During the normal course of the year a typical products supplier within ASI will release products two or three times. During the dark years most companies skipped that entire process and instead just stuck with the main introductory catalog at the end of the year. This year as the economy rebounded most rolled out a June catalog. Leed's took it a step further and introduced hundreds of new products for the fall season.
Little did they know at the time - or perhaps they did know - several of their products are calling the economy on the nose. Drink-ware has been their fasting growing catalog so it is no surprise the Double Dipper Ceramic Mug with Stainless Base was part of the launch. The double name doesn't really explain anything about the mug itself so the theory that is currently bouncing around the industry is that the name relates to the state of financial affairs in the nation. In some circles that would be seen as inappropriate but I find it funny.
The market dropped over six hundred points and overseas markets are getting hammered today. Futures for the markets are down sharply again. Tuesday is not going to be a great day and the carnage will continue for weeks and months ahead. Spending has stopped and even though credit has not yet locked up it doesn't matter. People are scared and they aren't spending their money. Maybe the more appropriate name for the gift would have been the double recession mug.
Ultimately the NY Times hit it on the head in their opinion piece today. We are a debtor nation. We are a nation that doesn't generate enough revenue to pay for all the social programs we desire or have committed to over the years. Our Treasury owes about 10 trillion dollars to the public sector. Think about that for a moment and you will better understand the extent of the problem. Our nation will never recover and it is time that we all start to realize that. Times have changed and we need to recognize our place in the world sadly has changed.
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