Is America Tense Right Now?

[RandomAnthony]

I don't know if it's the end of winter, the economy, or what, but my workplace, the public, etc. all seem tense right now. On one hand people seem to be responding well (e.g. some guy at Costco offered to take my car back for me yesterday) on the other hand people seem very short with each other at work.

Do you think the rough winter and economic news and maybe some other factors are impacting (some) day to day interactions? How so? Where does the "hope" of the new president fit in the mix?

[Arminius]

I was listening to a talk show on WBZ in Boston and he was talking about the miserable weather and Massachusetts upcoming tax increases.

[Mike]

I think it is a combination of things. People are with a doubt affected by seasonal changes, and especialy Winter brings about a negative charge to attitudes. The economy going to hell this season is not helping at all either. In many areas of industry this is a slow time of year as is, but throw in the current conditions and you triple the effect.

I've a feeling that once Winter breaks for those of us in the cold lands, our eyes will look forward renewing our hope. It'll be at least six months in my opinion before Obamas presence really starts to show for itself as our president.

[Sally, la reina]

RA, did they offer to take your shopping cart back to the store for you? Or your automobile back to the dealer?

[RandomAnthony]

Heh. I wish he had taken my car, but just the cart...

[Gus]

I don't know if it's tension as much as it's people resigning themselves to the truth: the economy sucks, your job may be in jeopardy, and things are going to get worse before they get better. People seem to accept all of this as a reality, rather than hide from it.

We can all benefit from this attitude, actually. Admitting we've got a long way to go will right this ship, but we will right this ship.

[Jackie "the Librarian"]

Everyone's a bit tense where I work, the Timberland Regional Library, because we're asking for a "Levy Lid Lift" - in other words, a tax increase - on Tuesday. And if it doesn't pass, things could get ugly. Jobs could get cut, my materials budget will take a big hit, library hours will shrink, etc.

There was an unpleasant editorial in the paper yesterday saying "vote no", because why subsidize poor people who go to the library to play on the computers and look at porn? Buy your own books from used book stores! Instead of giving the library $40 more dollars a year, use the money to rent your own videos. Etc...
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/st...

:::sigh:::

It's so disheartening. I know this is a bad time to ask for a tax increase, but usage of libraries is up, and so are expenses. In the meantime, the 1% allowable increase in property taxes that funds the library has not kept up with inflation or property values.

Bah.

[RandomAnthony]

What an asshole! I can't believe that editorial.

Our mayor just vetoed librarian raises. This bugged me a lot. The raises were only 3%. I think he (the mayor) was trying to show that he wasn't raising city costs when private entities are struggling, but this is not the way to do it.