Andy On The Recession

Andy Rooney On Economic Tough Times And Memories Of The Depression

(CBS)  The following is a weekly 60 Minutes commentary by CBS News correspondent Andy Rooney.

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I get five or six newspapers every day and I've been reading a lot of stories about what they're calling the recession we're having. They don't want to scare us, so they don't call it a Depression, they call it a recession.

Talk of a Depression, spelled with a capital D, probably means more to me than it does to you because I grew up during the worst Depression we ever had in this country.

There were pictures of bread lines and soup kitchens in the paper every day when I was a kid. Big bakeries gave away their bread when it was three or four days old and people who were out of work and hungry, lined up to get it. We don't have anything like that now.

My family was lucky because my father always had his job. He made $8,000 during the years I was in grade school in the 1930s and $12,000 when I was in high school. I was one of the rich kids on our block.

We had a live-in maid my mother paid $16 a week. She had her own room upstairs next to mine and while I forget how old I was, I couldn't have been real young because I remember how pretty I thought she was.

I don't know anything about economics but I don't think what we're in is a Depression - or even a recession - whatever the difference is. I'm as ready to blame President Bush for things as anyone else but I don't think this recession is his fault.

I look at The Wall Street Journal every day. I don't understand it but I look at it because it's all about money and I know how important money is.

Do you know what these headlines mean?

"DEAL FEES UNDER FIRE AMID MORTGAGE CRISIS," "DEFAULT FEARS UNNERVE MARKETS," "BOND INSURERS WEATHER HIT TO RATINGS," "WORLD RIDES TO WALL STREET'S RESCUE."

Oh, I don't think that's where the world is riding to.

I'm going to keep reading The Wall Street Journal though even when I don't understand it because if the world comes to an end, I know they'll have a story about it - on page six.

[mewertheim]

Its a recession when your neighbor looses his job. Its a depression when you loose you job!!!

[tonykid101]

I generally love Andy''s commentary, but tonight was different. I was born about 20 years after the Great Depression ended and I''ve grown up hearing from my elders that "this isn''t as bad as I had it." You know what? I bet the Great Depression wasn''t as bad as being a Jew in Nazi Germany or living in Europe during the Black Plague, but to those who lived through the Great Depression, it was rough. Despite this, I thought we''d moved beyond that explanation. Back when Andy was growing up, few women worked outside the home and these women were amazing at making a few dollars go a very, very long way. That luxury is pretty much gone now and so many of the services they provided are performed by others at a cost. And there are so many more changes that make these comments seem insensitive. The Great Depression was terrible and I sympathize with those who lived it. Give those who are suffering now a little consideration.

[lostvote]

Andy, you''ve lost my vote... forever!
Given your depression comments tonight (1/27/08) about how you grew up with a maid, your father making big bucks during those ''difficult'' economic times and how the WSJ is inane to you just leads me to believe you''re totally out of touch with middle class America, who indirectly support your blue-blood lifestyle. Obviously, you have no clue, understanding or empathy about hard times or the current recession we are in. While I grew up in the post-depression, my father was in that bread line and he told me he was lucky if he had work of any kind just to keep our family fed and clothed. I suggest you look in the morror and see how old and tired you look. Then, go to your typewriter and prepare a long overdue letter of resignation. You''ll give those departed souls in that bread line, like my father, the ''break'' they deserve.

Sincerely, Bob in CT.

[jncc1701]

Andy you usually have someething either funny or sarcastic to say. But I suspect the writers strike is affecting your work - this is below your high standards.
"there was a depression but it didn''t affect me, we had a maid, the current econmic uncernity is not Bush''s fault and wall street writes about money."

hopefully the writers will get back to work soon.

[DrSFG]

PLEASE CBS: GET RID OF ANDY ROONEY!!!!!!!!!!!
My parents lived through the great depression. It affected them for the rest of their lives. Mr Rooney, you are a disgusting old man. PLEASE, go home AND JUST SHUT UP!!!

