THE ECONOMY is in a recession, and Americans are out of work. Everywhere I look, I see signs of these times - signs of people struggling to get by while America tries mightily to get back on its feet. Unemployment is close to 10 percent, and even those working often see less than 40 hours on their weekly paychecks.

As I turn onto the black-top farm to market road from our subdivision and head toward town, I see those signs. I see people selling things in their front yard, setting up regular hours to hawk glass ware, clay pots, plants, clothes or excess household goods.

AS I PROCEED into town, I see vacant buildings with for sale signs, and no one looking to rent or buy. I see more people walking to and from town, and more people riding bicycles. They’re saving money.

Another fellow opens a repair shop out of his home, and displays out front the lawn mowers he’s been working on, soliciting you to stop by and let him work on yours.

A little further down the road, another fellow is repairing and selling golf carts out of his house and yard. Like the lawn mower guy and the ceramic lady, these are new home businesses that have sprung up in the past year.

The little regional newspaper that exists to sell things carries ads from citizens. The things sold and their sales prices are a measure of how tight life is for many of us. I see things for sale for $5. Life is tough for the person who has to sell a personal item for $5 in a free classified publication.

PEOPLE WHO came to the lake last year or the year before don’t make that trip. Their homes on the lake sit idle, unkempt and sometimes listed for sale. Certainly, they don’t suffer like those who are struggling to keep their primary home, but it’s still an indicator that things were better before the economic collapse of fall 2008.

I feel for everyone struggling, striving to hang on until the economy is strong enough to create more jobs, and put people back to work. Our unemployed workers need jobs, and our employed workers need more hours. We all benefit when jobs go up in this country.

In our upside down world, where things don’t really mean what they’re called, those who advocate helping companies ship jobs out of America are called “free marketers,” while those who want to give American companies a level playing field in the world of exports and imports are called “protectionists.”

There is no free market in international trade. American businesses get their teeth kicked in by foreign governments, from Japan’s beef protections to Korea’s steel protections, they keep American products out.

I DO NOT wish ill to any person in any country. I understand that they want better jobs, but I also understand that this is our country, and we have to try to help our fellow citizens remain employed.

If we do not help each other, if we do not keep our American economy strong, we cannot possibly continue to help so many people from so many other countries.

© 2009, Pappy Moore, All Rights Reserved.

Jim “Pappy” Moore is a native son of East Texas who still makes the piney woods his home. Email: oaktreefm58@hotmail.com