Heavy Petting
BILLIONS GOING TO AMERICA’S FURRY FRIENDS (INCLUDING SIC’S BABY GIRL)
By Mande Wilkes
FITSNews – July 28, 2008 – We hate to say it, but we told ya so. For some time now, we’ve been crashing everybody’s pity party, busting the myth that the American economy sucks … and catching a lot of flak for doing so.
But it looks like our message is starting to gain some momentum, beginning with the McCain camp’s controversial echo of our sentiments. Behold this headline, which pretty much sums it up:
“Pets coddled even in rough economy”
And if that’s not clear enough, take a look at the line just below it:
“Spending up $2.2 billion from last year”
That pet spending is up more than $2 billion begs the question of where it started. The answer, amazingly, is that the animal industry is expected to bring in $43.4 billion in 2008, according to a study by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.
With that much cash (plastic?) going toward pets, it’s hard to tell whether the story is the fact that such silly spending is up in a bad economy, or whether the pet industry is that big to begin with.
Pet care businesses are booming even in our state – which is riddled with scarce employment and low wages. At Rock Hill’s York’s Dogma & Fetch, co-owner Jordan Garrett said that their business hasn’t been better.
“When I first got into pet business almost 10 years ago, other pet store owners had called the pet business a non-recession type business,” Garrett says. “That didn’t make sense to me.”
It doesn’t make sense to us either, but alas, the numbers don’t lie. That the animal industry is considered recession-proof is emblematic of the mentality that has bankrupted us both individually and collectively.
After all, God forbid we skimp on Muffy’s weekly primp to pay down those pesky credit card bills.
Of course, our own Sic Willie is himself an arch-pamperer of pooches, blowing multiple centuries a month to make sure his little “Peyton-poo” has everything her heart desires. She’s even got her own Free T-Rav dog shirt.
Comments
By FWFIV on July 28th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
If one does not count the last paragraph; of the three references Mande uses to support her ill-conceived notions, two have been written by her and the third was a short, space filler in the Sun News of Myrtle Beach. The final lines were all FITS news links. I am sure she knows such flimsy evidence does more to harm her point of view than to help it.
The idea that an educated person would knowingly try to make an economic point based soley on this anecdotal and cherry picked information is laughable, as are many of her other posts. So, one of a few possibilities exists:
She has seen how wealthy Ann Coulter has become thus wishes to emulate her particular brand of ignorant, misleading writing.
She enjoys the attention gained from these idiotic posts and Sic likes the hits to his site.
or
She really does believe this kind of loony garbage, in that case I feel sorry for her.
On another note, since Mande is always exhorting personal responsibility without “handouts” of any kind, is anyone curoius as to how a young woman such as herself was able to afford college and an expensive law degree. Most likely parental support or student loans which are supported by the government programs she claims to despise.
By Silence Dogood on July 28th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Mande,
What are you getting at with this article, it seems to contradicts itself. You start with, “We hate to say it, but we told ya so. For some time now, we’ve been crashing everybody’s pity party, busting the myth that the American economy sucks ”
and end with reference to “It doesn’t make sense to us either, but alas, the numbers don’t lie. That the animal industry is considered recession-proof is emblematic of the mentality that has bankrupted us both individually and collectively.
After all, God forbid we skimp on Muffy’s weekly primp to pay down those pesky credit card bills.”
So are you finally agreenig that the U.S. economoy does currently suck, but that despite that people are spending on taking care of pets – (and frankly is not only in the toilet, but in a toilet that is headed over the side of a cliff)
Or are you saying the fact that people are paying high bills for pets shows we are not in an economy? If the later then you should take out references to the “recession proof” nature of pet care expenditures that completely refute your basic point. Try something other than anecdoctal references – maybe even use real base line economic indicators instead of lottery sales and pet care sales.
Lastly, just as a hint, despite the fact that the Dow has already tumbled almost two hundred points since opening lower today than it closed on Friday, the DOW itself is not a baseline economic indicator, but bye and bye probably more tied to the actual nature of the econmoic outlook than lotto sales and fido’s healthcare supplement.
By Negatron on July 28th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Well, are we bankrupted by our spending or is the economy doing great? Retard.
By Phillip Branton on July 28th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
MANde……….
You lady need to tighten the girdle! What kind of article is this? Is this the type of thoughts you have ALL day??
When WE have all out war right here in OUR very state, are you going to get your head out of FLUFFY’s …backside!! Do I need to get you a HARTz pet collar?? We sure don’t need someone with these fleas taking up good CYBER SPACE!!
Do you have any idea that your state is under ASSAULT?? Obviously…NOT! Want PROOF…..here it IS !!
http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/jul/26/ginn_co_seeking_input_on_acres48847/
http://www.thestate.com/local/story/473145.html
Public dollars are going to be spent to COVER UP these “brownfield” sites!! Would you buy veggies from this MARKET or would you let fellow South Carolinians live and work on top of ONE??
Come ON ….MANde .be a MAN!!! Put on some MEATLOAF !!
Will you love me forever ???
By Red Bank Bar on July 28th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
This is like the old Kip Adotta routine on pointing out the the obviousness of some idiocy: “My parents used to say, Is he or isn’t he? when Liberace used to come on the television in the 50s. If he were, they wouldn’t let him on television.”
Here, get real folks, Mande is a stupid b*tch. There’s no debate. She’s a mo’ and there’s no cure. Every time she opens her mouth, her parents should sue for breach of contract every school she attended. They didn’t teach her sh*t. Course, she may have been an affirmative action b*tch and it’s not their fault. On the other hand, The Hammond Jefferson Lee Jackson Sanford Segregation Akademy School might be proud of her.
By How Could You Not Believe It? on July 28th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
The time you take to point out her ignorance only makes Bill Folks (name before the various and numerous criminal allegations-actual and implied) think he is doing well based on his hit count.
Yall are making me put this site on my new years resolution list like I did Montel. If she sucks, spend your time voluneering at a domestic violence, rape, drug rehab, or islamic fundamentalist education center for crying out loud. According to the national media, volunteerism is down and these would be worthy causes.
You are creating the beast you claim to hate.
Also, Mande, are you a skyhawk? It seems strange to find a woman who knew Bill in High School who is not afraid of, or at least disgusted by him.
By Philip Branton is Insane on July 28th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
I dont know if yall have ever seen this guy, but he outranks Bill Folks as the craziest MF in the State.
By fitsnews on July 28th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
#6-#7,
Our founding editor also briefly went by “Billy” during his band days because the lead singer had already taken “Will.”
What’s your point?
-FITSNews
By Bowee Wowwee on July 28th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
#1 – So question. Is Pet Industry revenue up, down or stagnant in these troubled times? And what’s your analysis?
Mande makes some interesting points….But my take is a little different….
Assuming, revenue is really growing in that industry, my gut feeling is that in troubled economic times people are turning to the “comforts” of their life. That could be children, food and pets….and of course any vice behind door number one.