Read More car/fancy yacht/jewelry or other seemingly non-essential luxury, money goes into the economic system with benefits to many, all the way down to the upholsterer in the factory where the jet/car/yacht is manufactured.

We also have to think about where Suzy sprouts some of this stuff. [Strong personal opinion = ON] The major media outlets are in the tank for Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and the like. It seems like a big chunk of their agenda is to capitalize on this crisis, and as an element of that, make it seem possibly worse than it is, and promote class envy. In their new America people will be even more dependent on government, and that’s good for their business. I strongly agree that attacking the restaurant industry is a sure way to create unemployment at the most basic levels in our society.

If anything is lacking today, it is a knowledge of basic economics 101. I think we also need to encourage folks to read George Orwell’s “Animal Farm.” It will have a very familiar ring today.

but maybe suze doesn’t realize the power of her platform?

she is trying to encourage folks to manage their own budgets wisely and fact is - eating out CAN be more expensive (and pack less nutrition 4 dollars) then a smart meal cooked at home.

but back to your point - the restaurant industry is critical. that’s 13 million people in 2009 as the nation’s second largest private sector employer, representing more than 9 percent of the nation’s total jobs according to the GOOD nra (national restaurant associaton). as a new yorker i’ll never forget the audacity of guilani bush and co telling us to spend our way out of some of the pain of a terrorist attack, meanwhile promoting policies that displaced small business owners like restaurants (well guiliani and then bloomberg anyway) in lower manhattan.

point being - it’s real consumers and that means wall street types too who can and should be more thoughtful about which businesses to support with our limited “pocket cash” that we have now. it is MOST important to be smart about our personal multiplier effect when we’re in this troubled financial state. that means - sure spend the cash - but realize the power your dollars have in keeping other folks employed and businesses running. And I thank you for highlighting just that point in this post. thanks jim!

Formulaic recipes such as the top secret ingredients in Coca-Cola, and Wonderbread, are a different story.

I’m hoping it might be possible for you to pass along your version of the “Twinkie’. I’ve had no success in getting them to part with that and have had to be content with paying for them every day.

It is said that one needs to leave personal lives at the door when coming to work. This goes for management as well.