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Street Level Economics |
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Geographic Area: Southern British Columbia - Out on the periphery of the American Empire. Reporter: Ray C
Had to have a car tow today, I screwed up installing a ball joint, not a pretty picture. ;-)) Tow truck driver is a moonlighting fireman has to work an extra job to afford his house. His kid is right out of H.S. can't find work, too many university grads want/have to take/ those $8.00 an hour jobs. He has a friend who is predicting a market collapse and he's starting to believe his friend. He told me things don't "feel right" economically. Doesn't think the system works anymore, has figured out that working hard doesn't pay the dividends it once did. B and C strip malls are hugely vacant both here in Vancouver and in Nanaimo and Kamloops two smaller cities far away from the central market area.
The big boys are busy, Home Depot, Wal-Mart have good traffic. Lots of traffic at the local Seattle based "Value Villages" 7 in the area. All old grocery stores converted to second hand stores that even sell used underwear, along with used furniture, pots and pans, clothing, etc. Gives the poor a department store to visit, probably a growth company in a depression.;-)
Lumber is off (U.S. sanctions) beef is off (U.S. sanctions) fishing is played out. Film industry seems to be picking up, a little more work than last year.
The Fireman sees (pot) grow ops supplying grass for the pot heads of U.S. cities, as probably our most lucrative business to be in. He has the feeling the cops are turning their heads, as they know it brings in billions to our economy. They seem to bust them when the neighbors complain. Insurance companies are refusing to pay for damages to the houses even if the owner is unaware that his renters have a business on the side. The grow ops destroy a house, high humidity, high heat, mildew, and rot. |
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