Oh the economy

So, I think I graduated from grad school at the worst possible time. Obviously we are in a major recession, which is not good for anyone. But, you are completely screwed when you are entering the job market with a newly earned arts degree. All of the jobs that actors need to survive on, are the first type of jobs that get cut. And the entertainment industry gets hit hard too. As an actorin NYC, it is very beneficial to have an agent. They can help you get seen for acting jobs that ACTUALLY PAY! However, due to the economy agents have definitely cut back this year on signing new talent. Once again, not good for the actor just coming out of a training program, that is looking for representation. From currently working in the business end of the theatrical world, I also know that producers and financers are freeking out, and shows (Broadway, and regional productions...the shows that actors ACTUALLY GET PAID in) are getting cancelled left and right. Not good for any actor.

On a similar note and what actually prompted me to write this entry is because of an article I read at work today. I have a lot of free time at work and since I am one of the few actors that is a huge, huge, huge, sports nut, I spend hours a day on espn.com. Greg Easterbrook, a writer for ESPN's Page 2 mentioned this in his weekly Tuesday article, Tuesday Morning Quarterback: "Last week, TMQ asked why no one was paying attention to the fact that the national debt ceiling was quietly raised by $800 billion during the summer. Well, toss that column: The White House just asked the national debt ceiling be raised another $700 billion, for the proposed financial-sector bailout. If that happens, in 2008 alone, $1.5 trillion will have been added to the national debt: every penny borrowed from your children and their children. Stated in today's dollars, in 1979 the entire national debt was $1.5 trillion. George W. Bush and Congress have in a single year added an amount equal to the entire national debt one generation ago. And the year's not over!
It took the United States 209 years, from the founding of the republic till 1998, to compile the first $5 trillion in national debt. In the decade since, $6 trillion in debt has been added. This means the United States has borrowed more money in the past decade than in all our previous history combined. Almost all the borrowing has been under the direction of George W. Bush..."

No wonder the economy stinks, I have no money, and have found myself in the completely out-of-body experience of eating out of garbages on the NYC street corners! (For family and friends who are worry-warts, 1/3 of the above statement came out of the fictional thoughts of my somewhat warped mind!)

P.S. Just to make you more mad, Easterbrook also pointed out: "And about that $700 billion about to the shoveled to the Wall Street elite -- in 2007, George W. Bush vetoed an increase of $7 billion per year in health care spending for the poor, saying the country couldn't afford it."

Update: So the $700 billion bail out was passed after it was first rejected. Which if we aren't being lied to, had to be done. However, one reason the GOP first rejected the bill was because it was too much money. The re-vamped bail out plan had a bunch of little easter-eggs attached to it ($150 billion worth) which made the GOP happy to accept this new plan. So they originally rejected the first one because $700 billion was too much, but when we added $150 billion to the plan, it was no longer too much. Greedy, hypocritical politicians, looking to help specialty groups so they will in turn help with their campaigns! Did I ever mention I hate politics!