Lost all content

Somehow – and I am not sure exactly what happened – but I lost all of the content on this blog. So I am spending the day re-uploading all of the old content. It’s going to take a while, though.

If there’s something missing, please be patient and hopefully all will be well again soon. If not, please do drop me a note on this post and let me know so I can fix it.

Sorry for the confusion!

~Annie

In Seattle today

I just read an interesting article in the Seattle PI about foam food boxes and such possibly being banned. While I do agree that helping protect the environment is a smart move, I’m not a fan of this proposal. The major reason I do not agree is, what about people who on food stamps?

As someone whose family used to have food stamps, I can’t see how this helps them. They already have meager finances and to have even .20 cents x how many bags of groceries they have added to the mix, it can mean make or break for them. What about those times between paydays when they’re down to their last few dollars and have to choose between putting gas in the car to get to work and putting food on the table? Will have to choose to provide less food for their families because they can’t afford $2 for grocery bags? Or is this a cost that will be allowed to be paid for with food stamps for these people?

I’m sorry but this just doesn’t sound productive to me. The gap between poverty and wealth keeps getting larger and moves like this are a part of that reason. And it seems like moves like are becoming more than just a part of the reason – it’s becoming the major factor.

Wrong and sad.

Here’s the article from the PI.

Sorry for the soap box rant. Have a great day!

~ Annie

National trends: government policy

This isn’t a political blog and generally, I don’t really share my views with anyone but perhaps my husband. However, I just watched an incredible video that I feel compelled to share especially given the topic of yesterday’s post.

You may have noticed a small icon above here in support of Ron Paul and this video also gives you a glimpse as to why I believe in Dr. Paul.

Here’s the video

I encourage to watch it, think about the current issues in the news and really try to understand just what the long term effects are if the current policies are not changed quickly. It’s imperative that every adult in America who is legally eligible to vote, do so.

Our country depends on it – Our future generations –

OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN

– depend on it.

Until next time,

~ Annie

Real estate local: Tanked

In many areas of the country, the real estate market has slowed to all but a crawl. And although it is certainly getting slower here in the Seattle area, I think we’re still in better shape than many cities. Although, I just heard today that the home prices in suburban areas just outside Seattle and Bellevue are falling by as much as $100,000. That’s huge for a lot of people.

This is good news for buyers, actually. Even though the mortgage industry is in crisis, people might still be able to purchase homes – and even homes they couldn’t touch a year ago – because prices are now becoming more affordable. Additionally, the Fed lowering interest rates again might be helpful. I’m not sure that’s they right way to “stimulate” the economy, though, but that’s a topic for another post.

Frankly, I’ve always thought the housing prices in North King and Snohomish Counties were grossly over-inflated in the last 10 years. I’m glad to see pricing that more accurately reflects where prices likely should have been all along.

Of course, the bad news is that folks who’ve bought more house than they could afford or who have to move for job reasons and what-not, likely won’t recoup what they paid. Will those people end up in foreclosure? I think a good number of them will and many already have. They won’t really have much other choice. And that’s incredibly sad.

These are the people the Fed should be helping. I mean, the government can back the purchase of Bear Stearns by JPMorgan Chase but it’s unwilling or unable for whatever reason to help the average homeowner? Isn’t the government supposed to help it’s citizens? (Don’t answer that – it’s rhetorical.)

This isn’t a political blog so I won’t get into that any further . . . So back to the topic at hand.

I don’t think the Seattle area will see the problems that have plagued Las Vegas, Phoenix and Florida over the past few years but the picture certainly isn’t as rosy as some would like to pretend. There are real problems and I don’t think we’ve seen the lowest end of it yet. I heard that foreclosure rates rose 60% in February – I think that’s low compared to what’s coming over the next 6 months.

Do you live in an area that has been hit hard by this? What are your thoughts?

If you live in the Greater Seattle area, what are your thoughts?

Feel free to post in the comments, but do please keep in civil and clean.

Thanks,

Annie

UPDATE 3.17.08 – 9pm PDT: Very interesting article on Huffington Post about the Bear Stearns bailout and foreclosure crisis. Rather eye-opening. Check it out.