[bennebg1]

I am so disappointed with the depressin/recession commentary from Andy tonight (1/27/08). It''s just another example of how you need to be careful of being deceived. It''s a shame we have to be careful of 60 minutes, a broadcast that is suppose to cut through to the truth. Andy''s position of financial advantage as a child during the depression came out clearly. Andy was able to hide it for a long time.No one who has had to deal with real financial challenge would ever have cavalierly spoken as Andy did tonight. Maybe he should talk with us everyday people to see how it really is. What a thought! Andy, I will never think of you again as recognizing the blantantly obvious.

[cwaspire]

Andy,
To say you don''t hold Pres. Bush responsible for the current economic woes is, I believe, a bit naive. The Bush administration, like the complicit Congress and Senate, have sat on their hands for years making sure we have a laissez faire, free swinging government which will let "the markets do their work". They have and now we see the results. The war profiteers, the lobbyists, our own politicians, the Wall St. CEOs have all made theirs while the country sinks even lower. We can''t buy anything made in this country except Boeing jets and even then many of their parts are made in Asia and elsewhere. The chickens are coming home to roost and everyone is going to suffer when all is said and done.

[rowdytexan2]

My parents lived through the Depression also. They talked about putting cardboard or paper bags folded in their shoes when they had holes in them. About having after school snacks of biscuits and lard. About living in a tent as itenerant workers, picking up pecans, and picking cotton to keep the taxes paid on their farm. ALL the children worked. They talked about how cold it was in that tent, and about how Grandma washed clothes out in a wash pot outside, and how they stood around the fire under the wash pot to keep warm as they went back and forth to the pickings. To my grandmother''s last days, she would rewash aluminum foil and reuse it, fold paper grocery bags like they were a precious commodity, save plastic butter tubs, and how each kitchen utensil was a prize possesion...and sit in the rocker and *** holes in our socks and mend our clothes...and yet remained a loving, generous happy person.

Andy Rooney, I have always loved your program. But your description of the Depression is sickening, and you are a snob. And your pissing off the very real depression that we could be headed for is just too bad. I hope when you are in the nursing home and need your depends changed that the person doing it cannot speak English, and that they feed you beenie weenies for every meal, disgusting old man!

[trillion1]

Andy, say what you want, but we didn''t have these problems before bush.

[ngoodwin2]

I am very upset with Andy Rooney comments. He doesn''t think we are in a recession. He didn''t realize we were in a depression in the 1930s because his father was rich. He is probably rich now and the recession doesn''t affect him because he is not in danger of loosing his home. The $3.50 gas prices, the $3.50 for milk, and $2.00 for eggs is not hurting his pockets. Maybe if Mr. Rooney made minimum wage or his house would be in danger of foreclosure (like so many Americans) he would definitely not THINK but know this economy is in a recession.

[g-gfather]

I woke one morning in the winter of 1938 and was asked by my mother to see if my little sister was awake yet, she wasn''t, she had died during the night from pneumonia. We had no heat that winter and stayed in bed to keep warm day and night am so glad for you Mr. Andy. Love to all. Great-grandfather

[knyghtwolf]

To say that Immus had to be let go due to his crude and rude remarks that were at best described as lower level intelligent comments based on personal biases that had no merit whatsoever does not even begin to touch the surfaces that Andy has chipped and chiseled away and bored into. Our country, as a whole, has been put here BECAUSE of the bush regime, bush knows it, WE certainly know it, how could Andy NOT know it? For any staunch bush supporter left, go live at Crawford after your hero is done, you all deserve each other, all ten or twenty of you left.

[rushlimpdrug]

Andy, look in the mirror.
Retire.
You''re old and have NOTHING to contribute anymore to 60 Minutes.
This piece you wrote is as bad as it gets.
You have been isolated from common people waaay too long.
I watch with sadness at the fact that CBS doesn''t have the guts to wheel you out.
So sad.
At least get that thing hanging from your upper lip fixed, it looks grose.

