Is the recession over?

So guys-

Here is my deal, in my business as a medical doctor, we are slowing dramatically with the changes in insurance. People will not come in for "normal" things as many now have large deductibles that they do not want to pay. So for me, in my little corner of the world (my microcosm) work is bad and unfortunately, getting worse.

For you, in your business, are orders picking up or slowing down. I like the reply from the headhunter that makes me think some things are better.  If you are in sales, how are things? If you work at a local restaurant, how are things?

That is more where I was going guys. Thanks for all the responses!

I have to admit, I am in the end of the USA we are way too far in debt camp.

That said, do not even get me started on Peak Oil!

My thing is this too-

How the fuck can people spend almost $100 to take your family to the movies?

As a doctor (granted a low paying GP) we viewed this as a treat. Did see my megarich dentist neighbor there.

You have honorable work for the pay vs. educational debt. 2nd tier providers are making almost as much and for the life of me, I don't see how you can deal with 20+ "sick" people a day. How you can not tell some fat woman who weighs 300 lbs. and complains of a bad back to lose half a person and quit bitching, is beyond me. 

Now you add in the government messing with the business, along with the vagaries with insurance carriers, and I can understand the frustrations with your occupation. You are, however, the first MD I've heard of speaking about a slowdown. Are your colleagues saying the same?

This is my 3rd recession in the business I'm in. Regardless of the economic state, people are always going to complain about how tough the market is. Even back in the late 90's, when jobs were much more aplenty as ever, I'd still hear people bellyache about the job market. This speaks more about us as Americans than it does for the market - there will always be a percentage pf people who will not work. I know that statement will fuel a debate and some hard luck stories, but I ascribe to the thought that we abuse our privilege of having free markets and free speech. Too many people emigrate here and become wildly successful by embracing the wonderful opportunities given to them vs. where they came from. Have you seen an unemployed Asian lately?

For those of you who are looking for work, let me offer you this advice - do not send your resume to a company where it'll start being evaluated by Human Resources. I hate those assholes who work there. 90% of the time, they'll stick someone in that role who has little knowledge of how to evaluate a qualified candidate. It's downright shameful how companies have allowed this group to wield the amount of power that they have these days. Find out who would be your potential boos and send him/her your resume. In early December, I received a call from my accountant. He told me his daughter was looking for an entry-level accounting job and she's trying her ass off, but not getting anywhere. At that point, she was going to leave the state and return to get her masters - the relocation wasn't what he wanted her to do. He asked for my help.

After speaking with her, I told her to send me a list of the places she's sent her resume and send me the jobs she's interested in interviewing for. Once I received her information, and after doing some research, I provided her a list of contacts and their email addresses. She forwarded those people her resume and a cover letter. Out of the 15 or so places she contacted or re-contacted, she had 8 interviews and ultimately 3 offers. 2 of those companies had previously rejected her from HR. 

The point of all of this is there is work out there - if you want to find it.

Our slowdown at work is releveant. We run a busy family practice that sees over 100patients most days with 4 providers. We make a good wage based on the national averages. The problem we are having is we have cut the expenses as much as we can but the role of inflation and (insert laugh line here) health insurance for our employees is eating into our bottom line.

When you take our dwindling margins and couple that with a with a small drop in patient visits, the future is scarier than any horror flick I have ever seen. It is like doing a pap on that 300lb woman mentioned above.

I really do not think I will be doing the same thing in 5 years and I mean that in all sincerity. I will have to work in an UC or ER or for a hospital or government agaency. I am trying to become a professional capper like MrB but that has been an abysmal failure.

Any slowdown from us being completely full all day will be catastrophic. Most days we are still full but then again, some days now I am having holes. One last thing, we are in a suburban area taking care of white collar people. We have a beautiful office and pay top tier rent. We take no medicaid, no Tricare and very little Medicare. Some of out problems are from our form of practice, which to this point has been quite good.

When I say we are slowing dramatically, remember I see the first 15 people a day for my landlord,employees, the government, the medical supply people, the tech support, the little old guy who fills up my liquid nitrogen, all the people who work at Aetna, Blue Cross etc.

The last 10 are for me and my family. If the last 10 become the last 5 or 6 I am taking a 50% drop in my income. If one or two of them do not pay, will you get the picture.

Hate to bring bad news, but if you're listening to Bernanke then you're in for a rude awakening.  This is the same guy that sees no issue with printing trillions of dollars.  Yes, I know he's the chairman of the Fed, and yes I know he's an expert on the Great Depression of the 20's, but simple economics tells us:  when you print gross amounts of money, inflation is bound to happen and in a major way!  Keep in mind Bernanke is the chairman of the Fed, and the Fed is in bed with all the big banks.  Don't believe everything you hear from that guy

Quote Originally Posted by be easy:



keep beating that drum

click - maybe you could explain the implications of interest rates over the past couple decades, and their relation to 'real estate', and as for how we ought to expect these rates to play out in your scenario of real estate eventually coming back around?

Even in the face of retiring Boomers, peak oil, etc

Imagine if the Repubs were true to their word and reigned in government spending!!

What we are living thru is the perpetual growth model running into the bulge in the population pyramid that is the Baby Boomers. Those of us that fall underneath the boomers, are subsequently getting crushed, thanks to these greedy Boomers not being able to cope with the reality of their situation

The era of cheap oil is behind us. Moving forward, all systems modeled on an endless supply of cheap oil, will disintegrate. This ultimately includes the USdollar,,,,

decouple yourself from the dollar, and you will learn to live again.

Someone speaks the truth We haven't seen anything yet

That's tough to say bc we're in such a hole, but without writing an economic essay I'll give a few simple opinions.  First, no more bailouts and no more stimulus packages.  That simply equates to stop printing more money!  It baffles me how anyone can conceive that if we just print more money it will solve all our problems.  Second, we have to raise interest rates.  There is no possible way with banks keeping interest rates so low, some at as little as 0-1%, that good things will come.  Third, the govt has to cut some social programs.  I'm not going to get on a platform and say which ones, but there is entirely too much money being wasted by the govt on bullshit programs.  Fourth, if the Fed is to stay in existence (which imo it shouldn't even be an entity) it (or Bernanke) needs to disclose where billions, hell trillions, of dollars have been distributed.  The American ppl have a right to know where this money is being passed around.  I say this bc the Fed's lending contributed to this problem we have now.  They have 0 accountability and that has to change.  Just a few simple thoughts.  The issue certainly runs deeper than what I've stated, but these things just scratch the surface.   

I agree 100%.  I just don't get it.  This mess is far from over

Accountability