[Peanut]

Okay. So all the pictures of the vacant lots and partially constructed homes... can someone explain to me whether the "new home" industry and it's pace of construction was ever sustainable? I understand it's an industry that employs people (lots of people) and to have it in a major downturn is impactful to other industries as well (lumber, etc). But there isn't a never-ending supply of people who need new homes, is there? The population is just not growing that fast??

I don't know, maybe I'm missing the point or being too cynical. But the whole new homes thing just invokes a "what else were they expecting?!" type of reaction from me. You can't keep building new suburbs forever when there isn't a supply of owners to buy them (and live in them).

I think the same sort of argument can be applied to the auto-industry. People don't ALWAYS need new cars. And convincing North Americans that they need to upgrade every year or two using loans and credit wasn't really a sustainable plan either.

Not that I have any better ideas or that the whole economy thing isn't a bit frightening, but... I guess I just don't find it surprising.

ETA: I wear lip gloss and I used to smoke. Looks like Brittany is smoking to me...