White collar woes
Sure: Ordinary, blue collar workers are getting laid off all over the place during this economic recession, but hey, rich people have it tough too!
It was a virtual morgue at the National Press Club Tuesday morning, when the Washington area’s rich folk assembled for a discussion put on by business trade publication Bisnow on the current economic environment.
Joe Robert, Jr., chairman and CEO of J.E. Robert Companies, welcomed the morning crowd with his own stiff cup of Joe:
“Our economic linkages are not holding.”
“Our capitalism system is not working.”
“This is like trying to surf a tsunami from behind the wave.”
“If anyone thinks we’re managing this one, think again.”
The Carlyle Group’s David Rubenstein, once a domestic policy adviser to Jimmy Carter, piled on:
“This is a very, very severe recession.”
“We’re not going to be the strong economic power that we once were.”
“We’re not going to be able to have the lifestyle we want.”
But Rubenstein saved his final act for the audience, allowing them to depress themselves with these questions:
“Raise your hands if you think the worst is behind us.” (No hands raised)
“Raise your hands if you think your taxes will go up next year.” (All hands raised)
