Editorial August 17, 1992 Issue

When times are tough ...

Mary Metzner Trammell

The economy. Not that we think about it constantly. But for all of us, it's a lurking concern. One newspaper headline tells us that a major American automaker is speeding up a cost-cutting program. Another says the economy is still weak, but maybe on the rebound. We read about layoffs, nose-diving real estate values, shrinking disposable incomes.

And we see heart-wrenching reminders on every downtown street that times are tough. Haggard men and women, living out of plastic bags, sleeping on doorsteps, asking for a couple of quarters to buy a doughnut.

If there's anything we've learned from all this, it's that the volatile economy won't cooperate with our plans. So, does this mean we should avoid financial commitments like starting a business, getting married, having a family, buying a home, or even signing a lease? Should we just put our lives on hold until we see what the future—next year, next month, or even tomorrow—might bring?

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