According to dozens of experts surveyed by the Wall Street Journal (see here) we're heading into a recession that will be the worst in fifty years, with at least three consecutive quarters of less-than-zero growth. Millions of homeowners face foreclosure, trillions of dollars have been lost in the stock market, and we're going to see a spike in joblessness — perhaps a big one.
In a jaw-dropping story in today's Washington Post, a news analyst even wonders if it's The End of American Capitalism? (Now there's a headline I never thought I'd see in a major US newspaper.)
Remarkably, this desperate tumult was predicted in better times last year by the edgy Austin-based folk-rocker Eliza Gilkyson. She's been performing The Party's Over on the road for months, and released it earlier this July on her record Beautiful World, to rave reviews in the UK. ( I have yet to see a single review of this record in the US yet, but maybe that's because newspapers are so busy firing critics, they're not bothering to review records anymore.)
In any case, take a look at this lyrics (or listen to the song) and ask yourself: Doesn't this (metaphorically) describe the nation today?
brought in the lawyers to cover our ass
left a note for the children, to clean up the mess
the party’s over
it was a big success!