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RESIDENTS: WE NEED SOME RELIEF, TOO
While politicians fret about banks and investment houses, local people are worried about gas and groceries
BY PORTSIA SMITH
Date published: 9/24/2008
BY PORTSIA SMITH
While Congress is debating how best to bail out the financial industry, local residents are wondering who's going to help them out with the high costs of gas and groceries.
"Somebody wasn't paying attention," Ladysmith resident Sherry Brooks said as she loaded groceries into the back of her truck yesterday. "It should have never gone this far."
Brooks said she has had to make a few lifestyle changes--driving less, buying generic brands and cutting out non-necessities--just to ease the pinch on her pocketbook.
"My husband wants to retire in a year or two, but that's not going to happen the way things are now" she said.
Everette Eldridge of Lake Caroline said his family of seven doesn't go camping, boating or even buy meat the way they used to. "We just can't do it anymore," he said.
Eula Vanover has limited her travels to places that are within 15 miles of her home in Beaverdam. And the rise in food prices has hit a nerve with Mary Lee of Spotsylvania County.
"Grocery prices are constantly going up, and before you know it, a lot of people won't be able to eat," Lee said.
Olivia Callahan, who lives at a senior citizen community in Fredericksburg, said it's tough for those living on a fixed income.
"It's very hard to stretch what you get in Social Security to last for the whole month with the prices as high as they are," she said.
Her friend Mildred Buckles, a Louisiana native who moved here after losing everything in Hurricane Katrina, said she has to get by with even less now.
"I don't know what caused it to be this way," she said.
Jack Gibson of Caroline blames it on the White House. He doesn't think there will be an economic upturn until after the presidential election.
"It's certainly time for a change in government," he said.
He also said he disagrees with the administration's decision to bail out banks and big businesses instead of regular people, who he thinks really need the help.
"If we had foreclosures on our homes, they wouldn't do it," Gibson said. "They wouldn't bail us out."
But not everyone was as quick to point the finger at Washington.
Herb Distefano of Lake Anna said he has enough money to do the things he wants to do because of hard work, savings and good fortune.
"There isn't anything I can personally do about [the economy]," he said. "All my money is FDIC insured. I've protected myself as best I could."
Portsia Smith: 540/374-5419
Email: psmith@fredericksburg.com
Date published: 9/24/2008
Most recent reader comments:
Is there a guarantee I don't know about?
(posted by
travelin_bone
, Sep. 24, 2008 5:18 pm)
Some people sound like they are entitled to a certain quality of life or standard of living. I'm feeling the pinch too but I surely don't expect Uncle Sam to swoop in and start paying my way.
get a life
(posted by
rob8675309
, Sep. 24, 2008 5:14 pm)
if you need more money go out and earn it,don't sit around waiting for the gov't to give it to you
i'd like to know
(posted by
soccerfan
, Sep. 24, 2008 3:31 pm)
where these people were interviewed.
I think the country on a whole has forgotten the "Pursuit"
thing in our constitution. Pursuit means action. Yes, times
are tough but we are Americans. Since when did we rely on
government handouts to survive. Some have more than
others but so what. SInce when did American mean equal
sharing? I can't stand the whine festivals anymore.
Exactly right...
(posted by
Sonia
, Sep. 24, 2008 8:48 am)
Americans have had it too good and alot of us have been living on credit. Buying houses we really couldn't afford. so on and so on. I lost my job in March got a new one in April. People need to go back and read about the depression if they think this is bad. I do feel sorry for those on a fixed income cuz even though prices go up, their income doesn't seem to, everyone else has to tighten their belts.
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