During the past 6 weeks my wife and I have visited beaches and beachside towns at Santa Monica and San Diego in California, Seaside Heights at the New Jersey Shore, Ocean Beach on Fire Island off the coast of New York, as well as Race Point Beach at the tip of Cape Cod, and Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard, both in Massachusetts. What we have learned from these surfside jaunts is that, on the coasts at least, the economy of the United States appears to be floating and sailing along just fine.
Ring...ring...ring. Our kids just called to ask if we could feed their cats while they're at Ocean Beach, Maryland for a couple of days of fun in the sun.
Of course we can feed the cats (we won't be heading out for the shore at Atlantic City, New Jersey for another four days yet).
A lot of people, we've noticed, have some bucks to spend and are enjoying themselves this summer. That's disposable income being disposed of in a good way, because it stimulates local economies. Those who say that only the rich can create jobs are deluding themselves. The middle class, as always, is helping mightily to keep the ship of state from going under.