[frnk1231]

Andy does not know what he is talking about. In the depression there were no food stamps, housing assistance, etc. These were mainly started in 1969 under Johnson. If it wasn''t for these programs there would be food lines as in the depression. Where I live, food banks are running out of food regularly, the increase in demand at the soup kitchens is at least 10% per year, and reportedly at least one member of 4.5 million families goes to bed hungry every night.

[frnk1231]

Andy does not know what he is talking about. In the depression there were no food stamps, housing assistance, etc. These were mainly started in 1969 under Johnson. If it wasn''t for these programs there would be food lines as in the depression. Where I live, food banks are running out of food regularly, the increase in demand at the soup kitchens is at least 10% per year, and reportedly at least one member of 4.5 million families goes to bed hungry every night.

[frnk1231]

Andy does not know what he is talking about. In the depression there were no food stamps, housing assistance, etc. These were mainly started in 1969 under Johnson. If it wasn''t for these programs there would be food lines as in the depression. Where I live, food banks are running out of food regularly, the increase in demand at the soup kitchens is at least 10% per year, and reportedly at least one member of 4.5 million families goes to bed hungry every night.

[frnk1231]

Andy does not know what he is talking about. In the depression there were no food stamps, housing assistance, etc. These were mainly started in 1969 under Johnson. If it wasn''t for these programs there would be food lines as in the depression. Where I live, food banks are running out of food regularly, the increase in demand at the soup kitchens is at least 10% per year, and reportedly at least one member of 4.5 million families goes to bed hungry every night.

[frnk1231]

Andy does not know what he is talking about. In the depression there were no food stamps, housing assistance, etc. These were mainly started in 1969 under Johnson. If it wasn''t for these programs there would be food lines as in the depression. Where I live, food banks are running out of food regularly, the increase in demand at the soup kitchens is at least 10% per year, and reportedly at least one member of 4.5 million families goes to bed hungry every night.

[frnk1231]

Andy does not know what he is talking about. In the depression there were no food stamps, housing assistance, etc. These were mainly started in 1969 under Johnson. If it wasn''t for these programs there would be food lines as in the depression. Where I live, food banks are running out of food regularly, the increase in demand at the soup kitchens is at least 10% per year, and reportedly at least one member of 4.5 million families goes to bed hungry every night.

[frnk1231]

Andy does not know what he is talking about. In the depression there were no food stamps, housing assistance, etc. These were mainly started in 1969 under Johnson. If it wasn''t for these programs there would be food lines as in the depression. Where I live, food banks are running out of food regularly, the increase in demand at the soup kitchens is at least 10% per year, and reportedly at least one member of 4.5 million families goes to bed hungry every night.

[frnk1231]

Andy does not know what he is talking about. In the depression there were no food stamps, housing assistance, etc. These were mainly started in 1969 under Johnson. If it wasn''t for these programs there would be food lines as in the depression. Where I live, food banks are running out of food regularly, the increase in demand at the soup kitchens is at least 10% per year, and reportedly at least one member of 4.5 million families goes to bed hungry every night.

[frnk1231]

Andy does not know what he is talking about. In the depression there were no food stamps, housing assistance, etc. These were mainly started in 1969 under Johnson. If it wasn''t for these programs there would be food lines as in the depression. Where I live, food banks are running out of food regularly, the increase in demand at the soup kitchens is at least 10% per year, and reportedly at least one person in over 4.5 million people go to bed hungry every night.

[frnk1231]

Andy does not know what he is talking about. In the depression there were no food stamps, housing assistance, etc. These were mainly started in 1969 under Johnson. If it wasn''t for these programs there would be food lines as in the depression. Where I live, food banks are running out of food regularly, the increase in demand at the soup kitchens is at least 10% per year, and reportedly at least one person in over 4.5 million people go to bed hungry every night.

