The New American Economy

One of Ned's acquaintances observed, with a grimace, that jobs in the "new" America will be mainly found in "security" industries, in which persons of limited education and skills are hired to patrol abandoned buildings to keep homeless people and other undesirables off the property. Of course, he observed, most of these jobs will be offered to "veterans" since they have few if any skills other than pointing weapons at civilians in countries populated by persons of color.
We admonished him for his pessimism and offered that there were at least two other "growth" industries that would fuel the economy, and fill the McMansions, of tomorrow: dogs and "landscaping." That there is an immense industry catering to dogs can hardly be disputed, as most of us know at least one member of family or friends who is a dog walker, a dog "groomer" or who works in a pet store, etc. We also expect that thousands will be hired to patrol streets and parks to pick up dog shit, a leading cause now of water pollution, and a cause that can only grow in the future. And of course, there is "landscaping" which means of course immigrants and persons of little education making minimum wage mowing lawns and blowing leaves, cuttings etc around with gas-powered "leaf blowers."
What was it The Immortal Bard had one of his characters say in, was it, The Tempest?
"O Brave New World!"

UPDATE: Thursday

It is worse than we thought. Today's NYT has a piece on how much people, er-'pet parents,' spend on their mangy dogs. Those whose incomes exceed $70 grand spend most of the money on such things as gourmet meals. And, worse, half the households in this benighted country have a dog, and 4 of ten have a cat. No wonder they don't want to pay more in taxes--those gourmet meals for Fido are taking up much of that disposable income. We hold cats to be less of an issue if owners keep them indoors where they cannot kill birds, etc.

More BP heartache

Lordy, Lordy. How bad can things get?
Damn you BP! Now you done cost me my dawg!
"Animal shelters in coastal parishes are packed (sic) with pets being dropped off by owners who say they cannot afford to care for them any longer."
Authorities say that 2-3X the usual number of pets are being abandoned. Now, the MSM is filled with reports of people lining up for BP to pay them or provide them jobs. Are you telling me that these people can't afford their pets? Ned thinks they do protest too much.
The Humane Society is helping people with bags of Kittles 'n' Bits, which if Ned recalls correctly is pretty toxic for pets. But the only help available is to certified fisherpersons or those in the fish industry.
So if Ned has this correctly, eventually people will be sticking their hand out asking BP to pay for their pets.
Don't believe it? Watch this space.