Liverpool during a football match, where bombs killed 173 people, definitely pumped his ratings, especially as the group claiming credit was British Muslim. That went over really well with a lot of people. In the bloody rioting that followed, at least that number of Indians and Muslims died. And it wasn’t confined to the UK. The rioting swept through Europe. Even Germany, that bastion of tolerance, was having problems.
What was happening in America was what really got my attention. Not only what was being said but what was being left unsaid . Unemployment—at least by official count—was at 14 percent. The reality was a lot uglier. Despite what was being done and spent by the government, nothing was getting better. A couple of times things stopped plummeting so quickly, and people got hopeful, only to have their hopes and investments crushed when the downturn started again. Perhaps the Crash would
have been more severe without the government intervening. We would never know. It was difficult to believe that it helped when they let the bankers walk away with hundred-million-dollar bonuses. To say that cynicism was spreading about whom the government really cared for would be, at best, an understatement.
The bank bailout provided a glimmer of hope for some in the very beginning. The problem was, those who thought it was a good idea usually still had a job and money, and they expected those conditions to continue. What had been reported as the end of the world for the great mass of Americans turned out to be a massive windfall for a few.
This was quickly followed by Chrysler departing the industrial universe and General Motors filing for bankruptcy after the government stopped propping them up by shoveling money into them. Actually, it never did stop; it just became less obvious. The Cash for Clunkers program was one of the ideas the government came up with. It was spun as “green” and “good for America.” Like a lot of the ideas the government came up with, it turned out to be a short-term fix.
What most people did not understand was that Toyota and Nissan employed almost as many workers as the Big Three in the union-free South. They were not doing any better, and it created a ripple effect that began moving down the parts manufacturing chain. The third-largest consumer of computer chips made in the United States had been GM up to this point.
Nightmare—or Night, which she insisted I call her—came by during my second week of recovery. She was flanked by the ninjas and had a look on her face more
serious than usual. Not that she ever looked really happy to see me. “What’s up?” I asked, pushing the laptop away so she would know I was going to attempt to pay attention.
“We are glad to have you in the clan,” she started off.
I waved my hand dismissively and said, “Thank you. I am glad to be in the clan. But really, what’s up?” I knew something had to be. Whenever someone told me that they were happy or glad because of me, well, I knew they wanted something.
“You are part of the clan, and you got your ass kicked.” This kind of pissed me off, and it also gave me a shot of anxiety. Was I no longer welcome because I had lost? Damn , I really was getting used to my bed and private bathroom.
“The clan leaders sent word that as soon as you had recovered, the guys that did this to you would have to get payback—if only to send the message that our clan cannot be disrespected in this way.” She continued, “We would have already gone on our own to take care of it, but you were the target, and you are new in the clan, so we waited for you to recover. We were sure that you would want to be there for the payback.” She grinned. She had a scary grin for someone so skinny and short.
“Hey, I appreciate that and all, but it’s my mess. I screwed up. I was doing a favor for Carol at the shelter like I told you. I got sloppy. My fault—my job to fix it.”
Night stared at me, grinned, and said,
What was happening in America was what really got my attention. Not only what was being said but what was being left unsaid . Unemployment—at least by official count—was at 14 percent. The reality was a lot uglier. Despite what was being done and spent by the government, nothing was getting better. A couple of times things stopped plummeting so quickly, and people got hopeful, only to have their hopes and investments crushed when the downturn started again. Perhaps the Crash would
have been more severe without the government intervening. We would never know. It was difficult to believe that it helped when they let the bankers walk away with hundred-million-dollar bonuses. To say that cynicism was spreading about whom the government really cared for would be, at best, an understatement.
The bank bailout provided a glimmer of hope for some in the very beginning. The problem was, those who thought it was a good idea usually still had a job and money, and they expected those conditions to continue. What had been reported as the end of the world for the great mass of Americans turned out to be a massive windfall for a few.
This was quickly followed by Chrysler departing the industrial universe and General Motors filing for bankruptcy after the government stopped propping them up by shoveling money into them. Actually, it never did stop; it just became less obvious. The Cash for Clunkers program was one of the ideas the government came up with. It was spun as “green” and “good for America.” Like a lot of the ideas the government came up with, it turned out to be a short-term fix.
What most people did not understand was that Toyota and Nissan employed almost as many workers as the Big Three in the union-free South. They were not doing any better, and it created a ripple effect that began moving down the parts manufacturing chain. The third-largest consumer of computer chips made in the United States had been GM up to this point.
Nightmare—or Night, which she insisted I call her—came by during my second week of recovery. She was flanked by the ninjas and had a look on her face more
serious than usual. Not that she ever looked really happy to see me. “What’s up?” I asked, pushing the laptop away so she would know I was going to attempt to pay attention.
“We are glad to have you in the clan,” she started off.
I waved my hand dismissively and said, “Thank you. I am glad to be in the clan. But really, what’s up?” I knew something had to be. Whenever someone told me that they were happy or glad because of me, well, I knew they wanted something.
“You are part of the clan, and you got your ass kicked.” This kind of pissed me off, and it also gave me a shot of anxiety. Was I no longer welcome because I had lost? Damn , I really was getting used to my bed and private bathroom.
“The clan leaders sent word that as soon as you had recovered, the guys that did this to you would have to get payback—if only to send the message that our clan cannot be disrespected in this way.” She continued, “We would have already gone on our own to take care of it, but you were the target, and you are new in the clan, so we waited for you to recover. We were sure that you would want to be there for the payback.” She grinned. She had a scary grin for someone so skinny and short.
“Hey, I appreciate that and all, but it’s my mess. I screwed up. I was doing a favor for Carol at the shelter like I told you. I got sloppy. My fault—my job to fix it.”
Night stared at me, grinned, and said,
Similar Books
