Frequent DKosers know that I travel almost every week. As a rule I talk to cabbies, doormen, bellhops, and food service people. I ask them the same questions over and over again.
I ask: "How is business?"
Because I find this a far more accurate way of seeing how well the economy is than reading from a statistical business report that may likely be manipulated by Bush Administration officials.
Here is a tally of the last four months traveling to LA, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Manhattan, Dallas, Reno, Atlanta, Columbus, Pittsburgh and Greensboro.
Cabbies responses to how’s business:
"Slow. Very Slow."
"Awful. I quit my job and hoped that driving around would give me more freedom. This sucks. Business has really dropped off.
"So so."
"Business? What business?"
"When I started driving cabs, it was so busy I could take all the 8 to 12 hour shifts I wanted. Now, I am lucky to empty a full tank of gas in two days."
"Awful."
"Just OK. The Nascar event was great, reminded me of 8 years ago...it was drive all the time. But when the race ended and the parties ended, it was back to this."
"Less business. More traffic."
"Bad. Stinks."
Bellhops response to how’s business:
"Well. Business is good. Tips are getting smaller and more rare. I have people asking me for receipts for tips. Like I can stop and get them a receipt AND carry their bags on."
"Slow man. Slow."
"I get more workout at the gym now than a whole day here."
"People are getting stingier and businesses are less likely to reimburse tipping. So it sucks."
"Good. Very good today. Tomorrow? Who knows?" ( This was the W in Manhattan)
"I notice more and more people just want to carry their own bags, because tips are a bit more scarce."
I think people want me to carry their bags and lay their clothes out and then they hand me two bucks. You know? How am I going to feed my daughter on two bucks? You know? Thanks asshole."
"This has to be the suckiest job ever. It’s mostly dress up like a Russian Commissar, and carry some fat fuck’s bag to their room and then get a five dollar bill. The next five dollar bill comes about an hour later."
"I think about playing the lottery every single day. Answer your question?"
Hotel food service employees answers to how’s business:
"Insurance here doubled. Before that it was just OK. But hell I have so much insurance pulled out of my check it’s ridiculous. I hope I don’t have to go to the doctor anytime soon."
"It’s OK. No where near as much money as they say I could make. I have a lot of customers walk out when I am in the kitchen, and of course the restaurant owners take the money out of MY pay."
"Not that great. It was great when I started here in 1999. It has gotten harder and harder to see a great tip."
"Skimpy tippers and walk outs all the time. I feel like a security guard."
"Business is good." ( Also the W in Manhattan)
"Well it’s busy, but I haven’t had a raise in years and tips are getting tighter. So I guess if you own this restaurant you are a lot happier than if you work here."
"It’s OK."
"Ugh. Don’t ask. I am trying to make it through the day."
Bartenders answer to How’s Business.
"It’s not that bad. Some days are lousy. But I work for a very skimpy bas salary. Not everyone is as good a tipper as you are sir." ( Thank you).
"I don’t know. We have to wear this uniform and act all subservient to drunk assholes on expense accounts just to get a good tip. So. It sucks. OK?"
"It’s OK."
"It’s good." ( Ritz Carlton, Atlanta)
"Shitty. Pardon my French."
"It’s OK. Just OK. When the NFL event came here it was awesome. But how often does THAT happen?"
"Well it doesn’t suck. But that doesn’t mean it’s good. I made a lot mor money doing this in the 90s. I actually wen to a bartending school in 1994 and for 6 or 7 years I was doing good. It hasn’t been like that for awhile."
"Well business is good, but I can hardly pay my bills."
I think the economy is good for some and bad for most. Despite all the jobs the Bushies brag about. I have the distinct feeling that the Bush Administration and Congress in general is comprised of people who never really have to work that hard. They are bloody millionaires, just like the pundit class. They have their bags carried for them, many never pay their own bills, they will never really need Social Security and so none of them, not one really knows what it’s like to live in America.
And that is the problem as I see it. People in the media and in government who speak for us have no idea what it's really like outside of the limelight, the spotlight and high salaried and highly perked positions.
That said, they shouldn't even pretend to speak for us.