Costly Euro Bad News for Vacationers

Planning a European vacation? Oops. Better add a tin cup to your packing list just in case you are reduced to begging to pay your hotel bill! The euro is now at $1.4242, as Americans grow poorer by world standards by the day. Think that big-time national debt doesn't matter? Think again! Sure hope you're not headed to Switzerland! The Swiss franc is now at about 94 cents. Many years ago it was worth a quarter. There are many ways to spend oneself into poverty, and it's possible that government rather than individual effort just may do that for us.

Most people I know are feeling a little pinch from the recession (or a lot of pinch, depending), so everyone should be delighted that Washington (read White House) is eyeing a middle class tax increase.