[mcv57]

Andy does not know what he is talking about. In the depression there were no food stamps, housing assistance

Posted by frnk1231

Give it alittle while longer, when he is out of a job and his 401k desintergrate. He going to feel real stupid.

[frnk1231]

Andy does not know what he is talking about. In the depression there were no food stamps, housing assistance, etc. These were mainly started in 1969 under Johnson. If it wasn''t for these programs there would be food lines as in the depression. Where I live, food banks are running out of food regularly, the increase in demand at the soup kitchens is at least 10% per year, and reportedly at least one person in over 4.5 million people go to bed hungry every night.

[frnk1231]

Andy does not know what he is talking about. In the depression there were no food stamps, housing assistance, etc. These were mainly started in 1969 under Johnson. If it wasn''t for these programs there would be food lines as in the depression. Where I live, food banks are running out of food regularly, the increase in demand at the soup kitchens is at least 10% per year, and reportedly at least one person in over 4.5 million people go to bed hungry every night.

[frnk1231]

Andy does not know what he is talking about. In the depression there were no food stamps, housing assistance, etc. These were mainly started in 1969 under Johnson. If it wasn''t for these programs there would be food lines as in the depression. Where I live, food banks are running out of food regularly, the increase in demand at the soup kitchens is at least 10% per year, and reportedly at least one person in over 4.5 million people go to bed hungry every night.

[frnk1231]

Andy does not know what he is talking about. In the depression there were no food stamps, housing assistance, etc. These were mainly started in 1969 under Johnson. If it wasn''t for these programs there would be food lines as in the depression. Where I live, food banks are running out of food regularly, the increase in demand at the soup kitchens is at least 10% per year, and reportedly at least one person in over 4.5 million people go to bed hungry every night.

[frnk1231]

Andy does not know what he is talking about. In the depression there were no food stamps, housing assistance, etc. These were mainly started in 1969 under Johnson. If it wasn''t for these programs there would be food lines as in the depression. Where I live, food banks are running out of food regularly, the increase in demand at the soup kitchens is at least 10% per year, and reportedly at least one person in over 4.5 million people go to bed hungry every night.

[frnk1231]

Andy does not know what he is talking about. In the depression there were no food stamps, housing assistance, etc. These were mainly started in 1969 under Johnson. If it wasn''t for these programs there would be food lines as in the depression. Where I live, food banks are running out of food regularly, the increase in demand at the soup kitchens is at least 10% per year, and reportedly at least one person in over 4.5 million people go to bed hungry every night.

[frnk1231]

Andy does not know what he is talking about. In the depression there were no food stamps, housing assistance, etc. These were mainly started in 1969 under Johnson. If it wasn''t for these programs there would be food lines as in the depression. Where I live, food banks are running out of food regularly, the increase in demand at the soup kitchens is at least 10% per year, and reportedly at least one person in over 4.5 million people go to bed hungry every night.

[rushlimpdrug]

frnk1231 You sound like a broken record!
Posted by commonsence1 at 09:18 AM

I would think that frnk1231 is not happy with the old faarrt Andy joking about this not even being a recession.
This may be all funny to Andy but to many the reality is they are losing houses, jobs, cutting back on ESSENTIALS, and more.
Guess to some like Andy and the CBS 60 minute crew it is all funny.
No Andy it isn''t a recession and it isn''t the president''s fault so let''s just step over it all.
Hurry and roll the windows up in the car, here comes another homeless beggar looking for a handout.

[frnk1231]

Andy does not know what he is talking about. In the depression there were no food stamps, housing assistance, etc. These were mainly started in 1969 under Johnson. If it wasn''t for these programs there would be food lines as in the depression. Where I live, food banks are running out of food regularly, the increase in demand at the soup kitchens is at least 10% per year, and reportedly at least one person in over 4.5 million people go to bed hungry every night.

