Is there a recession?

Folks have said for years that Spokane is about 18 months behind the curve of economic events. I'm not sure that theory holds in this economic event, aka the "great recession." Just as many other communities across the country, we're definitely having the problem of too many people out of work and we're still struggling with too many people below the poverty line. But thankfully, I don't think we're experiencing the extreme highs or lows that other cities in the country are faced with. Yes, there are fewer people going out for dinner, but in Spokane, that's sometimes a hard number to pin down, as this tends to be a very difficult restaurant town. Yes, we talk about cutting back on extras at home, and maybe more of us are carrying our lunches in little bags into work rather than going out. But Spokane is a sensible community and we are survivors. While there may be conservative attitudes about politics and much discussion about the value of economic development, when a crisis happens, it all goes to the wayside. This community comes together to rescue and support those truly in need.

There are reports in the news that the recession is over. But for communities like mine, it will take many months or even years for the devastation of the melt-down to work its way through the corporations, small businesses and the fabric of our lives before we feel like we're back to "normal again." But what will normal be? The pendulum will continue to swing...going to one extreme of prosperity to another. Have we learned any lessons? Only time will tell.