The State of the Economy and What It Means for Our Future

I have been actively participating in a couple of discussions on this topic in a couple of groups, and the most active one is in the 50's group and the discussion usually ends up coming back to one in particular question "What can We do as individuals and concerned citizens do to put brakes on the declining economy?" There have been intelligent responses to it such as Permaculture, renovating older homes to rent out the rooms and much more.

I will repeat this, I am not a highly educated individual nor am I one with a very high I.Q.  I am a mother to two daughters, divorced, in a relationship, and struggling each and every day with how to make ends meet and how to save money each week.  The majority of this nation lives paycheck to paycheck.  We have those that are on Public Assistance, our parents and grandparents are on Social Security and yet our Government still has not come up with a plan that will be successful for all walks of life.  In this financial crunch, I am amazed that I see people who are complaining that they do not have any money to see them through the next week, yet I see them buying scratch offs by the dozens!  I ask myself why do they do this?  It is because they are dreaming that they will get out of debt and live a better life.  I can't knock this.  It is the American dream.  However, our dreams are being shot down temporarily.  We have to do something now to inflate them once again. 
There is a lot of contradiction to the lottery and social security.  The lottery (in New York State) and in most states was created so that the monies that come in from that go to our educational system.  Well, our educational system keeps getting federal cut backs taking out programs from our schools that our children need: Drama, sports, extra learning materials.
Social Security is a pet peeve of mine.  Most of us start work from the age of 16 and continue to work up until we turn 66 more or less.  We contribute to the fund, our fund, so that when we become of age, we have a stipend to live off of.  Yet this is regulated.  We are only to get a percentage of what we put in to live on.  Now we are told that by the year 2014, this fund will be depleted drastically?  Why?  Because our money is being given to those that have just entered our country to begin a new life.  Why doesn't our government have a "bail in" plan to start these folks up with instead of using our hard earned money to support them?  I am sure they can find a way as they did with the banks.
Medical Insurance is another problem.  I am fortunate that I have insurance, yet my insurance is an 80/20 plan.  Recently I had to go to the ER for a eye injury and I brought my insurance card, my driver's license and the chemical that went into my eye with me to the ER.  No check book.  Registration came in and asked if I had the deductible?  I never heard of such a thing! They wanted you to pay for the treatment up front.  Well, I told them to bill me.  I also have a prescription plan through my employer.  I received two perscriptions: eyedrops and pain pills.  My jaw hit the floor when 1/8 of an ounce of eyedrops cost me 59.38 dollars.  Total cost of my meds with insurance...71.00.  I can't even fathom the cost for heart patients, diaylsis patients etc.
In the twenty five years that I lived in upstate NY, I saw one bank go through 10 different names.  When they have done this, the consumer loses out.  Mortgages were screwed up, accounts were missing money and charges were placed on once free checking accounts to having monthly fees of up to 10.00 for balances under 1000.00.  Savings accounts were also penalized  If your balance was below the minimum of 500.00, the banks charged you a monthly fee of 4.00 just to maintain your account!  I ask why do they have a right to take your money just for keeping it in their bank!  The interest that is paid on that money is lower than the fee that is instilled upon it.
We now have a new President who promises change.  I will be up front, I did not vote for him, however, I am willing to give him the chance.  It is a tumultuous situation that he will have to come into and we as a nation must stand by him.  We also must help him along. 
I asked some of my group members for any ideas on how we can try to solve this every growing problem.  I have a very risky and challenging one if anyone is willing.
We need to band together and form and legalize an organization.  Get all paperwork in order.  Get the game plan organized by researching.  Contact each other weekly by a conference call or email.  Next meet in person.  The next step is to get in contact with someone in Washington in the White House. (I am sure that with everyone here, someone has a contact or two.  If not, we can get one.  I am pretty aggressive.  Just ask my daughters).  Then after Inaugaration, set up a meeting with the President.  I know it sounds far fetch, but isn't our state of the economy and our whole existence worth it.  We won't know if it works until we try it.  Persistence is what it is all about. We need team players, vocal ones at that.  '
If anyone is interested even remotely, contact me at ginadenny59@yahoo.com.  I will be working on this as well until I find a solution!
All my love and blessings