Black Friday Lines? I'm at the Grocery Store

Someone should have called it "White Friday" this year. "Black Friday" makes me nervous since I'm old enough to remember "Black Monday." Perhaps some of you are nervous, too, since you can remember the much worse "Black Thursday (1929)".

Today I'm hearing about lines and 4:00 a.m. store openings. Is this normal capitalism, where the consumer pumps money into the market (instead of the government)?

The only shopping fun I'll have today is at the grocery store. I'll see great sales on coffee and peas, and I'll grab a few jars and cans... and then I'll put some back since we're on a budget and can only afford a little "hoarding". I'll have to see if those peas are still on sale next week.

Hopefully we Americans are spending wisely. In our market an increase in spending is a good indicator; but lately I'm wondering if less spending would be a better sign.

What we need are new job opportunities. I vote we start creating jobs and employing in areas such as green energy, infrastructure building, the manufacturing of new hybrids or smaller cars we can afford ($11,000 MAX?) and etc.

The government should provide incentives in these areas rather than handing out our tax dollar without stipulation. Bail out the auto industry but do it so there are more jobs. Don't require a specific product at a specific price, but give incentives to meet standards. Encourage them to creatively build a product we need and can afford.

I'm off to the grocery store. Anyone need peas? There's a great sale this week.