The only people not stressed are perhaps those who have millions or billions hidden in their mattresses, though those people are probably worried about the bed bugs eating their cash. For everyone else, there's stress. Wouldn't it be a positive surprise if political leaders - both left and right - actually thought about people other than the ultra-rich? This commentator at The Independent raises some good points about (Blair's) New Labour that equally apply to the Democrats from the Clinton era.
Credit is not a long term plan to replace increasing standard of living or wage improvements, but don't tell that to Washington.
Nearly half of those questioned, 47 percent, worry at least somewhat about losing a job, up from 28 percent in February 2008. Nearly three-fourths, or 71 percent, say they know someone — a friend or relative — who has lost a job in the past six months because of the economy.
Fear of being thrown out of work is so widespread that equal percentages of higher- and lower-income workers, 47 percent, worry about losing their jobs. Last year, only 20 percent of those earning $50,000 annually or more worried about joblessness, as did 35 percent of those earning less than that amount.
Nearly two-thirds of people, 65 percent, are at least somewhat worried about paying their bills, up from 46 percent last year.
More than two-thirds, 69 percent, worry that the value of their stocks and retirement investments will drop, up from 59 percent a year ago.
More than half, 53 percent, aren’t confident they’ll have enough money to live comfortably in retirement, up from 34 percent in February 2005.
