ECONOMY: Why confidence wanes

Of course consumer confidence is low! It’s a 2 percent growth economy! What planet does Janie Hansen live on? Our young people either leave Idaho or work their $7.25 an hour jobs and share an apartment with three other minimally employed adults while driving beat up cars that increase in value 10 or 20 percent every time they fill the fuel tank.

Multi-family/apartment building might be booming. Single family home building? Not so much.

Idaho’s right to work laws are a real consumer confidence killer. Half the panhandle works in Washington for higher wages. Those ride share vans stored in about every Coeur d’Alene or Post Falls parking lot, Janie, are to alleviate a constipated Interstate 90 carrying Idaho workers to Washington. Even medical professionals like my wife make more in Washington.

What informs a person’s “consumer confidence” is not the media. It’s their empty wallet, Janie. No one needs the media to tell them they’re broke and living hand to mouth. Why are 95 of the 100 lowest median income U.S. counties in red states? Like this one, Janie?

MIKE RENO

Post Falls