We are officially...the "Downturn Generation"

Or some of us are.

CHICAGO, April 27, 2009 - The current recession has created a new niche of consumers identified as the "Downturn Generation" by Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), the leading global provider of consumer, shopper, and market insights for the consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail, and healthcare industries. This new generation of Americans is adopting practices similar to Depression-era shoppers, implemented both to weather the recession and to keep a close eye on spending long after the recession ends.

...( the report ) classifies three emerging categories of shoppers, which are:

* Optimists - believe "things will get better during the next 12 months," are spending wisely, cutting back selectively and making sacrifices as a last resort
* Maintainers - agree that, "the economy won't get worse, but it won't get better either" and are also spending wisely, but are more aggressive about making cutbacks
* Pessimists -- identify with the direst predictions, believing "if you think times are hard now, next year will be worse" and are cutting back wherever possible and hunting tirelessly to find deals.

http://us.infores.com/NewsEvents/PressReleases/tabid/97/ItemID/809/View/Details/Default.aspx

Seriously, you are looking at the perfect conditions for a Totalitarian Dictatorship somewhere - one that would make the last 8 years look like good times for freedom...

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We're already less healthy than Canadians and Europeans, in every metric you can use. These trends will make things worse!

I for one am glad that we're beginning to be American Citizens again and not over the top American Consumers anymore. And I must be a pessimist because I think we're not going to come out of this anytime this year. Was it just yesterday that GM closed 1,100 car dealerships? What kind of recovery is that?

But I'm optimistic that we will adjust to our new world. In the long run we might even thrive. I wish people didn't have to become homeless though. That's really the saddest part.