[frnk1231]

Andy does not know what he is talking about. In the depression there were no food stamps, housing assistance, etc. These were mainly started in 1969 under Johnson. If it wasn''t for these programs there would be food lines as in the depression. Where I live, food banks are running out of food regularly, the increase in demand at the soup kitchens is at least 10% per year, and reportedly at least one person in over 4.5 million people go to bed hungry every night.

[frnk1231]

Andy does not know what he is talking about. In the depression there were no food stamps, housing assistance, etc. These were mainly started in 1969 under Johnson. If it wasn''t for these programs there would be food lines as in the depression. Where I live, food banks are running out of food regularly, the increase in demand at the soup kitchens is at least 10% per year, and reportedly at least one person in over 4.5 million people go to bed hungry every night.

[pvperson]

Someone please wake up frnk1231, I think the poor sot has fallen asleep with his finger on the enter key.

[blaqrubi]

The Economic crisis being what it is is 90%the blame of the subprime lenders. Period. If you were foreclosed upon, do you think you are going to continue to pay bills? NO. New Century is reorganizing right now so that they can defraud our children and grandchildren in a few years. And no one is stopping them, let''s just blame that homeless guy over there. Crime DOES pay in the USA.

[DrSFG]

commonsence1 is incorrect. Government policy can GREATLY affect economic times of boom and bust. The Great Depression occurred not from the stock market crash but from the restrictive trade rules that were in place after the crash.

[awakenow]

I respect Mr. Rooney''s right to have his opinion on the state of affairs that are occuring in the U.S. rright now;however, if he believes that we are not experiencing a recession he is living in a BUBBLE. Contrary to what he may believe, there are people in this country lining up everyday for days old food, and believe it or not, still living (if that what you want to call it) off of $8,000 and $12,000 a year. Yes, in the U.S., one of the wealthiest countries on earth. Why? Because we have sat back and allowed the greed of the Bourgeois to out rule and overrun our conscience. Why should 4 million or more Americans lose their homes and we, as citizens, say that it is their fault. 4 families, maybe, 4 million, not so. This country has hit an all time low of concern for its citizens, and if I am not mistaken, it is, or at least it was,the citizens that make up the fabric of this country.

[carefulspide]

Although I usually like your comments Andy, I don''t think growing up relatively well off and staying fairly well off could make your opinion on the growing poverty in this country.

It is just a different kind of depression today as the gap between the haves and the have nots is widening. It is the silent depression as it isn''t quite as in your face but try to tell the losers in this econonomy that they are not experiencing a depression.

[pproko1]

About your commentary about a recession,you have to get out of your home with no windows and go visit the ordinary family in the US who can''t make ends meet, have to choose between heat,food, and just the basic necessities to survive today. For you to say there is no problem with our economy makes no sense to at least 75% of the families I know. I do believe you are getting senile in your old age and need to leave your plush location and travel to some of our small rural areas. Hopefully this will open up your eyes to what is really going on in this country.

[eggy1620]

How many of the home foreclosures are second homes, vacation homes, rental properties, investment properties, etc.? I don%u2019t think those folks need any help. Only people about to lose their primary residence should be bailed out.

[be_thechange]

Andy, you''ve missed this one. In my region (central NY) the food banks can''t keep up, the unemployment figures are double what is reported because so many legit cases are refused or remain unemployed after their 26 weeks of benefits, the typical adult male or female head of household earns $10/hr, healthcare is a joke, education sends two messages: drop out now and enjoy life while you''re young or graduate and run for your life with that diploma. This is status quo for the region and NOW we''re entering a recession... and that will tear a thin socio-economic fabric even more. Americans knew they were electing another elitist politician in GW, but they allowed fear to run over rational thinking. Now we are no closer to settling the terrorism issue and are sinking into a period of economic lows unseen for a long time. You say GW is not to blame. Perhaps not personally to blame. But his kind of smug, rich, power loving businessmen have pushed this country to the brink. Thank God the common people know how to survive. I hope the greed-machine grinds to a full stop and we re-evaluate the rules for the distribution of wealth, and logic to live within our means.