Rhodes13,
I get what you're saying but I hate the way that when something positive is mentioned on this forum you're seen as some lunny that doesn't get the problems that have arisen. What makes me laugh and makes me want to post on this forum are the people who come out phrases like 'hell on earth' and 'meltdown'. I simply don't think that's going to happen. Things are bad; I know that. But there's a difference between pragmatism and dramatism. Personally, I feel I fall under pragmatism. Laughably, a lot here fall under dramatism!
Btw, to answer your question about big ticket items being bought.... Nobody! Here in Ireland we have the year at the start of our car registration plates. I haven't seen one 09 yet! But, I'd say the first year of a downturn is always the worst.... Confidence will return, eventually...