One article from today's USA Today (December 16, 2008) notes that people who have reached the age of 70 tend to focus on the positive. According to a Duke Neuroscientist, "Older adults... may be suppressing negative emotions to maintain emotional well-being." This is the good news.
The bad news, also from USA Today and based on a USA Today/Gallup Poll, is that 79% of the American public now sees the current economic situation "as a crisis or major problem." But, surprisingly, more people (11%) now feel their personal financial situation is excellent, the highest number polled since 2001. And fewer Americans were worried in October than they were in September about either maintaining their standard of living or paying their bills. Confusing, no?
Perhaps some of us can take comfort in the points made by Donna Birscoff of New Orleans. She first noted that the country is, indeed, in a financial crisis. "Only a moron would say that we were not." But she then focused on the positive side, "If you own your home and have no debt with an emergency fund - there is not a lot to worry about."
Our cat Munchy owns his own home -- a fiberglass Dog Hauz -- and has a big emergency stash of kibble, so we guess he's got nothing to worry about.
Photo: Joseph/Munchy Archives (Click on the photo to see a larger version. This post was updated on Wednesday, December 17, 2008.)
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