Per the US Census Bureau:

2.4 million more Americans are without medical insurance this last year as
compared to 2001.  The number of uninsured rose by 6% as more jobs were lost
and the unemployment rate rose.

Last week another press release from the bureau reported that more people fell
into poverty and median income declined in 2002, and 2003 won't probably be
any better.

This in spite of the fact that the recession 'officially ended' in November,
2001.

On the other hand, there was an uptick in consumer spending last month as well
as disposable income (what's left after taxes, which makes sense due to the
tax cuts Bush pushed through).   However the uptick in spending won't last
long if manufacturers and service industries keep laying people off.

Bush keeps talking about tax credits, etc., but how can you take advantage of
things like that if you can't pay for medical care in the first place?  I
know I said I deplore people in social welfare programs who don't belong
there, but with so many people out of work with no work to be found, it's
worrying me how these people are going to fare.

I have two good friends who are facing dire straits - one more so than the
other.  The more dire situation is a neighbour in my building who is single
with a little girl who has just lost her job; since it was a temporary one,
she doesn't have coverage and is worrying herself sick over how she's going
to provide for herself and her daughter.  The other is an old work mate of
mine who was just told she'll be made redundant after 20 years with the
company; fortunately she'll be 55 and eligible for early retirement but the
timing will be far earlier than she and her husband had planned and they will
be short on money, too.

I am not happy at all with the economic situation.  It affects all of us,
whether we work or not, as this increase in the uninsured puts a strain on a
welfare system already strained to the max.

I can tell you again, I've never been happy with Bush's ecnomics and I am even
less happy now, and you will never see me support him in his economics.

(and if you're wondering, yeah, I'm still home with that cold and am even
cranker than ever, as if you couldn't tell!)

Kat