The sign is everywhere. For Sale. You can buy anything these days. Big houses, little houses, cars, washing machines, the State of California. Everything must go.

Software mogul John McAfee just auctioned his home for $525,000. Not too shabby except the home was listed at $1.9 million. "They stole it," said the builder of the house.

Lots of steals out there. Why? Not a lot of people with money. Even (and probably especially) the super rich aren't feeling so super. Our local personal jet company went belly up because suddenly people couldn't fathom dropping a couple million on their own baby jet.

Recently, the jet company declared bankruptcy, and one of the old owners bought the remnants of what was left, promising a stripped down version of the business.

Stripped down. Lots of folks feeling that way, eh?

I'm sure other countries would love to buy a piece of America (and don't think they aren't), but they are kind of broke as well. This recession is global, and some are coming back better than others. Can you say a realignment of power? It's happening.

How did America defeat Russia in the Cold War? The U.S. outspent the Russians. With no real threat to our power these days, we are STILL at war with 2 third world countries. We are pushing a health care plan that still seems to be more concept than contract. And we're more than broke to begin with. Do I hear the bidding for America starting at one dollar? That's many trillion more than the government actually has.

Social security recipients will not receive any COLA (cost of living adjustment). No soda for you! Yes folks, it's the beginning of the end for social security. The baby boomers will bleed it dry. I've got thirty-five years to go, so COLA or no COLA, I'm still not holding my breath for that old timer's government check.

Maybe if I sold my stuff...I believe if I sold everything I had at an unreasonable markdown, I would optimistically get about ten grand. Of course, I'm worth more than that in my heart, but all the things I own still add up to about a year's worth of rent. Sorry folks, the baby is not for sale. Yet.

People are still holding out where I live. They still think their $150,000 house is worth two hundred grand. They still think their clunker is worth $3500-$4500, but the rebate is over. The cars are still just clunkers. People still think they are important, but I've never met them and don't know who they are. The ego shrinks. The id swells.

This place for sale. That place for rent. It's a buyers market, but there are no guarantees that anything will be worth more in the future. The rich are scrambling. The poor are suffering. The middle class is losing its illusion of the American Dream.

Anyone want to buy the post office? Can anyone spare some stamps?

Don't count on the Kennedys getting us out of this mess. Camelot is nothing but a fairy tale, and Joe Kennedy made his fortune on bootlegging when it was illegal and booze distribution when it was legal. Same business; only the semantics changed. All his public figure boys are dead, as dead as The Dead Kennedys themselves. Somewhere, Jello Biafra is suing himself for breach of contract.

I've been down this road before. I don't really remember being poor in '82, but we did move to the desert prairie that year. How do, boy? I remember '92, and you were lucky to work at the twenty-four hour diner for five bucks an hour. What would you like to order? Now, I drive the Yellow Cab, and it has seen better days. It's seen worse days as well. Hang on. Where can I take you?

So, we're all broke, and we know it. We'll sell you our treasures and possessions at a discounted rate. We'll give you the shirt off our back if you give us a swig of that moonshine. Okay, it's not that bad. It ain't the GREAT Depression. Just a downgrade.

But you better buckle down for long cold winter. Everyone can get by in the summer with not a lot, but if you can't sell it before the cold hits, that For Sale sign is going to be up for a while.

Care to make an offer?

Chris Jungle sold his dreams for moonshine long ago.