Now that we have avoided sure and near-term economic disaster by not extending the debt ceiling, pundits are pondering whether or not the deal that was passed was fair. Did it cut spending enough/just right/too much? Are we heading to another crisis by not stimulating the economy/spending too much/not raising revenue enough? Does this deal help/hurt/none of the above Obama in the next election? 

I'm reading all the links in my RSS feed and none of it sticks with me like the conversation that I had with the secretary at the moving company. 

I'm preparing for a big move at the end of the month. As I drive around doing errands, Ian tags along with his drawing book, pencil, and pencil sharpener. Yesterday, we went to the Barnes and Noble on Route 17 to sell old books. Today, I took him up to Mahwah to drop off a deposit check with the moving company. Because Ian is so sweetly quirky (and has red hair), I get into lots of conservations with strangers. After I explain why Ian is so quirky, people tell me their stories. People can be extremely nice, if you lower your guard first. 

When we were at the moving company, I marveled at their calendar on a huge dry erase board, which was packed with moves. I asked the secretary, if it was always that busy. She said no. I asked these were mostly local moves or were people going long distance. She said that some of the moves were local, but mostly people were getting out of the area. They were going to North Carolina or Pennsylvania, where the homes were cheaper and the taxes were lower. 

She said that she and her husband don't make that much money and can't afford a home, so they live in a trailer park a few miles away. They would like to move, but they are afraid that they won't find work elsewhere. 

Trapped in a trailer park. 

I'm not sure what the answers are, but I have A LOT of sympathy for this woman. This woman is my bottom line and is always my bottom line. Show me how to make this woman's life better, and you have my vote and my allegiance.