I am a self-employed cabinetmaker and have been self-employed for twenty-five years. While I am sad to see a lot of people I know hurting, I am also angered by the legions of people who have cush government positions (I won't call it work) who will never feel any pinch. Here in California, which is totally ungovernable by anyone, public unions are fighting the Terminator's proposal that every state employee take two days off per month without pay. Against their contract, they say. In the real world, a retracting economy forces layoffs, reduced spending, pay cuts, inventory reductions, etc. Except in the government, where the talk is tax hikes to cover the drop in revenue. This makes me mad as heck.