I am expecting

a veritable blizzard of sheriff's sales this fall and next spring. Not only have the fees for licensing vehicles doubled, property taxes have gone up another 20%.

People who are being laid off, losing their jobs, working 2 or more jobs, selling things, just to get by.... how do the taxing authorities deal with this?

Raise Taxes.

Folks are selling their newer model vehicles and buying old junkers just to cut down on the fees and insurance.

People are also scrambling for every last penny and doing without to be able to have the money to pay property taxes next month.

At the same time, kids must be fed, bills must be paid, there's clothing and heating and water...

This is predicted to be a very, very hard winter, too. With temperatures hovering well below zero, there is likely to be a big mess.

Food prices continue to rise, costs for water and sewer are going up...

I am scared for people. I'm scared for those on fixed incomes. For those living paycheck to paycheck. For those who simply won't be able to make it through the next year.

The food pantries and soup kitchen in town are reporting a big increase in people needing help. People have already lost their homes and, because that impacts immediately on your credit rating, can't find an apartment so they are living with relatives, in vehicles or something similar. I don't remember seeing anything like this since the mid-80s and I remember how bad that became.

What in god's name have we created? A guvmunt with no interest in the citizens it is supposed to be keeping an eye on. Law enforcement that borders on a gestapo mentality. Conscienceless speculators making money hand over fist causing despair and tragedy as a direct result of their actions. Greedy commercial bankers writing loans that couldn't possibly be paid back. Energy companies price gouging.

Just plain folks are looking to a future that probably doesn't exist, at least not in any form we are familiar with. What is in store for us? Our children and grandchildren? Anything? Some days it doesn't seem so.

And to make sure I offend someone else, here is a non-PC question: Why should we, the taxpayers, be paying for Medicare for retirees that can afford quarter million dollar motor homes? The system is bankrupt as it is and my opinion is that people who have that kind of money to spend on toys should be able to afford their own medical care.

Mercy, that's all I can say... we need it.