving away new Ford trucks with every unit sold.

So much of the local economy has been tied up in flipping real estate for out-of-town speculators that the whole mess is grinding to a halt. Things are tough all over.