Economic Well Being?

Following up on Change is Necessary? and finishing up on this week's neighborly theme, some factual and shocking data.  In this stagnant output and wage environment, with stagflation and debt levels raging, it's a paycheck to paycheck existence for many of our neighbors.  And now this... 

This 1983 example of stagflation in a bag of groceries, and the wholesome dietary choices those with limited incomes have is somehow apropos, we think.

Hey neighbor, how you doin? And now your moment of neighborly Zen...

US Population 308M, adults 240M...

• 53% or 129M spending exceeded income in 2016.
• 44% or 106M say they either could not cover an emergency expense costing $400.
• 30% or 73M adults, are either finding it difficult to get by or are just getting by financially. 
• 25% or 61M are not able to pay all of their current month's bills in full.
• 10% or 24M are carrying debt from medical expenses that they had to pay out of pocket in the previous year.
• 33% of borrowers with some college, a certificate, or a technical degree are behind on their education debt payments.
• 19% with debt from their own education report that someone else--such as a parent--is helping them with these debt payments.

"It's a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it's a depression when you lose yours." - Harry S Truman

We close with this neighborly example of what happens when aid gets cut off, the rent is in arrears, and one thinks that any POTUS would have real answers, apropos we think.

Won't you be my neighbor? and a very happy tomorrow to you.....

Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2016 Executive Summary

It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood,
A beautiful day for a neighbor.
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?...

It's a neighborly day in this beauty wood,
A neighborly day for a beauty.
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?...

I've always wanted to have a neighbor just like you.
I've always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you.

So, let's make the most of this beautiful day.
Since we're together we might as well say:
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
Won't you be my neighbor?
Won't you please,
Won't you please?
Please won't you be my neighbor?