Some of ya'll old timers might remember interst rates in the beginning of the 80s - up to 17 and 18%.  Whip out that credit card and buy a house!

Most industries, especially ours, have a built in relief valve that goes off every few years.  In the past, when times got tough, the hangers-on, less than best, marginal outfits would get purged - they would go find something easier to do - they had to.  But that was in a more fairly laid out playing ground.  If you worked hard, styed educated and watched your overhead you could survive the tough times.  Now there are too many global variables that I, as a small businessman, get blind-sided by.

I attended an underwriting seminar today for continuing education for my title license (yes, they do exist in Fl - I bet less than 5% of the Fl abstractors have a license) along with 300 title insurance movers and shakers.  ALL complained of seriously slower business - NOT ONE spoke up to question the underwriter's practice of employing 12 year old Indians and Filipinos.  300 people sat there calmly and listened as though nothing was wrong.

I don't know - stuff just ain't like it oughta be.